Used Car Tax Calculator
Calculate the annual road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) for any used car in the UK. Based on CO2 emissions, fuel type, and first registration date using the latest 2026 DVLA VED rates.
Used Car Road Tax (VED) Estimator
Based on 2026 DVLA rates — covers all registration dates and fuel types
Check the V5C (logbook) for the exact first registration date. This determines which VED scheme applies.
RDE2-compliant diesels registered after Sept 2018 typically meet the standard. Check manufacturer specs if unsure.
Found on the V5C logbook or manufacturer’s data. Used to calculate the first-year rate only.
The published price when new (including options). Cars over £40,000 pay an expensive car supplement for years 2–6.
How old is the car? Used to determine if the expensive car supplement still applies (years 2–6 only).
Road Tax Result
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) — 2026 DVLA Rates
Enter your car details and click Calculate Road Tax to see your annual VED cost, payment options, and CO2 tax band.
VED CO2 Bands 2026 Rates
Annual road tax rates for cars registered on or after 1 April 2017, based on CO2 emissions (g/km). The standard rate of £190/year applies from year 2 onwards. The first-year rate varies by CO2 band as shown below. Cars over £40,000 list price pay an additional £425/year supplement in years 2–6.
| CO2 Emissions | Fuel Type | First Year Rate | Standard Rate (Year 2+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 g/km (EV/ZEV) | Electric | £0 | £190 |
| 1–50 g/km | Petrol/Diesel | £10 | £190 |
| 51–75 g/km | Petrol/Diesel | £30 | £190 |
| 76–90 g/km | Petrol/Diesel | £135 | £190 |
| 91–100 g/km | Petrol/Diesel | £175 | £190 |
| 101–110 g/km | Petrol/Diesel | £195 | £190 |
| 111–130 g/km | Petrol/Diesel | £220 | £190 |
| 131–150 g/km | Petrol/Diesel | £270 | £190 |
| 151–170 g/km | Petrol/Diesel | £680 | £190 |
| 171–190 g/km | Petrol/Diesel | £1,095 | £190 |
| 191–225 g/km | Petrol/Diesel | £1,650 | £190 |
| 226–255 g/km | Petrol/Diesel | £2,340 | £190 |
| Over 255 g/km | Petrol/Diesel | £2,745 | £190 |
Used Car Road Tax FAQ
Everything you need to know about road tax for used cars in the UK, including VED rates, payment options, and exemptions.
Road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty or VED) for used cars in the UK is calculated based on the car’s CO2 emissions and its first registration date. Cars registered on or after 1 April 2017 pay a standard annual rate of £190, with a higher first-year rate based on CO2 emissions. Cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pay based solely on CO2 emissions using the older VED bands ranging from £0 for zero-emission vehicles to over £600 for high-emission vehicles.
Yes. Road tax is no longer transferred with the car when it is sold. When you buy a used car, the previous owner’s road tax is automatically cancelled and they receive a refund for any full remaining months. As the new owner, you must tax the vehicle before driving it on public roads. You can do this online via the DVLA website, by phone, or at a Post Office.
For cars first registered on or after 1 April 2017, the standard annual road tax rate is £190 per year from the second year onwards (2026 rates). Diesel cars that do not meet the RDE2 standard pay a supplement on the first-year rate. Cars with a list price over £40,000 also pay an additional expensive car supplement of £425 per year for years 2 to 6.
From 1 April 2025, electric vehicles (EVs) registered on or after 1 April 2017 are no longer exempt from road tax and now pay the standard rate of £190 per year. EVs registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 now pay £20 per year. This was a significant change to the previous policy which had made EVs free to tax.
You can check the road tax band and cost for any used car by entering its registration number on the DVLA’s vehicle enquiry service at gov.uk. The CO2 emissions figure is usually found on the car’s V5C logbook (registration certificate), or you can look it up using the manufacturer’s specifications. Our calculator uses the CO2 figure and registration date to estimate the annual VED cost.
Cars with a published list price of over £40,000 when new are subject to an expensive car supplement, which adds an extra £425 per year to the standard road tax rate for years 2 through 6 of the vehicle’s life (a 5-year period). This applies to all fuel types including electric vehicles since 2025. After 6 years from first registration, the supplement no longer applies.
Yes. You can choose to pay road tax annually, every 6 months, or monthly by Direct Debit via the DVLA. Monthly Direct Debit payments add 5% to the total annual cost. The 6-month rate is 55% of the full annual fee, making it slightly more expensive than paying annually. Paying annually is the cheapest option overall.