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Check whether your car is taxed by entering your reg number on the side
Is my car taxed?
Ever wondered about that “road tax” for your car?
In most places, it’s actually called Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). Basically, it’s a yearly fee you pay to legally drive your car on public roads. Think of it as a kind of permit – you need it to keep your car street-worthy.
Brand-new electric vehicles often get a break on this fee since they don’t pollute the air. But for most other cars, VED is a must-have. Driving around untaxed can lead to fines, which is no fun for anyone.
Want to check if your car is taxed? No problem! We’ve got a free and easy car tax checker. Just pop in your registration number and it’ll tell you if your car is good to go.
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How do I tax a car?
Taxing your car is easy! In the past, it might have involved trips to the Post Office, but now you can do it all online through the DVLA website. Here’s what you’ll typically need:
- Your car’s registration number
- A valid MOT certificate
- Payment information
Bonus tip: If you’ve just bought a car, you’ll likely have a green “New Keeper” slip. This has all the information you need to get taxed online.
Don’t have all the documents? No worries! The DVLA website can help you replace missing ones.
How Much Is Car Tax In The UK?
The cost of car tax in the UK depends on two key factors: your car’s age and how clean it burns (emissions).
Generally, the greener your car, the less tax you’ll pay. Electric cars are currently exempt from car tax (until April 2025) because they don’t produce emissions, and newer hybrids fall into a lower bracket than petrol or diesel vehicles.
Things get a bit more specific depending on when your car was registered:
Registered after April 1st, 2017
For the first year, you’ll pay an initial rate based on CO2 emissions. From year two onwards, the standard rate applies. The current first-year rates are:
| CO2 Emissions | Petrol Cars & RDE2 Diesel Cars (TC49) | Other Diesel Cars (TC49) | Alternative Fuel Vehicles (TC59) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0g/km | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| 1 to 50g/km | £10 | £30 | £0 |
| 51 to 75g/km | £30 | £135 | £20 |
| 76 to 90g/km | £135 | £175 | £125 |
| 91 to 100g/km | £175 | £195 | £165 |
| 101 to 110g/km | £195 | £220 | £185 |
| 111 to 130g/km | £220 | £270 | £210 |
| 131 to 150g/km | £270 | £680 | £260 |
| 151 to 170g/km | £680 | £1,095 | £670 |
| 171 to 190g/km | £1,095 | £1,650 | £1,085 |
| 191 to 225g/km | £1,650 | £2,340 | £1,640 |
| 226 to 255g/km | £2,340 | £2,745 | £2,330 |
| Over 255g/km | £2,745 | £2,745 | £2,735 |
The standard rates that follow are:
| Type of Fuel | Annual Payment | Annual Payment via Direct Debit | 12 Monthly Direct Debit Payments | Six-Month Payment | Six-Month Direct Debit Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol or Diesel | £190 | £190 | £199.50 | £104.50 | £99.75 |
| Electric | £0 | N/A | N/A | £0 | N/A |
| Alternative Fuel | £180 | £180 | £189 | £99 | £94.50 |
Some cars, like hybrids and those running on bioethanol or LPG (liquid petroleum gas), are considered alternative fuel vehicles. Thanks to their cleaner emissions, these vehicles often benefit from lower standard tax rates.
There is also an Expensive Car Supplement that applies to cars with a list price of £40,000 or more (unless it’s a zero-emission vehicle). If your car falls into this category, you’ll pay an additional £410 annually for five years, starting from the second time you tax the vehicle.
Registered between March 1st, 2001 and March 31st, 2017
Here, you’ll have a fixed annual rate based on the type of fuel your car uses and its emissions.
| CO2 Emission Band | Annual Payment | Annual Payment via Direct Debit | 12 Monthly Installments via Direct Debit | Six-Month Payment | Six-Month Payment via Direct Debit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Up to 100g/km | £0 | £0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| B: 101 to 110g/km | £20 | £20 | £21 | N/A | N/A |
| C: 111 to 120g/km | £35 | £35 | £36.75 | N/A | N/A |
| D: 121 to 130g/km | £160 | £160 | £168 | £88 | £84 |
| E: 131 to 140g/km | £190 | £190 | £199.50 | £104.50 | £99.75 |
| F: 141 to 150g/km | £210 | £210 | £220.50 | £115.50 | £110.25 |
| G: 151 to 165g/km | £255 | £255 | £267.75 | £140.25 | £133.88 |
| H: 166 to 175g/km | £305 | £305 | £320.25 | £167.75 | £160.13 |
| I: 176 to 185g/km | £335 | £335 | £351.75 | £184.25 | £175.88 |
| J: 186 to 200g/km | £385 | £385 | £404.25 | £211.75 | £202.13 |
| K**: 201 to 225g/km | £415 | £415 | £435.75 | £228.25 | £217.88 |
| L: 226 to 255g/km | £710 | £710 | £745.50 | £390.50 | £372.75 |
| M: Over 255g/km | £735 | £735 | £771.75 | £404.25 | £385.88 |
Registered before March 2001
If your car was registered before March 2001, you can still find out its specific tax rate on the government website.
