Vehicle tax rates

Skip contents

Cars registered on or after 1 April 2017

You need to pay tax when the vehicle is first registered, this covers the vehicle for 12 months.

You鈥檒l then pay vehicle tax every 6 or 12 months at a different rate.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

First tax payment when you register the vehicle

You鈥檒l pay a rate based on a vehicle鈥檚 CO2 emissions the first time it鈥檚 registered.

This also applies to some motorhomes.

You have to pay a higher rate for diesel cars that do not meet the Real Driving Emissions 2 (RDE2) standard for nitrogen oxide emissions. You can ask your car鈥檚 manufacturer if your car meets the RDE2 standard.

CO2 emissions Diesel cars (TC49) that meet the RDE2 standard, petrol cars (TC48), Alternative fuel and zero emission cars All other diesel cars (TC49)
0g/km 拢10 拢10
1 to 50g/km 拢110 拢130
51 to 75g/km 拢130 拢270
76 to 90g/km 拢270 拢350
91 to 100g/km 拢350 拢390
101 to 110g/km 拢390 拢440
111 to 130g/km 拢440 拢540
131 to 150g/km 拢540 拢1,360
151 to 170g/km 拢1,360 拢2,190
171 to 190g/km 拢2,190 拢3,300
191 to 225g/km 拢3,300 拢4,680
226 to 255g/km 拢4,680 拢5,490
Over 255g/km 拢5,490 拢5,490

This payment covers your vehicle for 12 months.

Rates for second tax payment onwards

Fuel type Single 12 month payment Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit Total of 12 monthly payments by Direct Debit Single 6 month payment Single 6 month payment by Direct Debit
Petrol or diesel, Electric & Alternative Fuel 拢195 拢195 拢204.75 拢107.25 拢102.38听

Alternative fuel vehicles include hybrids, bioethanol and liquid petroleum gas.

Vehicles with a list price of more than 拢40,000

You have to pay an extra 拢425 a year if you have a car or motorhome with a list price of more than 拢40,000.

You do not have to pay this if both of the following apply:

  • you have a zero emission vehicle
  • the vehicle was registered before 1 April 2025

The list price is the published price of the vehicle before it鈥檚 registered for the first time. It鈥檚 the price before any discounts are applied.

You only have to pay this rate for 5 years (from the second time the vehicle is taxed).

Check the list price with your dealer so you know how much vehicle tax you鈥檒l have to pay.

Fuel type Single 12 month payment Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit Total of 12 monthly payments by Direct Debit Single 6 month payment Single 6 month payment by Direct Debit
Petrol or diesel, Electric & Alternative Fuel聽 拢620 拢620 拢651 拢341 拢325.50
View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of Buy a vehicle: step by step

  1. Step 1

    You'll need the vehicle's registration number, make, model and MOT test number. You also need to see the V5C vehicle registration certificate (log book).

    1. Check the details you've been given match DVLA's information
    2. Check the vehicle's MOT history
    3. Check if the vehicle has been recalled because of a safety issue
    4. Check the log book is not for a stolen vehicle

  2. Step 2

    Once you've bought the vehicle, you have to register it. How you register it depends on whether it has a V5C registration certificate (log book).

    1. Find out how to register your vehicle
    2. Get a vehicle log book if you do not have it 拢25

  3. and

    You must get an MOT for your vehicle every year once it's 3 years old.

    1. Get a reminder when your MOT is due

  4. Step 3

    You must have insurance before you can use your vehicle on the road.

    2. Read about vehicle insurance

  5. Step 4

    You need to tax the vehicle before you can use it on the road.

    1. You are currently viewing: Check how much you鈥檒l have to pay to tax your vehicle
    2. Check when you do not have to pay vehicle tax
    3. Tax your vehicle