Free tool · 2026/27 rates
Road tax calculator
Enter a registration number to see what the car costs to tax for the 2026/27 tax year (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027). We read the official DVLA record, apply the Vehicle Excise Duty rules for its age and fuel type, and show every payment option, how the figure was worked out and what next year is likely to cost.
How UK road tax is calculated
Vehicle Excise Duty depends mainly on when a car was first registered. There are three sets of rules, and the calculator picks the right one from the DVLA record.
| First registered | Taxed on | 2026/27 annual rate |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1 March 2001 | Engine size | £230 (up to 1,549cc) or £375 |
| 1 March 2001 – 31 March 2017 | CO2 band A to M | £20 to £790 |
| From 1 April 2017 | CO2 in year one, then flat rate | £200, or £640 with the expensive car supplement |
Electric cars have paid road tax since 1 April 2025. An electric car registered between March 2001 and March 2017 sits in band A at £20, and one registered from April 2017 pays the £200 standard rate. For the full picture, including the £50,000 supplement threshold for newer electric cars, read our guide to electric car road tax.
The expensive car supplement
Cars first registered from 1 April 2017 with a list price of more than £40,000 pay an extra £440 a year for five years, starting from the second time the car is taxed. For zero emission cars registered from 1 April 2025 the threshold is more than £50,000, and zero emission cars registered before 1 April 2025 never pay it. The list price is the published price before the car was first registered and before any discounts, not what anyone paid for it.
Rates checked against GOV.UK on 23 October 2026. The Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026 may change rates for 2027/28. This tool covers private cars only; vans, motorcycles and disabled exemptions are not included. See the official GOV.UK vehicle tax rate tables.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the calculator get its data?
From the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service: the month of first registration, fuel type, CO2 emissions, engine size, tax status and tax due date. DVLA does not hold the list price, so we ask for it only when the expensive car supplement could apply.
How much is road tax on a car registered after April 2017?
After the first year, cars first registered from 1 April 2017 pay the standard rate of £200 a year in 2026/27. If the list price was more than £40,000 (more than £50,000 for zero emission cars registered from 1 April 2025), a £440 supplement is added for five years, from the second time the car is taxed, making £640.
How is road tax worked out for older cars?
Cars first registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 are taxed on CO2 emissions in bands A to M, from £20 to £790 a year in 2026/27. Cars first registered before 1 March 2001 are taxed on engine size: £230 up to 1,549cc and £375 above.
Is it cheaper to pay road tax monthly?
No. Twelve monthly Direct Debits cost about 5% more than a single 12-month payment. For example, the £200 standard rate becomes £210 spread over twelve months.
Does road tax transfer when I buy a used car?
No. Tax does not pass to the new keeper. You need to tax the car before driving it, and the seller can claim a refund for any full months left.
Why does the calculator show two figures?
When a fact that changes the rate is not on the DVLA record, such as the list price when new, we show both possible figures rather than guess. Choose the right price bracket or enter the exact amount to get a single figure.
Are classic cars exempt?
Vehicles built before 1 January 1986 can be exempt from 1 April 2026, but the keeper must apply. The calculator shows the normal rate with a note when the year of manufacture is before 1986.