Car Tax Calculator
Car Tax Explained: Rates, Calculator and Legal Requirements
If a vehicle is not declared SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification), it must usually be taxed before it is driven or kept on a public road in the UK. The official name for car tax is Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), although many drivers still call it road tax or car tax.
This guide explains how car tax works, how to check whether a vehicle is taxed, and how to calculate what you may need to pay.
How to use a car tax calculator
The easiest way to calculate vehicle tax is by using the GOV.UK vehicle tax service. You will need:
- Your vehicle registration number.
- The vehicle log book (V5C), if available.
Car Tax Calculator
How much is my car tax?
The price of car tax depends on a few factors. You can either pay your tax on a monthly basis via direct debit, or you can pay your car tax in an annual lump sum.
Vehicle tax depends mainly on:
- CO2 emissions.
- Fuel type.
- Date of first registration.
- List price (for some vehicles over £40,000).
To find out how much the tax will be for your vehicle, please click on the button below.
Car Tax Prices
How to check a car is taxed
If you are wanting to know how to check a car is taxed, this can be done in a matter of minutes online by heading to the https://www.gov.uk website. Alternatively, you can head to the following article on our website to find out more information: How to check a car is taxed.
To check instantly online using the GOV.UK vehicle tax checker, you'll only need:
- Your vehicle registration number.
This will confirm:
- Whether tax is active.
- When tax expires.
- MOT status.
Is car tax a legal requirement?
Yes, unless the vehicle is exempt or declared SORN.
A vehicle can be driven without tax only if travelling to a pre-booked MOT appointment, provided it is insured and roadworthy. However, your vehicle will still need to be insured - you cannot legally drive without valid car insurance.
If you are heading to an MOT Check without vehicle tax, it must be a pre-booked appointment. To book an MOT at your local National Tyres and Autocare branch, please click on the button below.
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What are car tax bands?
Depending on your vehicle, there are different tax bands based on the CO2 emissions of each vehicle.
For newly registered vehicles, first-year tax is based on CO2 emissions. For diesel cars that do not meet the Real Driving Emissions 2, you'll have to pay a higher rate. You can ask your car’s manufacturer or consult your owner's manual to check if your car meets the RDE2 standard.
Example car tax bands:
- 0g/km CO2 = £10 first-year rate.
- 131–150g/km = £540 first-year rate (£1,360 for all other diesel cars - TC49).
- Over 255g/km = £5,490 first-year rate.
After the first year, most vehicles move to the standard annual rate.
To find out which vehicle tax band your vehicle fits into, please click the button below.
Tax Bands
What vehicles don't need road tax?
Some vehicles are exempt from vehicle tax, including:
- Electric vehicles weighing over 3,500kg
- Vehicles registered as off the road (SORN)
- Vehicles made before Jan 1st 1985
- Steam-powered vehicles
- Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs (max 8mph on roads and 4mph on footways)
- Agricultural vehicles
- Horticultural vehicles
- Forestry vehicles
- Disabled passenger vehicles
- Drivers who are disabled (Claim disability exemption here)
As of April 1st 2025, most e-vehicles are no longer exempt from road tax.
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