Car tax calculator: how much UK road tax costs

Car tax feels more complicated than it needs to be, largely because the rules changed in April 2017 and again in April 2025. But for the vast majority of drivers the annual bill now comes down to a single flat figure, with a bigger one-off charge baked into the price when the car is new. Here’s how the system works and how to find the exact number for your car.

How VED works

For cars first registered on or after 1 April 2017, VED is split in two. The first-year rate is a one-off charge tied to CO₂ emissions and is bundled into the on-the-road price you pay at the dealer. From the second year onwards you pay the standard rate, a flat annual amount that applies regardless of emissions. Older cars (registered March 2001 to March 2017) still sit on the previous CO₂-banded system with 13 bands, and cars registered before March 2001 are taxed purely on engine size. This guide focuses on the post-2017 rules that cover most cars on sale today.

The first-year rate (“showroom tax”)

The first-year rate rewards low emissions and punishes high ones. Zero- and very-low-emission cars pay little or nothing, while the highest-emitting models pay several thousand pounds. Broadly, the more CO₂ a car emits per kilometre, the steeper the first-year charge — climbing in bands from £0–£10 at the clean end to over £5,000 for the most polluting cars in 2025/26. You only pay this once, and it’s almost always shown as part of the car’s advertised price. From April 2025 even new electric cars pay the lowest first-year band rather than nothing.

The standard rate

This is the number most drivers care about, because it’s what you pay every year after the first. For 2025/26 the standard rate is £195 a year for petrol, diesel, hybrid and — since April 2025 — electric cars. It’s a flat fee: a small efficient hatchback and a large SUV pay the same standard rate, which is why emissions only really bite in year one. You can pay annually, every six months or monthly by direct debit, though instalments cost a little more overall.

The expensive-car supplement

If a car had a list price above £40,000 when new, it pays an additional supplement on top of the standard rate — £425 in 2025/26 — for five years, starting from the second time the car is taxed (so years two to six). It’s based on the manufacturer’s list price including options, not the discounted price you actually paid, so cars nudging just over £40,000 can be caught. Since April 2025 this supplement also applies to electric cars over the threshold. That’s a meaningful chunk of running cost to factor in when buying near the limit.

How to check car tax by registration

Rather than work out the band yourself, the reliable route is to check the vehicle directly. The government’s free check vehicle tax service tells you whether a car is taxed and when it’s due, while the VED rate tables list the exact first-year and standard figures. For a used car you’re considering, this is the quickest way to know the real annual cost before you buy.

Road tax is just one recurring cost. To see it alongside insurance, fuel, MOT and servicing, use our car cost calculator, read how much it costs to run a car in 2026, or check how much an MOT costs.

Sources and methodology

All figures are UK 2025/26 rates from official government sources:

• Standard rate, first-year CO₂ bands and the expensive-car supplement: gov.uk — Vehicle tax rate tables.
• Checking tax status and due dates by registration: gov.uk — Check if a vehicle is taxed.
• Electric-vehicle VED changes from April 2025: gov.uk — VED for zero-emission vehicles from 2025.