Quick answer: how much is my car tax?
For most cars first registered from 1 April 2017, the current standard annual renewal rate shown by GOV.UK is £200 for a 12-month payment. Cars registered from March 2001 to March 2017 are charged by CO2 band, while older cars are charged by engine size. Your bill may differ if a special vehicle class or the expensive-car supplement applies.
Rates checked against the official GOV.UK vehicle tax rate tables on .
How the road tax calculator by registration works
Enter a UK registration and the lookup checks available vehicle records for the first registration date, CO2 emissions and engine size. The calculator uses the first registration date to choose the relevant car-rate system, then uses CO2 or engine capacity where that system requires it. It returns an estimate of the standard single 12-month renewal amount, not a live DVLA payment quote.
- Cars first registered on or after 1 April 2017: the standard annual rate is used. The first tax payment for a newly registered car is different and depends on CO2 emissions.
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017: the annual rate is selected from the car's CO2 emissions band.
- Cars first registered before 1 March 2001: the rate depends on whether engine capacity is up to 1,549 cc or over 1,549 cc.
If a required vehicle detail is missing from the records, the calculator explains that it cannot produce an estimate instead of guessing. For an official current tax-status check, use the separate GOV.UK vehicle tax checker.
UK car tax bands and annual rates
The tables below summarise the single 12-month rates used for the standard car estimate. Direct Debit instalments and six-month payments have different totals. Always check the live GOV.UK vehicle tax rate tables before budgeting or paying.
Cars registered from 1 April 2017
| Payment | Standard rate | How this calculator treats it |
|---|---|---|
| Single 12-month renewal | £200 | Used as the annual estimate |
An eligible car with a list price above the relevant threshold may also owe an extra £440 a year for five years. The thresholds and zero-emission exceptions depend on fuel type and registration date. The original list price is not returned by the registration lookup, so this supplement is not included in the estimate.
Cars registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017
| Band | CO2 emissions | 12-month rate |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to 100 g/km | £20 |
| B | 101 to 110 g/km | £20 |
| C | 111 to 120 g/km | £35 |
| D | 121 to 130 g/km | £170 |
| E | 131 to 140 g/km | £200 |
| F | 141 to 150 g/km | £225 |
| G | 151 to 165 g/km | £275 |
| H | 166 to 175 g/km | £325 |
| I | 176 to 185 g/km | £360 |
| J | 186 to 200 g/km | £410 |
| K | 201 to 225 g/km | £445 |
| L | 226 to 255 g/km | £760 |
| M | Over 255 g/km | £790 |
The table includes zero-emission cars. Band K has a historical exception for some cars registered before 23 March 2006; check the official table if this applies to your vehicle.
Cars registered before 1 March 2001
| Engine capacity | 12-month rate |
|---|---|
| Not over 1,549 cc | £230 |
| Over 1,549 cc | £375 |
Why your road tax estimate may differ from the amount due
A registration lookup is useful for estimating a vehicle's standard annual rate, but it does not expose every detail used by DVLA to calculate an individual bill. Treat the result as a guide, and use the official rate tables or DVLA service for a payment decision.
- First payment versus renewal: a car's first tax payment when it is registered can be based on CO2 bands. This calculator shows the standard annual renewal rate instead.
- Expensive-car supplement: the original list price, relevant fuel category and registration date are needed to determine whether the extra charge applies. The estimate excludes it.
- Vehicle tax class: this tool applies car rates. Vans, motorcycles, motorhomes, historic vehicles and other classes can use different tables.
- Missing or corrected vehicle data: emissions, engine size or first registration details may be absent or recorded differently across data sources. Check the V5C log book or the official service if details do not look right.
- Rate changes: VED rates can change. The calculator uses the GOV.UK table linked on this page; the DVLA service remains the authority for the vehicle's current status and amount due.
Diesel cars that do not meet the Real Driving Emissions 2 (RDE2) standard can have a higher first tax payment. The manufacturer or vehicle documents can confirm RDE2 status; it is not inferred by this annual-renewal estimate.
Checking road tax before buying a used car
A tax-cost estimate answers “how much might I pay?” It does not answer “is this car taxed today?” Check the live tax status separately, then review the MOT history before you agree to buy. Tax and MOT are different records; a valid MOT does not prove that the vehicle is currently taxed.
Vehicle tax does not transfer to a buyer when ownership changes. The new keeper must tax the vehicle before driving it, even if the previous keeper had already paid. Read our guide to checking whether a car is taxed, or use the official GOV.UK tax-status checker.
To compare tax and MOT information in one place, continue to our MOT history check by registration. It offers a free preview of available MOT records and shows the optional full-report price before checkout. The report is independent and is not a DVLA tax payment service.
Road tax calculator FAQs
Can I check road tax by registration for free?
This calculator provides a free estimate of the standard annual car tax rate from vehicle details returned for a registration. For the official live status (taxed, untaxed or SORN) and the vehicle's due date, use the GOV.UK checker.
How much is road tax for a car registered after April 2017?
The current standard single 12-month renewal rate shown in the GOV.UK table is £200. A qualifying expensive-car supplement may add £440 a year for five years. The first tax payment when a car is initially registered is calculated separately.
What information determines a car tax band?
It depends on the first registration date. Cars registered from March 2001 to March 2017 use CO2 bands; cars first registered before March 2001 use engine size. Later cars use the standard renewal rate, with possible additional rules such as the expensive-car supplement.
Is this the exact amount I will pay DVLA?
No. It is an estimate of the standard 12-month car renewal rate. It does not verify the vehicle tax class, the expensive-car supplement, the first-registration payment or payment-plan costs. GOV.UK and DVLA should be used to confirm the amount due.
Does road tax transfer when I buy a used car?
No. Vehicle tax does not transfer to the new keeper. Tax the car in your own name before driving it, and check its current status rather than relying on the seller's old paperwork.
Can this calculator estimate tax for a van, motorbike or motorhome?
No. This estimate uses passenger-car rates only. GOV.UK publishes separate tables for light goods vehicles, motorcycles, motorhomes and other vehicle classes.
Check the car beyond its tax estimate
A road tax estimate is one part of a used-car check. Review available MOT dates, mileage readings, failures and advisories before deciding what to do next.
Check MOT history and report optionsMOT History Free is an independent service. MOT records are sourced from available DVSA data; tax payments and live tax status are handled by DVLA.