Do hybrid cars pay road tax?
Yes. GOV.UK says you must pay vehicle tax on a hybrid, at the same rates as petrol and diesel cars. One registered from 1 April 2017 pays £200 a year after the first payment (£640 if its list price when new was over £40,000); one registered 2001 to March 2017 pays £20 to £790 by CO2 band.
Last reviewed . The official sources it draws on, and the date each was read, are listed at the foot of the page.
The same rate as a petrol car
For a car registered from 1 April 2017 the rate from the second payment is £200 a year for petrol, diesel, electric and alternative-fuel cars. GOV.UK lists hybrids, bioethanol and LPG cars under alternative fuel, so a used hybrid of this age pays the same as a petrol one.
Older hybrids: CO2 bands
A hybrid registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 is taxed by its CO2 emissions, on the same bands as petrol and diesel cars: band A (up to 100 g/km) pays £20 a year and band M (over 255 g/km) pays £790. The CO2 figure is on the V5C log book.
Which cars count as hybrids for tax
On GOV.UK’s rate tables the alternative-fuel group includes hybrids, bioethanol cars and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cars. Whether a particular car is recorded as petrol or alternative fuel is on DVLA’s record, which the vehicle information service shows as its fuel type.
The first-year rate
A new hybrid pays a CO2-based first-registration rate once, which the first keeper pays. A used buyer pays the ongoing rate.
Expensive hybrids
The Expensive Car Supplement of £440 a year for five years applies when the list price when new was above £40,000. It is counted from the second time the car is taxed, and it applies to hybrids as it does to petrol and diesel cars.
Check a particular car
GOV.UK’s vehicle information service shows a car’s current tax rate from its registration number, which is a quick way to see what a particular used hybrid pays.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Vehicles exempt from vehicle taxRead on 1 October 2026. Hybrid electric vehicles must pay vehicle tax.
- GOV.UK: Vehicle tax ratesRead on 1 October 2026. Alternative fuel vehicles include hybrids; the same rates apply as for petrol and diesel, and the supplement rules.
- GOV.UK: Get vehicle information from DVLARead on 1 October 2026. The service shows a vehicle’s current tax rate from its registration number.
Related
More answers
- Does the expensive car supplement apply to a used car?
- What is a SORN, and when do I need one?
- What is a V5C log book, and what does it show?
- How do I register a used car in my name?
- Can I tax a car without an MOT?
- How do I pay the ULEZ charge, and what if I forget?
- How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
- What does an MOT test check?
Looking for a car?
Browse the used hybrid cars listed by UK dealers on Autoza.
Find a hybrid car