UK Vehicle Tax Calculator 2026: Full Breakdown by Vehicle Type

The UK Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) calculation in 2026 varies substantially by vehicle type, registration date, and fuel type, with the principal categories at gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables being post-2017 cars (flat-rate system with £195/year standard plus the £425/year Expensive Car Supplement if list price exceeded £40,000 at registration), pre-2017 cars (13-band CO2 system A to M, ranging from £0 for Band A to £735 for bands L and M), pre-2001 cars (engine-capacity system at £200/year up to 1,549cc or £345 above), electric vehicles (£10 first year and £195 standard from year 2, with ECS applying from 1 April 2025 for £40k+ models), motorbikes (engine-size graduated rates £26 for up to 150cc to £117 for over 600cc), light goods vehicles and vans (£345/year standard for vans registered post-March 2001), motorhomes (£345/year for Class L, or £335 depending on engine and revenue weight), and double-cab pickups (classified as cars from 1 April 2025 per HMRC reforms, moving from £345 van rate to the car flat-rate or higher). The first-year rate for new post-2017 petrol and diesel cars scales by CO2 from £10 for 1-50g/km to £5,490 for 255g/km+, with rates recalibrated each April. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) vehicle enquiry service at gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax displays the current annual VED for any UK-registered vehicle by entering the registration mark.

How do post-2017 cars calculate?

Post-2017 cars pay a first-year rate based on CO2 emissions (ranging from £0 for pure EVs to £5,490 for 255g/km+ from 1 April 2025) followed by the £195/year standard rate from year 2 onwards. If the list price at first registration exceeded £40,000 (including factory options and manufacturer delivery charge), the £425/year Expensive Car Supplement is added for years 2 to 6, making the total £620/year for those 5 years.

For a 2023-registered Ford Kuga with 140g/km CO2 and £35k list price, the calculation is first year £270, years 2+ £195/year. For a 2025-registered BMW X5 with 180g/km CO2 and £70k list price, it is first year £1,420 plus £195 year 2 plus £425 ECS, totalling £620/year for years 2-6 and £195/year thereafter. The DVLA vehicle enquiry service computes this automatically for any registration mark.

How do pre-2017 cars calculate?

Pre-2017 cars use the 13-band CO2 system (A to M) from gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables. The band is determined by the CO2 figure recorded at first registration (V5C log book field V.7) and does not change over the vehicle's life. Band A (up to 100g/km) pays £0, Band B £20, Band C £35, Band D £165, rising through Band M (over 255g/km) at £735.

For a 2014-registered Ford Focus with 120g/km CO2, Band C applies at £35/year. For a 2012-registered Range Rover with 250g/km, Band L applies at £735/year. Pre-2001 cars use engine capacity instead: £200 up to 1,549cc or £345 above. Vehicles over 40 years old (built before 1 January 1986 in 2026) can apply for Historic Vehicle tax class at £0 via form V112, though still needing annual renewal.

How do EVs calculate?

Pure electric vehicles first registered on or after 1 April 2025 pay £10 in year 1 and £195/year standard rate from year 2 onwards, per HMT Autumn Statement 2022 and Finance Act 2024. If the list price exceeded £40,000 at registration, the £425/year Expensive Car Supplement applies for years 2 to 6, making the total £620/year in that period.

EVs first registered before 1 April 2025 moved from £0 blanket exemption to the £195 standard rate from their first tax period after that date, but are grandfathered without ECS. A 2024-registered Tesla Model Y pays £195/year with no ECS. A 2025-registered Tesla Model S (£90k list price) pays £10 in year 1 then £620/year for years 2-6, reverting to £195/year for year 7 onwards.

How do motorbikes calculate?

Motorbikes use a 4-tier engine-capacity system independent of the car regime, per gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables. Up to 150cc pays £26/year, 151-400cc pays £57, 401-600cc pays £87, and over 600cc pays £117. Electric motorcycles pay £0 in most configurations, subject to year of registration. Tricycles over 150cc follow a similar but slightly higher schedule.

A Honda CBR650 (649cc) pays £117/year. A Honda CB125 (125cc) pays £26/year. A 500cc Royal Enfield pays £87/year. Historic motorbikes over 40 years old can apply for Historic Vehicle tax class at £0. The same DVLA online channel and Direct Debit options apply for motorbikes as for cars.

How do different vehicle types compare?

