Car Tax Calculator

Check UK car tax (VED) for 2026/27 by registration date, CO2 and list price, including the first-year rate, the £440 supplement and Direct Debit costs.

Reviewed by Dany, RightSums team · Updated

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car-travel · Daily life · UK

Pick when your car was first registered, then enter its CO2 figure, fuel type and list price, or the engine size for cars from before March 2001. The calculator uses the GOV.UK vehicle tax tables in force from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. For cars registered since April 2017 it shows the first-year rate, the £200 standard rate and whether the £440 expensive car supplement applies in years 2 to 6. Electric cars follow the rules that began in April 2025, with a £50,000 supplement threshold for those registered from 1 April 2025. You also see the 12-month, monthly Direct Debit and 6-month costs. It covers cars only, not vans, motorhomes, motorbikes or exempt vehicles.

Accepted inputs

  • Date of first registration (three periods)
  • Fuel type, including RDE2 diesel and electric
  • CO2 emissions in g/km
  • List price when new
  • Engine size in cc (cars before March 2001)

Outputs

  • 12-month car tax
  • Monthly Direct Debit and 12-month Direct Debit total
  • 6-month rates where offered
  • First-year rate for a new car
  • Expensive car supplement check
  • Year-by-year rates for years 1 to 7

How to use the Car Tax Calculator

  1. Choose the period your car was first registered in, as shown on the V5C log book.
  2. Enter the fuel type and CO2 figure, or the engine size if the car was registered before 1 March 2001.
  3. For cars registered since April 2017, add the list price so the calculator can check the expensive car supplement.
  4. Read the 12-month rate, the monthly Direct Debit cost, the 6-month options and, for newer cars, the rate for each of the first seven years.

Frequently asked questions

How much is car tax for 2026/27?

Most cars registered since 1 April 2017 pay the standard rate of £200 a year from 1 April 2026. Cars with a list price over £40,000 pay £640 in years 2 to 6. Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 in band A to £790 in band M, and pre-2001 cars pay £230 or £375 by engine size.

How much is road tax on a new car?

A new car pays a one-off first-year rate based on CO2, then the standard rate. A petrol car at 120g/km pays £455 in year one and £200 from year two. A diesel at 120g/km that does not meet RDE2 pays £560 first. A new electric car pays £10 in year one, then £200.

Do electric cars pay car tax now?

Yes. Since 1 April 2025 electric cars pay vehicle tax. An electric car registered from 1 April 2025 pays £10 in the first year and £200 after that. One registered from April 2017 to March 2025 pays £200, and one registered between March 2001 and March 2017 pays £20.

What is the expensive car supplement and when do I pay it?

It is an extra £440 a year on cars with a list price over £40,000, or over £50,000 for electric cars registered from 1 April 2025. You pay it for 5 years from the second tax payment, so a £45,000 petrol car pays £640 a year in years 2 to 6, then £200. Electric cars registered before April 2025 are exempt.

Does paying car tax monthly cost more?

Yes, 12 monthly Direct Debits cost 5% more than paying the year in one go. On the £200 standard rate that is £210, or £17.50 a month. With the supplement it is £672, or £56 a month. A 6-month payment costs £110, or £105 by Direct Debit, and bands A to C cannot pay 6-monthly.

Sources

The rates and rules in this tool come from:

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