Car and vehicle tax bands
Key takeaways
- A car tax band is used by the DVLA to calculate how much Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) you pay, mainly based on CO2 emissions (or engine size for older cars)
- The higher your car’s emissions, the higher your tax—though rates also vary depending on when the vehicle was first registered
- Since April 2017, most cars pay a first-year rate based on emissions, then a flat annual rate, with an extra charge for vehicles over £40,000
What is a car tax band?
A car tax band is a category used by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to determine how much VED you need to pay each year. For most cars, the band is based primarily on the vehicle’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, measured in grams per kilometre (g/km).
The higher the emissions, the higher the tax band - and the more you’ll usually pay.
What are VED tax bands and road tax bands?
VED and road tax are simply two names for the same thing. ‘Road tax’ (or ‘car tax’) is the informal term many drivers still use, while 'vehicle excise duty' is the official legal name.
When people refer to ‘road tax bands’, they’re talking about the VED banding system used to calculate how much tax a vehicle owes. This is based primarily on CO2 emissions (for newer cars) or engine size (older cars). It also takes into account factors like fuel type, age and high list price (specifically cars over £40k).
What tax band is my car and how can I check?
Your car’s tax band is printed on your V5C logbook. You can also check the current VED rate using the vehicle checker at GOV.UK. You need the 11-digit number from your car’s V5C logbook to do this.
You can also check if the car’s taxed using just the car’s registration number.
The checker will also show:
- When the tax is due for renewal
- When the MOT is due
- When the last V5C logbook was issued
How does my car tax band affect my road tax?
Your tax band directly determines how much VED you pay. For newer cars, bands are closely linked to CO2 emissions, while older vehicles may be taxed based on engine size.
The system also changes depending on when your car was first registered, which is why two similar cars can have very different tax bills.
Vehicle types include:
- Private light goods (vehicles registered before 1 March 2001)
- Petrol car
- Diesel car
- Alternative fuel car
- Light goods vehicle
- Van
- Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs)
- Private HGVs
- Motorbike
- Electric cycles/tricycles
How much is road tax?
Road tax rates depend on the age of your vehicle.
Cars registered before 1 March 2001
These are taxed based on engine size (all prices correct as of February 2026):
- Up to 1,549cc: currently £220*
- Over 1,549cc: currently £360*
CO2 emissions aren’t used for these older vehicles.
*Prices are if you pay the full 12 months upfront. Paying in monthly instalments or paying every six months will usually add interest
Cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017
These fall under the older CO2-based banding system. These have multiple bands ranging from low-emission vehicles (band A) to high-emission cars (band M) with significantly higher tax rates.
The tax band prices of car tax for petrol or diesel cars, if paid in full*, are:
- Car tax band A £20
- Car tax band B £20
- Car tax band C £35
- Car tax band D £165
- Car tax band E £195
- Car tax band F £215
- Car tax band G £265
- Car tax band H £315
- Car tax band I £345
- Car tax band J £395
- Car tax band K £430
- Car tax band L £735
- Car tax band M £760
Cars registered on or after 1 April 2017
Most newer cars pay:
- An upfront payment (see below)
- A flat standard annual rate, regardless of emissions, currently £195*
- An additional premium car charge for vehicles with a list price over £40,000 (applied for the first five years) of £425*
What are the upfront road tax charges?
New cars registered after April 2017 are subject to a first-year rate of VED. This is a one-off, higher payment based entirely on the car’s CO2 emissions when new.
The most polluting vehicles pay the highest first-year charges, while zero-emission electric cars pay the least in the first year:
| CO2 emissions | Diesel cars (TC49) that meet the RDE2 standard, petrol cars (TC48), alternative fuel and zero-emission cars | All other diesel cars (TC49) |
|---|---|---|
| 0g/km | £10 | £10 |
| 1 to 50g/km | £110 | £130 |
| 76 to 90g/km | £270 | £350 |
| 91 to 100g/km | £350 | £390 |
| 101 to 110g/km | £390 | £440 |
| 111 to 130g/km | £440 | £540 |
| 131 to 150g/km | £540 | £1,360 |
| 151 to 170g/km | £1,360 | £2,190 |
| 171 to 190g/km | £2,190 | £3,300 |
| 191 to 225g/km | £3,300 | £4,680 |
| 226 to 255g/km | £4,680 | £5,490 |
| Over 255g/km | £5,490 | £5,490 |
Are any cars or vehicles exempt from road tax?
Some vehicles qualify for zero VED, including:
- Classic cars (generally those over 40 years old)
- Vehicles used by disabled people under specific schemes
- Steam vehicles
- Tractors
Electric vehicles (EVs) were also exempt from road tax until 1 April 2025.
It's worth noting that you still need to 'tax' vehicles which are exempt from payment – it's just that the fee will be zero.
What are the cheapest cars to tax?
The cheapest cars to tax are those in the lowest emission bands. These typically include:
- EVs
- Ultra-low emission hybrids
- Small, fuel-efficient petrol cars
Since 1 April 2025, EVs have been subject to road tax:
- New registrations pay a low first-year rate of £10
- The standard rate of £195 is payable from the second year, or for existing EVs registered 2017-2025
- EVs registered before 2017 pay £20
- EVs which cost over £40k pay an ‘expensive car supplement’ of £425 for the first five years
Where and how can I pay my car tax?
You can pay VED:
- Online at GOV.UK
- By phone
- At selected Post Offices
Payment options include:
- Annually
- Every six months
- Monthly by direct debit (which includes a small surcharge)
When is my road tax due?
Road tax is due annually. You’ll usually receive a V11 reminder letter before your tax expires.
By the renewal date, you must either:
- Renew your car tax, or
- Declare the vehicle SORN if it’s off the road
What documents do I need to buy road tax?
To tax your vehicle, you’ll usually need:
- The 11-digit reference number from your V5C logbook, or
- The 16-digit reference number from your V11 reminder
You’ll also need valid car insurance and an MOT, if required. Cars less than three years old don’t need to be MOTed.
How much is road tax for my motorcycle, moped or powered two-wheeler?
Motorcycles and mopeds use a separate tax system. Rates are based on engine size (cc) rather than CO2 emissions, with fixed annual charges for each size category.
Find out tax rates for different vehicles at GOV.UK.
What happens to road tax when I buy or sell my car?
Road tax no longer transfers with the vehicle.
- Sellers must notify the DVLA and will receive a refund for any full remaining months
- Buyers must tax the vehicle immediately before driving it
How do I cancel my road tax?
You can’t cancel VED directly. Instead, tax is automatically cancelled when you:
- Sell or scrap the car
- Declare the vehicle SORN.
Any refund for full unused months is issued automatically by the DVLA. Note that even if it's the first day of a new month, you won't receive a refund for that month.
Find out more about car tax refunds.
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