- Three ways to tax a vehicle
- Checking whether a vehicle is taxed
- Cars registered since 2017: the first payment
- Cars registered since 2017: second payment onwards
- The expensive car supplement most buyers miss
- Cars registered between 2001 and 2017
- Vans, motorcycles and tricycles
- Plain advice before you tax your vehicle
- Frequently asked questions
You must tax a vehicle with DVLA even if it's exempt and you pay nothing, unless you've registered it as off the road with a SORN. As of Nov 2026, GOV.UK lists 200 pounds for a single 12 month payment for most cars registered on or after 1 April, 2017, from the second tax payment onwards.
Vehicle tax trips people up because the rate depends on when the car was first registered, what it runs on and, for newer cars, what it cost new. The good news is that taxing it takes a few minutes once you have the right reference number. Below is how GOV.UK says to tax a vehicle, how to check whether one is taxed, and what its rate tables show for cars, vans and motorcycles. All amounts in the tables are in pounds, as GOV.UK lists them.
Three ways to tax a vehicle
Online, you'll need a reference number from one of these: a recent vehicle tax reminder or last chance warning letter from DVLA, your vehicle log book (V5C), which must be in your name, or the green new keeper slip from a log book if you've just bought the vehicle. If you don't have any of these, you'll need to apply for a new log book, and you can tax the vehicle at the same time.
- Online: use the GOV.UK Tax your vehicle service and pay by Direct Debit, or by debit or credit card.
- By phone: call the DVLA vehicle tax service on 0300 123 4321, a 24-hour service. You can't set up a Direct Debit over the phone.
- At a Post Office: go to a branch that deals with vehicle tax with the payment or your bank details to set up a Direct Debit, plus your V5C in your name or the green new keeper slip. You might also need evidence of a valid MOT, such as a screenshot of the vehicle's MOT history.
GOV.UK warns it can take up to 2 days for MOT information to update, so you might not be able to tax a vehicle straight after it passes. In Northern Ireland, taxing at a Post Office also needs a paper insurance certificate or cover note, and an original MOT certificate or evidence of a Temporary Exemption Certificate (TEC).
If you keep the vehicle off the road, for example in a garage, register it as off the road and you don't need to tax it. Changing a car's tax class to or from disabled, for instance if you're disabled and taxing a car for the first time, can only be done at a Post Office.
Checking whether a vehicle is taxed
GOV.UK's vehicle enquiry service tells you whether a vehicle has up-to-date tax or has been registered as off the road. You only need the registration number. The same service shows the current tax rates for your vehicle if you have the 11-digit reference number from its V5C. If you've just applied for tax or a SORN, GOV.UK says it can take up to 2 working days for the records to update once the application is approved. To check insurance, GOV.UK points you to askMID.
For a brand-new car that isn't registered yet, the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) service checks the rate if you know the fuel type, the CO2 emissions and the list price.
Cars registered since 2017: the first payment
For cars registered on or after 1 April, 2017, the first payment covers 12 months and is set by CO2 emissions. Diesel cars that don't meet the Real Driving Emissions 2 (RDE2) standard for nitrogen oxide pay the higher column, and your manufacturer can tell you if your car meets it.
| CO2 emissions | Petrol, RDE2 diesel, alternative fuel and zero emission (pounds) | All other diesel (pounds) |
|---|---|---|
| 0g/km | 10 (lowest band) | 10 |
| 1 to 50g/km | 115 | 135 |
| 51 to 75g/km | 135 | 280 |
| 76 to 90g/km | 280 | 365 |
| 91 to 100g/km | 365 | 405 |
| 101 to 110g/km | 405 | 455 |
| 111 to 130g/km | 455 | 560 |
| 131 to 150g/km | 560 | 1,410 |
| 151 to 170g/km | 1,410 | 2,270 |
| 171 to 190g/km | 2,270 | 3,420 |
| 191 to 225g/km | 3,420 | 4,850 |
| 226 to 255g/km | 4,850 | 5,690 |
| Over 255g/km | 5,690 | 5,690 |
Cars registered since 2017: second payment onwards
After the first year you pay every 6 or 12 months at a flat rate that's the same for petrol, diesel, electric and alternative fuel cars. GOV.UK says alternative fuel includes hybrids, bioethanol and liquid petroleum gas.
| How you pay | Standard rate (pounds) | List price over the limit (pounds) |
|---|---|---|
| Single 12 month payment | 200 | 640 |
| Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit | 200 | 640 |
| Total of 12 monthly payments by Direct Debit | 210 | 672 |
| Single 6 month payment | 110 | 352 |
| Single 6 month payment by Direct Debit | 105 | 336 |
The expensive car supplement most buyers miss
The right-hand column above is the one that catches people out. GOV.UK says you pay an extra 440 pounds each year if your car or motorhome had a list price of more than 40,000 pounds, or an electric car or motorhome had a list price of more than 50,000 pounds. The list price is the published price before the vehicle's first registration and before any discounts, so a good deal at the dealer doesn't get you under the line.
