Free motoring tools

Car tax (VED) calculator

Find out roughly what your car tax costs and why. Based on the official DVLA rates in force from 1 April 2026.

When was the car first registered? Check the V5C log book. The date matters — UK car tax uses three different systems by era.

Modern car (after April 2017)

Registered 2017 or later. Tax depends on CO2 (first year only), then a flat rate from year two.

Is this the car's first year? Yes if you just bought it new. From the second year (£200) it's the same for almost every car, EV or not.

Official CO2 figure (g/km)On your V5C or the manufacturer's page. E.g. 140. It's also on vehicle-tax checkers using the registration. Fuel EVs (0 g/km) pay a low first-year rate; diesels pay more in each band.

New-car list price
Optional — only affects tax if a car cost more than £40,000 (£50,000 for EVs), adding £440 for the first 5 years.

Estimates are for a 12-month licence paid in one go (non-Direct Debit). Paying by Direct Debit costs a little more overall; six-monthly licences cost more per month. Rates are the official UK VED figures from 1 April 2026 and are guidance only — always confirm on the official GOV.UK vehicle-tax pages.

← Back to Forecourt UK