How Much Is Car Tax In The UK?
The cost of car tax in the UK depends on two key factors: your car’s age and how clean it burns (emissions).
Generally, the greener your car, the less tax you’ll pay. Electric cars are currently exempt from car tax (until April 2025) because they don’t produce emissions, and newer hybrids fall into a lower bracket than petrol or diesel vehicles.
Things get a bit more specific depending on when your car was registered:
Car Road Tax FAQs
How much does car tax cost?
The amount of car tax you pay will depend on which ‘band’ your car is categorised in. When your car goes in for its MOT, they will perform a C02 emissions test. The results of that Co2 emissions test will determine which ‘band’ your car lands in. You will be given the option of paying for your car tax in monthly instalments, paying for 6 months upfront, or paying for the full year in one. To see how much road tax will cost you for your car, this DVLA car tax information chart will help click here.
How long does car tax last for?
This all depends on which option you choose when you pay for it. As your car needs to have it’s MOT check every 12 months, most people tend to pay for 12 months of road tax so that the renewal dates coincide with each other. However, you can choose to pay for 6 months of road tax if you wish, but you will have to do your car tax check twice a year. The choice is yours.
What happens if I don’t pay road tax?
Paying for your car tax is a legal requirement, so ignore it at your peril. The implications for not paying for car tax include fines, being taken to court, and potentially even having your car taken off you, so get that car tax status checked out now!
What does SORN mean?
SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification and it is a declaration that you are the owner of a vehicle but that you are taking it off the road. A vehicle with SORN status cannot be kept on a public road, so it will have to be stored on a driveway, garage, or private land. Taking a vehicle off the road can be for a number of reasons, but by completing a SORN declaration you won’t have to pay any car tax. Want to know more? Read our guide on selling a SORN car.
How do I cancel or get a refund on car tax?
By telling the DVLA you no longer have the vehicle or it’s off the road, you are entitled to get a refund for any full months of remaining tax. Partial months will not be refunded.
You can get a refund from the DVLA for car tax in any of the following scenarios:
- The vehicle has been taken off the road (SORN)
- The vehicle is sold or transferred
- The vehicle has been stolen
- The vehicle has been written off or scrapped
- The vehicle has been registered as exempt from vehicle tax
- The vehicle has been exported out of the UK
Can I tax a car without a V5C logbook?
Yes, you can! While the V5C is helpful, it’s not mandatory. You can tax your car online, by phone, or at a Post Office with your vehicle registration number and either a valid MOT certificate, your reminder letter (V11), or the new keeper slip (if you just bought the car).
Can I tax a car without insurance?
No, car tax and insurance are separate requirements. You cannot tax a car unless it has valid insurance.
Can you insure a car without tax?
Yes, you can insure a car without tax. However, you must tax the car before you drive it on public roads.
Can I drive a car home without tax if I’ve just bought it?
No, you cannot drive a car home without tax. The car must be taxed before you drive it on public roads. You can arrange for the tax online or over the phone immediately after purchase.
How soon can I tax a car after buying it?
You can tax a car immediately after buying it. You can do this online, by phone, or at a post office.
Can you use temporary car insurance in order to tax a car?
Yes, you can use temporary car insurance to tax a car. Ensure that the temporary insurance policy covers the necessary period for the tax application.
How long does it take for car tax to be registered?
Car tax is usually registered immediately when you pay online or by phone. However, if you tax your car at a post office, it may take a few days to show up in the DVLA system.
Can you ever drive a car legally without tax?
If you are driving on public roads, you can’t drive legally without car tax.
How can I check if a car has been taxed?
You can check if a car has been taxed by using our free online checker. All you have to do is enter your reg number – it’s that simple.
How can I report an untaxed car anonymously?
You can report an untaxed car anonymously through the DVLA website or by calling their hotline.
What happens if I drive without tax?
Driving an untaxed car can lead to fines, penalty points on your licence, or even having the vehicle clamped or impounded.
How do you register your vehicle as off-the-road (SORN)?
To register your vehicle as off the road (SORN), you can do so online via the DVLA website, by phone, or by sending a SORN application form to the DVLA.
How do I cancel my car tax to get a refund?
To cancel your car tax and get a refund, you need to notify the DVLA that the vehicle has been sold, scrapped, exported, or registered as off-the-road (SORN). The refund will be for any full remaining months of tax.
How soon can I tax my car?
You can tax your car for up to two months before the current tax expires. If it’s a new purchase, you can tax it immediately.
What documents do I need to tax my car?
To tax your car, you’ll need the V5C logbook or V5C/2 green slip, proof of insurance, and a valid MOT certificate if applicable.