Road Tax Calculator UK 2025/26
Free UK Road Tax Calculator for 2025/26. Calculate Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) based on CO2 emissions, fuel type, and registration date.
Last updated: February 2026
Road Tax Calculator UK 2025/26
Calculate your Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) based on registration date, CO2 emissions, and fuel type
Your Vehicle Excise Duty
First Year VED Rates 2025/26
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.
| CO2 (g/km) | Petrol & Diesel RDE2 | Diesel (Non-RDE2) | Alternative Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| 1-50 | £10 | £30 | £0 |
| 51-75 | £30 | £130 | £20 |
| 76-90 | £135 | £170 | £125 |
| 91-100 | £175 | £210 | £165 |
| 101-110 | £195 | £230 | £185 |
| 111-130 | £220 | £255 | £210 |
| 131-150 | £270 | £305 | £260 |
| 151-170 | £680 | £715 | £670 |
| 171-190 | £1,095 | £1,130 | £1,085 |
| 191-225 | £1,650 | £1,685 | £1,640 |
| 226-255 | £2,340 | £2,375 | £2,330 |
| Over 255 | £2,745 | £2,780 | £2,735 |
Standard VED Rates (Year 2 Onwards)
After the first year, most vehicles pay a flat standard rate regardless of CO2 emissions. The rate depends on your fuel type.
| Vehicle Type | Annual Rate 2025/26 | 6 Month Rate | Direct Debit Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero Emission (before April 2025) | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Zero Emission (from April 2025) | £190 | £104.50 | £19.95 |
| Petrol or Diesel | £190 | £104.50 | £19.95 |
| Alternative Fuel (Hybrid, LPG, etc.) | £180 | £99 | £18.90 |
Expensive Car Supplement
If your vehicle had a list price over £40,000 when new, you'll pay an additional supplement of £410 per year for the first 5 years after the first year (so years 2-6).
Total Annual VED with Supplement
- Petrol/Diesel: £190 + £410 = £600
- Alternative Fuel: £180 + £410 = £590
- Zero Emission (2024): £0 + £410 = £410
- Zero Emission (2025): £190 + £410 = £600
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 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| B | 101-110 | £20 | £20 | £10 |
| C | 111-120 | £35 | £35 | £25 |
| D | 121-130 | £160 | £160 | £150 |
| E | 131-140 | £190 | £190 | £180 |
| F | 141-150 | £210 | £210 | £200 |
| G | 151-165 | £255 | £255 | £245 |
| H | 166-175 | £305 | £305 | £295 |
| I | 176-185 | £350 | £350 | £340 |
| J | 186-200 | £400 | £400 | £390 |
| K | 201-225 | £425 | £425 | £415 |
| L | 226-255 | £710 | £710 | £700 |
| M | Over 255 | £735 | £735 | £725 |
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 | £200 | £110 |
| 1,550cc and above | £325 | £178.75 |
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
- Expensive car supplement still applies
- No first year rate for EVs
- Company car tax from 2%
From April 2025
- First year rate: £10
- Standard rate: £190/year
- Expensive car supplement: £410
- Total if over £40k: £600/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 £190 per year, monthly payments total approximately £199.50 annually — that is an extra £9.50 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 most vehicles registered from 1 April 2017, the standard rate is £190 per year for petrol and diesel cars, or £180 for alternative fuel vehicles. Since April 2025, zero emission vehicles now pay the standard rate of £190. First year rates vary from £0 to £2,745 depending on CO2 emissions.
Vehicles with a list price over £40,000 when new pay an additional £410 per year for 5 years from the second tax payment (years 2-6). This applies to all vehicle types including electric vehicles. For a petrol/diesel car, this means paying £600 total (£190 + £410) per year.
Since April 2025, zero emission vehicles pay Vehicle Excise Duty. In the first year they pay £10, then the standard rate of £190 from year 2 onwards. Electric vehicles with a list price over £40,000 also pay the expensive car supplement of £410 per year 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.
Expert Reviewed — This calculator is reviewed by our team of financial experts and updated regularly with the latest UK tax rates and regulations. Last verified: February 2026.
Last updated: February 2026 | Verified with latest UK rates
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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
- 2025/26 updated - Using current rates and regulations
Common Questions
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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 410 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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