It lasts for 5 years, counted from the second time the vehicle is taxed. It also applies to electric vehicles registered between 1 April, 2025 and 31 March, 2026. You don't pay it if you have a zero emission vehicle that was registered before 1 April, 2025. GOV.UK's advice is to check the list price with your dealer so you know what tax you'll pay.
Cars registered between 2001 and 2017
For cars registered between 1 March, 2001 and 31 March, 2017, the rate is set by fuel type and CO2 emissions, which you'll find on the V5C. Here's the GOV.UK table for petrol, diesel, alternative fuel and zero emission cars, as of Nov 2026:
| Band and CO2 | Single 12 month payment (pounds) | 12 monthly Direct Debit total (pounds) | Single 6 month payment (pounds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: up to 100g/km | 20 | 21 | Not offered |
| B: 101 to 110g/km | 20 | 21 | Not offered |
| C: 111 to 120g/km | 35 | 36.75 | Not offered |
| D: 121 to 130g/km | 170 | 178.50 | 93.50 |
| E: 131 to 140g/km | 200 | 210 | 110 |
| F: 141 to 150g/km | 225 | 236.25 | 123.75 |
| G: 151 to 165g/km | 275 | 288.75 | 151.25 |
| H: 166 to 175g/km | 325 | 341.25 | 178.75 |
| I: 176 to 185g/km | 360 | 378 | 198 |
| J: 186 to 200g/km | 410 | 430.50 | 225.50 |
| K: 201 to 225g/km | 445 | 467.25 | 244.75 |
| L: 226 to 255g/km | 760 | 798 | 418 |
| M: over 255g/km | 790 | 829.50 | 434.50 |
GOV.UK notes that band K also includes cars with a CO2 figure over 225g/km that were registered before 23 March, 2006.
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Vans, motorcycles and tricycles
GOV.UK's other rate tables cover light goods vehicles and two and three wheelers. A few headline 12 month figures, in pounds:
| Vehicle | Single 12 month payment (pounds) | Single 6 month payment (pounds) |
|---|---|---|
| Light goods vehicle (TC39), registered on or after 1 March, 2001, not over 3,500kg | 360 | 198 |
| Euro 4 or Euro 5 light goods vehicle (TC36), within GOV.UK's registration dates | 140 | 77 |
| Motorcycle, zero emission or not over 150cc | 27 | Not offered |
| Motorcycle, 151 to 400cc | 59 | 32.45 |
| Motorcycle, 401 to 600cc | 90 | 49.50 |
| Motorcycle, over 600cc | 125 | 68.75 |
| Tricycle, zero emission or not over 150cc | 27 | Not offered |
| All other tricycles | 125 | 68.75 |
Motorhomes and cars or light goods vehicles registered before 1 March, 2001 have their own sections in GOV.UK's Vehicle tax rates guide, so check there if yours is one of them.
Plain advice before you tax your vehicle
Have your V5C or DVLA reminder letter to hand, check the rate for your exact vehicle with the 11-digit reference on GOV.UK's vehicle enquiry service, and if you're buying a newer car, ask for the list price before you sign, because GOV.UK's Vehicle tax rates tables add the supplement for 5 years. Paying monthly by Direct Debit spreads the bill, but the GOV.UK tables show the 12 monthly total is higher than a single payment.
If you drive for work or want to cut your motoring costs, read up on apps that pay you to drive, what an insurance premium covers, and the best apps for drivers.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tax my vehicle?
Online with a reference number from a DVLA reminder letter, your V5C log book or the green new keeper slip, by phone on 0300 123 4321, or at a Post Office that deals with vehicle tax.
How much is vehicle tax for a car?
As of Nov 2026, GOV.UK lists 200 pounds for a single 12 month payment for most cars registered on or after 1 April, 2017, after the first payment. Older cars are taxed by CO2 band, so check the GOV.UK rate tables for yours.
How can I check if a vehicle is taxed?
Use GOV.UK's vehicle enquiry service with the registration number. New tax or SORN applications can take up to 2 working days to show.
Does an exempt vehicle still need taxing?
Yes. GOV.UK says you must tax your vehicle even if you don't have to pay anything because it's exempt.
Can I tax a car with an expired MOT?
No. GOV.UK's MOT guidance says you can't renew vehicle tax if the MOT has expired, so you'd need to get the MOT first.
What is the expensive car supplement?
An extra charge for 5 years, counted from the second time the car is taxed, on cars with a list price over 40,000 pounds, or over 50,000 pounds for electric cars, as GOV.UK sets out.
