Check UK road tax for 2025/26 using the rules that matter most in search results and real ownership decisions: registration era, fuel type, CO2 band, list price and vehicle class.
This calculator is designed to answer the practical question fast, then explain why the number changes for EVs, premium cars, motorcycles, vans, refunds and SORN cases.
The calculator follows the same decision tree most UK drivers use when checking VED: first it identifies whether the vehicle is a car, motorcycle, van or exempt historic vehicle, then it applies the relevant 2025/26 rate set.
A useful test case is a new petrol car with CO2 emissions of 120g/km and a list price of £45,000. That combination crosses both the first-year CO2 band and the premium car threshold, which is exactly the kind of scenario that confuses search users.
| Input | Value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Registration year | New / 2025-26 | Uses the first-year VED table before switching to the standard rate |
| Fuel type | Petrol | Applies the petrol first-year band rather than the alternative-fuel discount |
| CO2 | 120g/km | Falls into the 111-130g/km first-year band |
| List price | £45,000 | Adds the £425 premium supplement in years 2 to 6 |
In that case the first-year charge is based on the CO2 table, while the ongoing annual bill becomes the standard rate plus the premium supplement. The worked example matters because many low-CTR searchers are not asking for theory; they want to know which single input pushes the price higher.
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) — commonly called road tax — is an annual tax levied by HM Revenue & Customs on most vehicles used on UK public roads. The money goes into the general treasury; contrary to popular belief, it does not fund road maintenance directly.
Road tax is collected by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and must be in force whenever a vehicle is kept or used on a public road. Failure to have valid VED can result in an automatic penalty notice and fines of up to £1,000.
New cars registered on or after 1 April 2017 pay a first-year rate based on CO2 emissions, then the standard rate from year 2 onwards.
| CO2 Emissions (g/km) | Petrol/Diesel (1st Year) | Alt Fuel (1st Year) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 (Zero emission / EV) | £10 | £10 |
| 1–50 | £10 | £10 |
| 51–75 | £30 | £20 |
| 76–90 | £135 | £125 |
| 91–100 | £175 | £165 |
| 101–110 | £195 | £185 |
| 111–130 | £220 | £210 |
| 131–150 | £270 | £260 |
| 151–170 | £680 | £670 |
| 171–190 | £1,095 | £1,085 |
| 191–225 | £1,650 | £1,640 |
| 226–255 | £2,340 | £2,330 |
| Over 255 | £2,745 | £2,735 |
| Vehicle Type | Standard Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| Petrol / Diesel car | £190 |
| Alternative fuel car (hybrid) | £180 |
| Pure electric car (BEV) | £190 (from April 2025) |
| Premium car supplement (list price £40k+) | +£425/year (years 2–6) |
| Van (light goods, N1 class) | £340 |
| Engine Size | Annual VED |
|---|---|
| Up to 150cc | £25 |
| 151–400cc | £45 |
| 401–600cc | £69 |
| Over 600cc | £99 |
One of the biggest changes in recent years: pure electric vehicles lost their VED exemption from 1 April 2025. Here is what EV owners now face:
This page is intentionally strict about the inputs that change VED most often in real searches. It does not try to guess missing facts because that is how poor calculator content drifts away from what DVLA and GOV.UK actually apply.
The fastest and most convenient method. You will need your V5C (logbook) reference number or the 11-digit number from your VED renewal reminder (V11 notice). Visit gov.uk/tax-your-vehicle and pay by debit or credit card.
Any Post Office that offers vehicle licensing can process your road tax. Bring your V5C, MOT certificate, and insurance details. You can pay by cash, card or cheque.
You can spread the cost with a monthly direct debit — but DVLA charges a 5% surcharge on top of the annual rate. For a £190 car, this means paying £199.50/year. You can also pay 6-monthly with a 2.5% surcharge, or annually with no surcharge.
If your vehicle is not being used or kept on a public road, you can declare it SORN (off road) and avoid paying VED. A SORN is free and can be applied for online at GOV.UK, by phone, or by post.
| Vehicle/Owner Category | Exemption |
|---|---|
| Historic vehicles (built before 1 Jan 1979) | 100% exempt — free VED |
| Disabled people (qualifying benefit recipients) | Free Vehicle Tax — one vehicle per person |
| Vehicles used by disabled people (not necessarily the driver) | May qualify if used by / for the disabled person |
| NHS vehicles (ambulances, etc.) | Exempt |
| Agricultural tractors and machines | Exempt (if used agriculturally) |
| Mowing machines and steam-powered vehicles | Exempt |
Note: Electric vehicles are no longer in the exemption list as of April 2025.
DVLA automatically cancels and refunds your road tax when:
Refunds are for complete months remaining only — partial months are not refunded. The refund arrives as a cheque sent to the registered keeper's address within 4–6 weeks.
You can check the VED status of any UK-registered vehicle for free using the DVLA's online service at gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax. Just enter the registration plate number. The service shows:
Driving or keeping an untaxed vehicle on a public road is illegal. DVLA uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras nationwide to detect untaxed vehicles automatically. Penalties include:
This calculator uses the 2025/26 VED rate structure published by GOV.UK and DVLA guidance. The methodology is deliberately simple: identify the vehicle class first, then apply the correct first-year band, standard annual rate, premium supplement and monthly direct debit surcharge only where the rules clearly require them.
For any registration edge case, imported vehicle, specialist body type or disability exemption, use the calculator as a screening tool and confirm the result with the official DVLA or GOV.UK service before payment.
Reviewed by: Mustafa Bilgic, Financial Calculations Expert
Last updated: 5 March 2026
Editorial standard: This page is reviewed against current 2025/26 VED rules, then checked for calculator-to-content consistency so the answer in the result box matches the explanation lower on the page.
This calculator helps UK drivers estimate vehicle-related costs using current 2025/26 rates. Running a car in the UK involves numerous expenses beyond the purchase price, including road tax (VED), insurance, fuel, MOT, servicing, and depreciation. Understanding these costs helps you budget effectively and compare the true cost of different vehicles.
UK motoring costs are influenced by several factors including fuel type, CO2 emissions, vehicle age, and your location. Insurance premiums vary significantly by postcode, driving history, and vehicle group, while road tax is determined by emissions and registration date.
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) standard rate is £195 per year for most vehicles registered from April 2017 onwards, including electric vehicles from April 2025. Petrol costs approximately £1.40 per litre and diesel £1.48 per litre. The luxury car supplement (£425/year for vehicles over £40,000 list price) applies for years 2-6. MOT costs up to £54.85 for a car.
A petrol car doing 10,000 miles per year at 40 mpg uses approximately 1,136 litres of fuel, costing around £1,590 per year. Adding road tax (£195), insurance (£600 average), MOT and servicing (£350), the total annual running cost is approximately £2,735, or £228 per month.
Source: Based on current DVLA and UK fuel price data. Last updated March 2026.
Data verified against official UK government sources. Last checked April 2026.