Car Tax Calculator
Work out your UK car tax (VED) for 2026/27. Enter your car's CO2 emissions, fuel type and list price — the calculator shows the one-off first-year rate, the flat £200 standard rate from year 2, whether the £440 expensive car supplement applies, and a full 6-year cost breakdown.
£560 first-year rate
£200/year from year 2 onward
6-year total: £1,560
| Year | Base rate | Expensive car supplement | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £560 | — | £560 |
| Year 2 | £200 | — | £200 |
| Year 3 | £200 | — | £200 |
| Year 4 | £200 | — | £200 |
| Year 5 | £200 | — | £200 |
| Year 6 | £200 | — | £200 |
First-year rate depends on CO2 and fuel type; the flat standard rate and the expensive car supplement (list price over £40,000 petrol/diesel or £50,000 electric) apply the same way regardless of fuel since the April 2025 reform. How we calculate →
How UK car tax (VED) works
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), better known as car tax, has two very different price tags for the same car: a first-year rate you pay once when the car is first registered, then a flat standard rate every year after that. The first-year rate is set by the car's CO2 emissions and fuel type — the dirtier the car on paper, the steeper the first bill — while the standard rate from year 2 onward is now the same flat amount whatever you drive, including electric cars.
This calculator shows both bills plus a 6-year running total, so you can see the real cost of ownership rather than just the headline first-year figure car adverts like to quote.
First-year rates by CO2 band (2026/27)
The first-year rate rises in steps as CO2 emissions increase, from £10 for zero-emission cars up to £5,690 for the dirtiest band (over 255g/km). Petrol cars, diesel cars meeting the RDE2 standard for nitrogen oxide emissions, and alternative-fuel cars (hybrids, LPG, bioethanol) share the same 'clean' scale. Diesel cars that do not meet RDE2 pay a noticeably higher first-year rate at every CO2 band above zero — for example £560 vs £455 at 111-130g/km, and the gap widens further up the scale.
Ask the manufacturer or check your car's paperwork if you are not sure whether a diesel meets RDE2 — it changes the first-year bill by hundreds of pounds on many mid-range cars.
The standard rate: same for everyone since 2025
From year 2 onward, VED is a flat £200 a year (2026/27) for petrol, diesel, electric and alternative-fuel cars alike. This followed the April 2025 reform that ended the long-standing VED exemption for electric vehicles — EVs registered from that date pay the same standard rate as petrol and diesel cars, even though their first-year rate stays at the minimum £10.
You can pay this by single 12-month payment, by 12 monthly Direct Debit instalments (slightly more, £210 total), or as a single 6-month payment (£110, or £105 by Direct Debit).
The expensive car supplement (£40k / £50k rule)
Cars with a list price over £40,000 (petrol, diesel or hybrid) or over £50,000 (electric) attract an extra £440 a year on top of the standard rate. This supplement kicks in from the second time the car is taxed and lasts 5 years — so it typically adds up to £2,200 across years 2 to 6 of ownership. List price means the published price before the first registration, including options, and before any dealer discount.
Electric cars registered from 1 April 2025 are NOT exempt from this supplement — a £55,000 EV pays it just like a £55,000 petrol car would if the petrol/diesel threshold applied to it. Zero-emission cars registered before 1 April 2025 remain exempt from the supplement.
Electric cars and VED: what changed in 2025
Until 31 March 2025, electric cars paid no VED at all. From 1 April 2025, EVs joined the standard VED system: £10 first-year rate, £200 standard rate from year 2, and the £440 expensive car supplement if the list price is over £50,000. This calculator applies the post-reform rules throughout, since they are what every EV registered in 2026/27 will pay.
Working out your true cost of ownership
Because the first-year rate is a one-off and the standard rate (plus any expensive car supplement) repeats every year, a car with a low first-year bill can still cost more over time than one with a higher first-year bill, if it also carries the supplement. Enter your car's CO2, fuel type and list price above to see the full 6-year breakdown side by side, not just the number the dealer quotes at the point of sale.
Frequently asked questions
How much is UK car tax (VED) in 2026/27?
It depends on your car. The one-off first-year rate ranges from £10 (zero emission) to £5,690 (over 255g/km CO2), based on CO2 and fuel type. From year 2 onward, everyone pays a flat £200 a year — plus £440 a year for 5 years if the car's list price was over £40,000 (petrol/diesel) or £50,000 (electric).
Do electric cars pay road tax in 2026?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025, electric cars pay VED like any other car: a minimum £10 first-year rate, then the standard £200 a year from year 2, plus the £440 expensive car supplement if the list price was over £50,000. Only zero-emission cars registered before 1 April 2025 keep the old exemption.
What is the expensive car supplement?
An extra £440 a year on top of the standard rate, for cars with a list price over £40,000 (petrol, diesel, hybrid) or £50,000 (electric). It applies for 5 years, starting from the second time the car is taxed — so typically years 2 to 6 of ownership, adding up to £2,200 in total.
What is RDE2 and why does it affect my diesel car tax?
RDE2 (Real Driving Emissions Step 2) is a nitrogen oxide emissions standard. Diesel cars that do NOT meet RDE2 pay a higher first-year VED rate than petrol cars or RDE2-compliant diesels at every CO2 band above zero — the gap can be several hundred pounds. Ask the manufacturer if you are unsure whether your diesel meets RDE2.
Is the list price the same as what I paid for the car?
No. The list price for VED purposes is the manufacturer's published price before the car was first registered, including any factory-fitted options, and BEFORE any dealer discount. So a £42,000-list car you negotiated down to £37,000 still counts as over the £40,000 expensive car threshold.
How do I pay my car tax?
You can pay a single 12-month amount, split into 12 monthly Direct Debit instalments (a small surcharge applies, e.g. £210 total instead of £200), or pay a single 6-month amount (£110, or £105 by Direct Debit) if you don't want to commit to a full year.
Researched & verified by the Calcuris Data & Research Team. How we build and check our tools →