How much is car tax in 2026/27?
It depends on when the car was first registered. From 1 April 2017 it is £200 a year after the first payment (£640 a year for five years if its list price when new was over £40,000). From March 2001 to March 2017 it is £20 to £790 by CO2 band; older cars pay £230 or £375 by engine size.
Last reviewed . The official sources it draws on, and the date each was read, are listed at the foot of the page.
Cars registered from 1 April 2017
These cars pay a CO2-based rate when they are first registered, which the first keeper pays once. From the second payment the rate is flat: £200 a year for petrol, diesel, electric and hybrid cars alike. That is the rate you pay when you buy a used car of this age.
Spreading the payments costs more. Twelve monthly Direct Debits total £210 a year, because 5% is added.
A car that cost more than £40,000 when new (£50,000 for an electric car) can carry an extra £440 a year for five years. The separate answer on the Expensive Car Supplement explains how to spot it.
Cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017
These cars are taxed by CO2 emissions, shown on the V5C log book. The annual rate for a single 12-month payment is:
| Band | CO2 emissions (g/km) | Single 12-month payment |
|---|---|---|
| A | up to 100 | £20 |
| B | 101 to 110 | £20 |
| C | 111 to 120 | £35 |
| D | 121 to 130 | £170 |
| E | 131 to 140 | £200 |
| F | 141 to 150 | £225 |
| G | 151 to 165 | £275 |
| H | 166 to 175 | £325 |
| I | 176 to 185 | £360 |
| J | 186 to 200 | £410 |
| K | 201 to 225 | £445 |
| L | 226 to 255 | £760 |
| M | over 255 | £790 |
Band K also includes cars with a CO2 figure over 225 g/km that were registered before 23 March 2006.
Cars registered before 1 March 2001
Older cars are taxed on engine size alone: £230 a year for engines up to 1549cc and £375 above that. A car built before 1 January 1986 may be exempt; see the separate answer on tax exemption.
How do I see the rate for one particular car?
GOV.UK’s vehicle information service shows a car’s current tax rate and when it expires from its registration number. The tax check service can also show the current rate if you have the 11-digit reference number from the V5C.
Northern Ireland
GOV.UK’s tax service covers Northern Ireland too. Taxing at a Post Office there also needs a paper copy of an insurance certificate and an original MOT certificate or evidence of a Temporary Exemption Certificate.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Vehicle tax ratesRead on 1 October 2026. The three registration regimes, the flat second-payment rate, the twelve-monthly total, the CO2 bands and the engine-size rates.
- GOV.UK: Get vehicle information from DVLARead on 1 October 2026. The service shows a vehicle’s current tax rate and expiry from its registration number.
- GOV.UK: Tax your vehicleRead on 1 October 2026. What a Post Office needs in Northern Ireland.
Related
More answers
- How old does a car have to be to be exempt from road tax?
- Do electric cars pay road tax?
- Do hybrid cars pay road tax?
- Does the expensive car supplement apply to a used car?
- What is a SORN, and when do I need one?
- How do I pay the ULEZ charge, and what if I forget?
- How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
- How long does an MOT last, and how often do I need one?
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