How much is car tax in 2026/27? VED rates, electric cars and how to pay

Car Tips/Hacks9/29/2026

How Much Is Car Tax in 2026/27? VED Rates and EVs | Rooster

Car tax in 2026/27 is a flat £200 a year for most cars registered since April 2017, once the first year is out of the way. The first-year rate depends on CO2 emissions and runs from £10 for a zero-emission car up to £5,690. Cars with a list price over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric cars) pay an extra £440 a year for five years.

This guide covers what you will pay, how electric cars are taxed, how to pay and check car tax, and what to do when you buy, sell or stop using a car.

Last updated 29 September 2026. Rates are for the 2026/27 tax year and were checked against the House of Commons Library and other UK sources. Always confirm on GOV.UK before paying.

Key takeaways

The standard rate is £200 a year from 1 April 2026, up from £195.
The first-year rate for cars registered from April 2017 depends on CO2 emissions, from £10 to £5,690.
Electric cars pay VED, at £200 a year from the second year for most, and £10 in year one if new from April 2026.
The expensive car supplement is £440 a year for five years, for cars with a list price over £40,000, or £50,000 for electric cars.
Car tax does not transfer when you buy a used car. You must tax it yourself before you drive.
You cannot tax a car without valid insurance.

How much is car tax in 2026/27?

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), usually called car tax or road tax, depends on when your car was first registered. These are the figures for the 2026/27 tax year, which runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.

First registered	What you pay in 2026/27
On or after 1 April 2017	A first-year rate set by CO2 emissions, from £10 up to £5,690 for the highest emitters, then a flat standard rate of £200 a year from the second year, whatever the fuel
New zero-emission car, on or after 1 April 2026	£10 in the first year, then £200 a year
Between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017	A rate based on CO2 emissions bands. Check your car on GOV.UK
Before 1 March 2001	A rate based on engine size. Check your car on GOV.UK

The standard rate rose from £195 to £200 on 1 April 2026. The full first-year table by CO2 band is on GOV.UK’s vehicle tax rate tables.

What is the first-year rate?

The first-year rate is paid once, when a new car is registered, and it is normally built into the on-the-road price by the dealer. It is based on CO2 emissions and rises steeply for high-emitting cars. If you buy a used car registered after 1 April 2017, you will not pay the first-year rate again. You pay the standard rate from then on.

What is the expensive car supplement?

The expensive car supplement is an extra £440 a year that applies for five years, from the second time the car is taxed. It applies to cars with a list price above £40,000. For zero-emission cars, the threshold rose to £50,000 from 1 April 2026.

Example car	List price	Annual tax after year one
Petrol or diesel family car	£30,000	£200
Petrol or diesel SUV	£45,000	£200 + £440 = £640 for five years, then £200
Electric car	£45,000	£200, because the electric threshold is £50,000
Electric car	£55,000	£200 + £440 = £640 for five years, then £200

The list price is the published price before any discounts, not what you paid. It is worth checking before you buy.

How is car tax charged on electric cars?

Electric cars have paid VED since 1 April 2025. Before then they were exempt.

Electric car registered	What you pay in 2026/27
On or after 1 April 2026	£10 in year one, then £200 a year
Between April 2017 and March 2026	£200 a year
Before April 2017	£20 a year
New, with a list price over £50,000	The above, plus the £440 expensive car supplement for five years

The Government has also announced plans for a pay-per-mile charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars from April 2028, on top of the standard rate. The details could change, so check GOV.UK for the latest. Our guides on whether electric cars are cheaper to run and how to insure a hybrid or electric vehicle cover the other running costs.

How do you pay car tax?

Go to GOV.UK and choose the vehicle tax service. You will need the vehicle registration number.
You may also need the 11-digit reference number from the V5C logbook, or the 16-digit number on your reminder letter.
The car needs to be insured, and it needs a valid MOT if it is old enough to need one.
Choose how to pay: a single annual payment, or Direct Debit. Paying monthly usually costs a little more overall, about 5% extra.
Keep the confirmation. There is no paper tax disc, because the DVLA records everything electronically.

Our guide on how to pay vehicle tax (VED) walks through the process.

How can you check if a car is taxed?

You can check whether any car is taxed, and when the tax runs out, on GOV.UK’s check vehicle tax service using the registration number.

If you have just bought a car, be aware that the tax does not transfer to you. Vehicle tax stays with the vehicle registration, but any remaining tax from the previous owner is not passed on. You must tax the car in your own name before you drive it. See how to transfer car ownership in the UK.

Who is exempt, and can you get a refund?

Some vehicles are exempt from car tax or pay a reduced rate. The main examples are vehicles that are 40 or more years old, and certain vehicles used by disabled people. Rules and eligibility change, so check GOV.UK for the current position.

If you are not using your car, you can declare it off the road and stop paying tax. See what SORN is and our guides on how to cancel car tax and get a refund and cancelling car tax.

What happens if you do not tax your car?

Driving or keeping an untaxed car on the road without a SORN can lead to a fine, and the DVLA can also clamp or remove the vehicle. The DVLA uses automatic number plate recognition, so it usually finds out quickly. Untaxed cars are also often flagged when you try to insure or sell them.

You cannot tax a car without valid insurance, so make sure both are in place. Our article on whether you can tax a car without insurance explains why.

Frequently asked questions

How much is car tax for a petrol or diesel car in 2026?

For most cars registered from 1 April 2017 it is £200 a year after the first year, whatever the fuel. Cars over £40,000 list price pay an extra £440 a year for five years. Older cars use different tax bands.

Do electric cars pay road tax?

Yes, since 1 April 2025. A new zero-emission car registered from 1 April 2026 pays £10 in the first year, then £200 a year. Those with a list price over £50,000 also pay the £440 supplement for five years.

Is car tax cheaper if I pay monthly?

No. Paying by monthly Direct Debit costs a little more overall, about 5% extra, than paying once a year.

Is car tax transferred when I buy a used car?

No. You must tax the car yourself before you drive it away, even if the previous owner had tax left.

Can I get a car tax refund?

If you sell your car, declare it SORN or scrap it, you can normally get a refund for full months of tax remaining. The DVLA sends it automatically in most cases.

What is the expensive car supplement?

It is an extra £440 a year, for five years from the second time a car is taxed, on cars with a list price above £40,000, or above £50,000 for zero-emission cars.

Are hybrids taxed differently from petrol cars?

No. From the second year, all cars registered from April 2017 pay the same £200 standard rate, whatever the fuel. The first-year rate is lower for cars with lower CO2 emissions.

What is pay-per-mile tax for electric cars?

The Government has announced plans for a per-mile charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars from April 2028, on top of standard VED. Check GOV.UK for the latest details.

Sources and further reading

About this guide: Rooster is a UK car insurance provider. This guide is general information for UK drivers, not tax advice. Rates and rules change, so always check GOV.UK for the current position before you pay.

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