The system bases vary by vehicle class but the practical tax amounts cluster around £195 for mainstream cars, £345 for vans and motorhomes, £26-£117 for motorbikes, and £620 for premium post-2017 cars with ECS. Historic vehicles and most EVs registered pre-April 2025 retain preferential treatment.

What about vans, motorhomes, and pickups?

Light goods vehicles and vans registered after March 2001 pay £345/year (Tax Class 39) for standard diesel vans; Euro 4 and 5 vans have specific rates. Motorhomes (tax class L) typically pay £345/year based on revenue weight up to 3,500kg, with heavier motorhomes paying goods-vehicle rates. Double-cab pickups were reclassified as cars from 1 April 2025 under HMRC reforms, moving Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux from £345 van rate to the car flat-rate structure.

The pickup reclassification affected buyers who had previously chosen double-cab pickups for their favourable BiK and van VED treatment. Many companies have revised fleet policies in response. Electric vans benefit from £0 first-year rates with standard rate from year 2 matching the diesel rate structure. Self-drive hire vans and some specialist commercial vehicles have their own tax class.

Where can I check my vehicle's tax?

The DVLA vehicle enquiry service at gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax shows current annual VED for any UK-registered vehicle by registration mark. The service also displays tax expiry date, MOT status, CO2 figure, fuel type, and engine size, providing a consolidated real-time view. The service is free and requires only the registration mark.

Third-party check services (Auto Express, Car Buyer, Parkers) republish the DVLA data with contextual guidance on specific models. For prospective used car buyers, checking VED alongside ULEZ/CAZ compliance and MOT history via gov.uk/check-mot-history provides the full running cost picture. HPI and Experian AutoCheck also include VED band data in their paid vehicle history reports.

DVLA publishes annual vehicle licensing statistics on gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/veh0101 covering the UK parc by tax class, registration year, and fuel type. Around 40 million vehicles are licensed across all categories in the UK, with around 33 million cars, 4 million light goods vehicles, 1 million motorcycles, and the remainder split between buses, heavy goods vehicles, agricultural vehicles, and historic and other specialist classes. HM Treasury's OBR Economic and Fiscal Outlook on obr.uk forecasts total VED revenue at around £7 billion per year, with gradual decline expected as the EV share of the parc grows and ICE first-year rates no longer apply to new registrations from the 2030 ban date.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders on smmt.co.uk tracks new registration trends by CO2 band and fuel type, useful context for prospective buyers weighing up the year-one VED cost against subsequent years. Consumer publications Which?, Auto Trader, and What Car? maintain running-cost calculators that integrate VED, insurance, fuel, servicing, and depreciation for common models, giving a total-cost-of-ownership view beyond the annual tax headline alone.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check my car's tax?

Enter the registration mark at gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax. The service shows current annual VED, expiry, CO2, and tax class.

What's the standard rate for post-2017 cars?

£195/year from year 2 onwards. Year 1 varies by CO2. Plus £425 Expensive Car Supplement for years 2-6 if list price exceeded £40,000.

How much do EVs pay?

£10 first year, £195 standard from year 2. Plus £425 ECS if over £40k and registered from 1 April 2025. Older EVs pay £195 without ECS.

What about vans?

Standard diesel vans £345/year. Euro 4 and Euro 5 vans have specific reduced rates. Electric vans £0 first year and standard rate from year 2.

Motorbike rates?

£26 (up to 150cc), £57 (151-400cc), £87 (401-600cc), £117 (over 600cc). Historic bikes over 40 years old can apply for £0 Historic tax class.

What's the Historic Vehicle exemption?

Vehicles over 40 years old qualify for £0 Historic Vehicle tax class via form V112. For 2026 this applies to cars built before 1 January 1986. Annual renewal still required.

Double-cab pickup changes?

Reclassified as cars from 1 April 2025 under HMRC reforms. Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux moved from £345 van rate to the car flat-rate structure, with potential ECS if over £40k.

Sources

• DVLA, Vehicle tax rate tables, gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables — accessed April 2026.
• DVLA, Check vehicle tax, gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax — lookup service.
• HM Treasury, Autumn Statement 2022, gov.uk — EV tax regime changes.
• Finance Act 2024, legislation.gov.uk — ECS extension to EVs.
• HMRC double-cab pickup reform, gov.uk — 2025 classification change.
• DVLA, Vehicle licensing statistics, gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/veh0101 — parc data.
• Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, legislation.gov.uk — VED framework.

Related reading on kaeltripton.com: UK vehicle tax bands 2026, Expensive Car Supplement 2026, End of EV exemption 2026.