What is the premium car supplement for road tax?

Cars with a list price over £40,000 (including extras) pay an additional £425/year premium car supplement on top of the standard rate. This applies for years 2-6 after first registration (5 years total). So a premium car pays £190 + £425 = £615/year during this period. Electric premium cars now also pay this supplement from April 2025.

How much is road tax for a motorcycle?

Motorcycle VED rates depend on engine size. Bikes with 151-400cc pay £45/year, 401-600cc pay £69/year, and over 600cc pay £99/year. Motorcycles under 151cc pay £25/year. These are the current 2025/26 rates.

Mustafa Bilgic
Financial Calculations Expert · Updated 20 February 2026 · 12 min read

UK Road Tax (VED) Calculator 2025/26

Q: Do electric cars pay road tax in 2026?

Yes. From April 2025 electric vehicles (BEVs) are no longer exempt from VED. They now pay the standard £190/year rate. New zero-emission cars also pay a £10 first-year rate. Premium EVs over £40,000 pay an additional £425/year supplement for years 2-6.

Q: Can I get a road tax refund?

Yes. If you cancel your road tax (e.g. when selling a car, applying for SORN, or the vehicle is scrapped), DVLA automatically issues a refund for any full months remaining. The refund is sent by cheque to the registered keeper's address within 4-6 weeks.

Q: Which vehicles are exempt from road tax?

Vehicles built before 1 January 1979 are exempt (historic vehicles). Disabled people receiving certain disability benefits can claim free vehicle tax. NHS vehicles and some agricultural vehicles are also exempt. Note: electric vehicles lost their exemption from April 2025.

Enter your vehicle details to calculate your annual VED (road tax) liability.

Registration Year

Fuel Type

CO2 Emissions (g/km)

List Price When New (£)

Vehicle Type

What Is Road Tax (VED)?

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.

Key change from April 2025: Electric vehicles are no longer exempt from VED. They now pay the standard rate of £190/year, the same as petrol and diesel cars registered after April 2017.

VED Rates 2025/26 — First Year Rates (New Cars by CO2)

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

Standard Rate (Year 2 Onwards)

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

Motorcycle VED Rates 2025/26

Engine Size	Annual VED
Up to 150cc	£25
151–400cc	£45
401–600cc	£69
Over 600cc	£99

Electric Vehicle Road Tax from April 2025

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:

New EVs registered on/after 1 April 2025: Pay £10 first-year rate, then £190/year standard rate
EVs registered on/after 1 April 2017: Now pay £190/year standard rate
EVs registered before 1 April 2017: Pay £20/year (previously free)
Premium EVs (list price over £40,000): Pay £190 + £425 supplement = £615/year for years 2–6

A Tesla Model 3 Long Range listed at £45,990 would pay £615/year for the first 5 years — that's £190 standard rate plus the £425 premium supplement.

How to Pay Road Tax in the UK

1. Online via GOV.UK (Recommended)

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.

2. Post Office

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.

3. Direct Debit (Monthly or Annually)

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.

Road tax is no longer displayed as a paper disc in the windscreen (abolished in 2014). Enforcement is done automatically via ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras linked to the DVLA database.

SORN — Statutory Off Road Notification

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.

SORN lasts until the vehicle is taxed, sold, or scrapped
You cannot drive or keep a SORN vehicle on any public road
Storing on private land (driveway, garage) is fine
Insurance can also be cancelled or reduced while SORNed (check with your insurer)
DVLA issues automatic refunds for full months remaining when you apply for SORN

VED Exemptions — Who Pays Nothing?

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.

Cancelling Road Tax and Getting a Refund

DVLA automatically cancels and refunds your road tax when:

You apply for a SORN
You sell or transfer ownership (the VED does NOT transfer — buyers must tax the vehicle themselves)
The vehicle is scrapped at an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF)
The vehicle is exported out of the UK
The vehicle is stolen (and you have a police crime reference)

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.

Important: Road tax does NOT transfer when you sell a car. The new owner must tax the vehicle before driving it. The seller automatically receives a refund for remaining full months.

How to Check If a Vehicle Is Taxed

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:

Whether the vehicle is taxed or has a valid SORN
The date the current VED expires
MOT expiry date (where applicable)
Make, model, colour and year of manufacture

VED Evasion — Penalties and Enforcement

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:

An automated penalty notice of £80 (reduced to £40 if paid within 33 days)
Court proceedings resulting in fines of up to £1,000
Vehicle clamping, impounding and destruction if repeatedly offending
Back-payment of all VED owed

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is road tax in the UK in 2026?

The standard UK road tax (VED) rate for most petrol and diesel cars registered after April 2017 is £190 per year from April 2025. Electric vehicles now pay £190/year too, having lost their exemption in April 2025. Cars costing over £40,000 new pay an additional £425/year premium supplement for 5 years after first registration.

Do electric cars pay road tax in 2026?

Yes. From 1 April 2025 electric vehicles (BEVs) are no longer exempt from VED. They now pay the standard £190/year rate. New zero-emission cars also pay a £10 first-year rate. Premium EVs over £40,000 list price pay an additional £425/year supplement for years 2–6 of ownership.

How do I pay road tax in the UK?

You can pay road tax online at GOV.UK using your V5C logbook reference or renewal reminder letter. Alternatively, visit a Post Office branch, or set up a Direct Debit to pay monthly (a 5% surcharge applies for monthly payments). Payment must be in force before the vehicle is used on a public road.

What is a SORN and when do I need one?

A SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) is a free declaration that you are keeping your vehicle off public roads. You need one if your vehicle is untaxed and not being used or kept on a public road. Apply free via GOV.UK. Failure to have valid VED or a SORN can result in penalties up to £1,000.

Can I get a road tax refund if I sell my car?

Yes. When you notify DVLA of the sale (by signing over the V5C), DVLA automatically cancels the VED and issues a cheque refund for any complete months remaining. Road tax does NOT transfer to the new owner — they must tax the vehicle in their own name before driving it.

Which vehicles are exempt from road tax?

Vehicles built before 1 January 1979 (historic vehicles) are exempt. Disabled people receiving qualifying disability benefits can claim free vehicle tax for one vehicle. NHS and certain agricultural vehicles are also exempt. Note: electric vehicles lost their VED exemption from April 2025 and now pay the standard rate.

What happens if I drive without road tax?

Driving or keeping an untaxed vehicle on a public road is illegal and detected automatically by ANPR cameras linked to DVLA. Penalties include an £80 automated penalty notice (£40 if paid quickly), court fines up to £1,000, vehicle clamping and impounding, and back-payment of all VED owed.