Car tax calculator
Work out how much road tax (vehicle excise duty) a car costs each year. Enter its registration date, and its CO₂ emissions or engine size if asked. Rates are the current GOV.UK figures.
£200 a year
Cars first registered from April 2017 pay the standard rate of £200 a year, whatever their CO₂ or fuel.
The first tax payment at registration is based on CO₂, but that's paid by the first owner, so it doesn't affect a used car.
12-month rates for a single payment, from GOV.UK, checked October 2026. Paying monthly or every 6 months costs slightly more. Check a plate on Kerb to see the tax, CO₂ and MOT history for a specific car.
The three car tax systems
- Registered from 1 April 2017: a flat standard rate each year, plus £440 for five years if the list price was over £40,000.
- 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017: 13 bands (A to M) by CO₂ emissions, from £20 to £790 a year.
- Before 1 March 2001: two rates by engine size, split at 1,549cc.
Car tax questions
How is car tax worked out?
It depends on when the car was first registered. Cars from April 2017 pay a flat standard rate. Cars registered between March 2001 and March 2017 pay by CO₂ band. Cars registered before March 2001 pay by engine size.
What is the expensive car supplement?
Cars registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 pay an extra £440 a year for five years, starting from the second tax payment. For electric cars registered from April 2025 the threshold is £50,000.
Do electric cars pay road tax?
Yes, since April 2025. Electric cars now pay vehicle tax like other cars, at the rate for their registration date.
Does road tax transfer when I buy a used car?
No. Tax doesn't pass to a new keeper, so you need to tax the car before you drive it away.
Where do I find the CO₂ figure?
On the V5C logbook in section V.7, or in a free Kerb report for that registration.