Road Tax Calculator UK 2026/27
Free UK Road Tax Calculator for 2026/27. Calculate Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) based on CO2 emissions, fuel type, and registration date.
Last updated: October 2026
Road Tax Calculator UK 2026/27
Calculate your Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) based on registration date, CO2 emissions, and fuel type
Your Vehicle Excise Duty
First Year VED Rates 2026/27
First year road tax rates are based on your vehicle's CO2 emissions. These rates apply when you first register a new car and are designed to encourage the purchase of lower emission vehicles. Alternative fuel cars, such as hybrids, pay the same rates as petrol cars.
| CO2 (g/km) | Petrol & Diesel RDE2 | Diesel (Non-RDE2) | Alternative Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | £10 | £10 | £10 |
| 1-50 | £115 | £135 | £115 |
| 51-75 | £135 | £280 | £135 |
| 76-90 | £280 | £365 | £280 |
| 91-100 | £365 | £405 | £365 |
| 101-110 | £405 | £455 | £405 |
| 111-130 | £455 | £560 | £455 |
| 131-150 | £560 | £1,410 | £560 |
| 151-170 | £1,410 | £2,270 | £1,410 |
| 171-190 | £2,270 | £3,420 | £2,270 |
| 191-225 | £3,420 | £4,850 | £3,420 |
| 226-255 | £4,850 | £5,690 | £4,850 |
| Over 255 | £5,690 | £5,690 | £5,690 |
Standard VED Rates (Year 2 Onwards)
After the first year, most vehicles pay a flat standard rate regardless of CO2 emissions. Since April 2025 the rate is the same for every fuel type, including electric cars.
| Vehicle Type | Annual Rate 2026/27 | 6 Month Rate | Direct Debit Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol or Diesel | £200 | £110 | £17.50 |
| Alternative Fuel (Hybrid, LPG, etc.) | £200 | £110 | £17.50 |
| Zero Emission (Electric) | £200 | £110 | £17.50 |
Expensive Car Supplement
If your car had a list price over £40,000 when new (over £50,000 for an electric car), you'll pay an additional supplement of £440 per year for 5 years after the first year (so years 2-6). Electric cars first registered before 1 April 2025 do not pay it.
Total Annual VED with Supplement
- Petrol/Diesel: £200 + £440 = £640
- Alternative Fuel: £200 + £440 = £640
- Electric (list price over £50,000): £200 + £440 = £640
- Electric (registered before April 2025): £200, no supplement
What Counts as List Price?
- Published price before registration
- Includes VAT, delivery charges
- Includes factory-fitted options
- Excludes dealer discounts
- Excludes government grants (e.g., plug-in grant)
Vehicles Registered 1 March 2001 - 31 March 2017
Vehicles registered in this period use the old CO2 emissions banding system. Road tax varies based on the vehicle's emissions band from A to M.
| Band | CO2 (g/km) | Petrol | Diesel | Alt Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to 100 | £20 | £20 | £20 |
| B | 101-110 | £20 | £20 | £20 |
| C | 111-120 | £35 | £35 | £35 |
| D | 121-130 | £170 | £170 | £170 |
| E | 131-140 | £200 | £200 | £200 |
| F | 141-150 | £225 | £225 | £225 |
| G | 151-165 | £275 | £275 | £275 |
| H | 166-175 | £325 | £325 | £325 |
| I | 176-185 | £360 | £360 | £360 |
| J | 186-200 | £410 | £410 | £410 |
| K | 201-225 | £445 | £445 | £445 |
| L | 226-255 | £760 | £760 | £760 |
| M | Over 255 | £790 | £790 | £790 |
Vehicles Registered Before 1 March 2001
For vehicles registered before March 2001, road tax is based purely on engine size. There are only two rates:
| Engine Size | Annual Rate | 6 Month Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,549cc | £230 | £126.50 |
| 1,550cc and above | £375 | £206.25 |
Electric Vehicle Tax Changes 2025
Since April 2025, significant changes are now in effect for electric vehicles:
Before April 2025
- Zero emission vehicles: £0 VED
- No expensive car supplement
- No first year rate for EVs
- Company car tax from 2%
2026/27 (from April 2026)
- First year rate: £10
- Standard rate: £200/year
- Expensive car supplement: £440 (list price over £50,000)
- Total if over £50k: £640/year
How to Pay Your Road Tax
You can tax your vehicle using several methods. The DVLA accepts payment online, by phone, or at a Post Office.
