# Car tax in 2026: rates for every car | ComputeNow

URL: https://computenow.co.uk/guides/car-tax-2026/

> Car tax (VED) from April 2026: first-year rates by CO2, the £200 standard rate, the £440 expensive car supplement and electric cars.

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# Car tax in 2026: rates for every car

How much vehicle tax you pay depends on when your car was first registered, its CO2 emissions and its list price. Here are the rates from 1 April 2026.
Published 18 October 2026UK
By the ComputeNow team, checked against GOV.UK and HMRC[Sources (3)](#sources)[How we calculate](https://computenow.co.uk/methodology/)

## 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 calculator](https://computenow.co.uk/vehicle-tax-calculator/)

## What 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.

## Related

[Vehicle tax calculator Yearly car tax for your car](https://computenow.co.uk/vehicle-tax-calculator/)[Car finance calculator Monthly payments and total cost](https://computenow.co.uk/car-finance-calculator/)[Company car tax calculator Benefit-in-kind tax on a company car](https://computenow.co.uk/company-car-tax-calculator/)

## Guides and help

### Our guides

[Salary sacrifice explained Pensions, electric cars and what you save](https://computenow.co.uk/guides/salary-sacrifice-explained/)

### Official services and free advice

[Tax your vehicle GOV.UK: pay vehicle tax online](https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax)[Check if a vehicle is taxed GOV.UK: by registration number](https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax)[Check MOT history GOV.UK: mileage and past faults before you buy](https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history)

## Article sources

Each source was last checked on 18 October 2026.

- [GOV.UK: Vehicle tax rate tables](https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables)
- [GOV.UK: Rates for cars registered 2001 to 2017](https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables/rates-for-cars-registered-on-or-after-1-march-2001)
- [GOV.UK: Rates for cars registered before March 2001](https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables/rates-for-cars-and-light-goods-vehicles-registered-before-1-march-2001)
These results are an estimate, not financial advice. They use the 2026/27 rates in force on 24 October 2026 and the inputs shown, so your actual tax, pay or costs may differ. Before making a decision about your money, check the figures with HMRC or your provider, or speak to a regulated financial adviser. Free, impartial guidance is available from MoneyHelper.
This page explains the rules using the 2026/27 rates in force on 24 October 2026. It is general information, not financial advice. For decisions about your own money, speak to a regulated financial adviser, or get free, impartial guidance from MoneyHelper.