Key points
- Most cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year from their second year.
- Cars with a list price over £40,000 pay £440 more for 5 years (over £50,000 for electric cars).
- The first year depends on CO2: from £10 for zero emissions to £5,690 for the highest.
- Electric cars now pay vehicle tax, at the same standard rate as other cars.
Work out your own
Put in your registration date, fuel, CO2 and list price.
Open the vehicle tax calculatorWhat you pay: examples
| Car | A year |
|---|---|
| New petrol car, 120 g/km, £25,000 | £455 |
| Same car from its second year | £200 |
| Petrol car, £45,000 list price, second year | £640 |
| New electric car, £35,000 | £10 |
| Electric car, £55,000, second year | £640 |
First-year rates (cars registered from April 2017)
The first tax payment, made when the car is registered, depends on its CO2 emissions:
| CO2 emissions | First year |
|---|---|
| 0 g/km | £10 |
| 1 to 50 g/km | £115 |
| 51 to 75 g/km | £135 |
| 76 to 90 g/km | £280 |
| 91 to 100 g/km | £365 |
| 101 to 110 g/km | £405 |
| 111 to 130 g/km | £455 |
| 131 to 150 g/km | £560 |
| 151 to 170 g/km | £1,410 |
| 171 to 190 g/km | £2,270 |
| 191 to 225 g/km | £3,420 |
| 226 to 255 g/km | £4,850 |
| Over 255 g/km | £5,690 |
Diesel cars that don't meet the RDE2 standard pay a higher first-year rate.
From the second year
After the first year, cars registered from April 2017 pay the standard rate of £200 a year. If the list price was over £40,000 (£50,000 for an electric car), they also pay the £440 supplement in years two to six. Electric cars registered before April 2025 don't pay the supplement.
Older cars
Cars first registered between March 2001 and March 2017 pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790 a year. Cars from before March 2001 pay by engine size: £230 up to 1549cc and £375 above.
Bottom line
For most cars bought since 2017, car tax is a flat rate after the first year, plus the supplement if the list price was high. The list price is the price when new, including options, not what you paid.
Tips
- Paying monthly or every six months by Direct Debit costs a little more than paying for the year at once.
- Check a car's tax and MOT on GOV.UK before buying it: tax does not pass to a new owner.
- The expensive car supplement uses the original list price, so a used car can still pay it.
This guide explains the rules; it is not personal financial advice.