Vehicle tools
Free car tax calculator
This car tax calculator asks up to three questions and shows what a car pays in vehicle tax for a year, using the rates GOV.UK publishes. If you don’t know the car’s CO2 figure or its date of first registration, the free check shows both.
Work out a car’s tax for the year
Choose when the car was first registered to start.
Car tax rates for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027
| Band | CO2 or engine | Yearly rate |
|---|---|---|
| First registered on or after 1 April 2017 | ||
| Standard | Any car, from its second year | £200 |
| Supplement | List price over £40,000 when new, for 5 years | £640 |
| First registered 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 | ||
| A | Up to 100g/km | £20 |
| B | 101 to 110g/km | £20 |
| C | 111 to 120g/km | £35 |
| D | 121 to 130g/km | £170 |
| E | 131 to 140g/km | £200 |
| F | 141 to 150g/km | £225 |
| G | 151 to 165g/km | £275 |
| H | 166 to 175g/km | £325 |
| I | 176 to 185g/km | £360 |
| J | 186 to 200g/km | £410 |
| K | 201 to 225g/km | £445 |
| L | 226 to 255g/km | £760 |
| M | Over 255g/km | £790 |
| First registered before 1 March 2001 | ||
| Small engine | 1549cc or less | £230 |
| Large engine | Over 1549cc | £375 |
Rates are the government’s, read from GOV.UK: Vehicle tax rates. A brand-new car pays a different rate in its first year, set by its CO2 emissions.
How much is my car tax?
It depends on when the car was first registered. A car registered on or after 1 April 2017 pays one standard rate each year from its second year. A car registered between March 2001 and March 2017 pays by CO2 band, from A to M. An older car pays by engine size.
How car tax is worked out
| Group | First registered | Taxed by |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | On or after 1 April 2017 | A first-year rate set by CO2, then one standard rate every year |
| 2 | 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 | CO2 emissions, in thirteen bands from A to M |
| 3 | Before 1 March 2001 | Engine size, with the line at 1549cc |
The calculator shows the single 12-month payment. Paying by monthly Direct Debit or for six months at a time costs a little more over the year.
Expensive cars and electric cars
A car in the first group with a high list price when new pays a supplement on top of the standard rate. It runs for five years, starting the second time the car is taxed. A used car that is still inside those five years carries the supplement on to its next keeper.
Electric cars have paid vehicle tax since 1 April 2025. One registered from April 2017 pays the same standard rate as a petrol or diesel car. The yearly discount for hybrids has gone too.
How to find the figures the calculator asks for
- Run the registration through the free check.
- Read the date of first registration. It puts the car in one of the three groups.
- Read the CO2 emissions figure if the car was registered between March 2001 and March 2017.
- Read the engine size if the car is older than that.
- Enter them above. Paying happens on GOV.UK, never on this site.
Buying a used car? Budget for the tax
Whatever tax the seller has paid stops with them. You tax the car afresh in your own name before you drive away. Two cars that look alike can sit in different bands, so work out the yearly figure before you agree a price.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is this the official car tax rate?
The rates are the ones GOV.UK publishes for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. CAR Confidence isn’t the DVLA, so check the figure on GOV.UK before you rely on it for a payment.
Where do I pay my car tax?
On GOV.UK, through the DVLA’s vehicle tax service. This calculator tells you what the bill should be before you get there.
Why is a brand-new car different?
A new car pays a first-year rate set by its CO2 emissions when it is first registered. From the second year it moves to the standard rate this calculator shows.
Do electric cars pay car tax?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025 electric cars pay vehicle tax like any other car. One registered between April 2017 and March 2025 pays the standard rate.
Does it cost more to pay monthly?
Yes, a little. The single 12-month payment is the cheapest way to pay. Monthly Direct Debit and six-month payments add up to more over the year.
Guides
More checks before you buy
Free car check
Check it before you go and see it
DVLA details, tax and MOT status, mileage and the full MOT history, free for any UK registration.