Car Tax Calculator
With a car tax calculator, you can plan how much tax you need to pay on your vehicle in advance. Simply enter your registration number to access a report that includes your vehicle’s annual tax cost.
How to use the car tax calculator
Calculating the car tax you’ll need to pay on your vehicle, or a vehicle you’re interested in purchasing, is easier than ever. All you need to do is choose the make of the car and the model, and then choose the body style and the year it was manufactured. You’ll then be given a list of the tax rates for all models of vehicle that fall into the categories you’ve chosen.
How is car road tax calculated?
Car road tax rates are calculated based on CO2 emissions and price. While cars between 2001 and 2017 are based on CO2 emissions only, older vehicles before 2001 are rated based on just engine capacity. Newer vehicles are categorised into one of 13 CO2 car tax bands, relating to different emissions levels and the amount of tax payable. There’s a cut-off of £40,000 or more.
What about different types of vehicles and dates?
Vehicles that have been registered on or after April 2017 attract a first tax payment, which is based on the level of CO2 emissions that the vehicle produces. But it’s not just cars this applies to – other vehicles such as motorhomes will also have this tax payment applied.
There’s also a higher rate for diesel vehicles which don’t meet the RDE2 standard. This payment covers the vehicle tax for 12 months, after which there’s a different rate based on the type of fuel the vehicle uses, such as petrol, diesel, electric or hybrid. If the original list price of the vehicle is over £40,000, there will also be an additional rate of £335 per year for five years.
If your vehicle was registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017, it will be taxed based on the fuel type and the level of CO2 emissions it produces. You can check this using our car check service which will provide you with this data.
Got a vehicle that was registered before 1 March 2001? This will be taxed based on the size of the engine. The tax rate differs for vehicles for engines sized above or below 1549cc. Again, our car check service provides you with this information if you do not have it to hand or you’re interested in purchasing a vehicle and don’t have the data.
If you have a motorhome, or you’re interested in purchasing one, the tax rates will be calculated based on the gross weight and the size of the engine. Motorhomes registered after April 2017 will have a different rate of tax if they are in a M1SP category or if they have CO2 emissions which are included in the type approval certificate. Likewise, other vehicles such as motorcycles, tricycles or commercial goods vehicles will be taxed at different rates.
Make sure you do your research prior to purchasing a vehicle with a car tax check, especially if it’s a different type of vehicle you’re buying, so you can be sure of the type of tax payment you’ll be expected to make.
Car Tax Calculator FAQ
Checking how much taxing your vehicle will cost is an easy process. All you need to do is enter the vehicle registration using our car check service and you’ll be provided the annual cost of taxing the vehicle. There are several data fields for UK vehicles, including how much it will cost to tax the car for 6 or 12 months.
Sometimes, there isn’t enough data to calculate the tax rate for a vehicle. If this is the case, you can check vehicle tax rates tables to calculate the tax for your vehicle instead.
If your vehicle has an original list price of over £40,000, you will have to pay an additional payment of £335 every year for 5 years. However, this doesn’t include the first time the vehicle is taxed.
Yes – if you enter the registration of a vehicle, you can easily see if it requires an additional payment of £335 per year. If you’re buying a vehicle that’s under 5 years old, you can also check this detail with the dealer.
The tax rates displayed are based on data provided by the DVLA, so before purchasing a vehicle, it’s worth confirming the car tax estimate with the current owner or with the DVLA directly.