What You'll Need
- V5C (logbook) reference number, or
- V11 reminder letter (green), or
- V62 application form
- Valid MOT (if required)
- Valid vehicle insurance
Payment Options
- Online: gov.uk/vehicle-tax
- Phone: 0300 123 4321
- Post Office: With V5C or V11
- DVLA App: Download free app
Quick Tip: Save on Road Tax Payments
Paying your VED annually rather than monthly can save you money. The DVLA charges a 5% surcharge on monthly direct debit payments and a smaller surcharge for six-monthly payments. For a standard rate vehicle at £200 per year, monthly payments total £210 a year, an extra £10 for no added benefit.
If you can afford the lump sum, always pay annually. Additionally, when buying a used car, remember that road tax no longer transfers with the vehicle since 2014. The seller receives an automatic refund for any remaining full months, and you must tax the vehicle before driving it away.
You can do this instantly at GOV.UK using the V5C/2 green slip provided by the seller. Setting up a direct debit ensures you never accidentally let your road tax lapse, which could result in an £80 fine from the DVLA or your car being clamped.
Frequently Asked Questions
For cars registered from 1 April 2017, the standard rate from 1 April 2026 is £200 a year for petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric cars. First year rates depend on CO2 emissions, from £10 for a zero emission car up to £5,690 for a car over 255g/km.
Cars with a list price over £40,000 when new pay an extra £440 a year for 5 years from the second tax payment (years 2-6). For electric cars the threshold is £50,000, and electric cars first registered before 1 April 2025 do not pay it. With the £200 standard rate, the total is £640 a year.
Electric cars have paid vehicle tax since 1 April 2025. A new electric car pays £10 for the first year, then the £200 standard rate from year 2. Electric cars with a list price over £50,000 also pay the £440 supplement for years 2-6.
You can check your vehicle's tax status free at gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax. Enter your vehicle registration number to see when the tax is due and whether it's currently valid. This also shows MOT status and CO2 emissions data.
Yes, you can pay road tax monthly by Direct Debit. You'll pay 5% more than the annual rate, spread over 12 monthly payments. You can also pay for 6 months, which costs slightly more than half the annual rate. Set up Direct Debit through gov.uk/vehicle-tax.
Driving without valid road tax is illegal. You could receive a fine of up to £1,000, wheel clamping, or have your vehicle impounded. The DVLA uses ANPR cameras to detect untaxed vehicles automatically. You must also SORN your vehicle if it's not taxed and kept off public roads.
No, paper tax discs were abolished in October 2014. The DVLA now maintains an electronic register of taxed vehicles. Police and ANPR cameras automatically check whether vehicles are taxed. You can check your vehicle's status online at any time.
Yes, you may be entitled to a refund if you sell, transfer, or scrap your vehicle, or if you SORN it. Refunds are calculated in complete months remaining. Apply through gov.uk/vehicle-tax-refund. The refund is sent automatically when you notify DVLA of the change.
Sources Checked — This calculator is checked against official GOV.UK sources and updated regularly with the latest UK tax rates and regulations. Last verified: October 2026.
Last updated: October 2026 | Verified with latest UK rates
Pro Tips for Accurate Results
- Double-check your input values before calculating
- Use the correct unit format (metric or imperial)
- For complex calculations, break them into smaller steps
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Understanding Your Results
Our Road Tax Calculator provides:
- Instant calculations - Results appear immediately
- Accurate formulas - Based on official UK standards
- Clear explanations - Understand how results are derived
- 2026/27 updated - Using current rates and regulations
Common Questions
Is this calculator free?
Yes, all our calculators are 100% free to use with no registration required.
Are the results accurate?
Our calculators use verified formulas and are regularly updated for accuracy.
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People Also Ask
Quick Tip: Save Money on Road Tax Payments
If you pay your Vehicle Excise Duty annually in a single payment, you avoid the 5 percent surcharge that applies to monthly Direct Debit payments. For a standard rate of 190 pounds per year, monthly payment adds an extra 9.50 pounds annually, totalling 199.50 pounds. Over a typical five-year ownership period, this adds nearly 48 pounds in unnecessary costs.
If you are buying a new vehicle and the list price is close to the 40,000-pound threshold for the expensive car supplement, check whether factory-fitted options push the price above this limit, as even a small optional extra could trigger an additional 620 pounds per year for five years. Remember that the list price is the manufacturer's published price including VAT and delivery charges, not the discounted price you may have negotiated with the dealer.
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Official Sources
Official Sources & References
Data verified against official UK government sources. Last checked October 2026.