Motoring

Vehicle Road Tax (VED) Calculator 2025 — Including EV Road Tax from April 2025

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates changed significantly from 1 April 2025. Electric vehicles now pay road tax for the first time. This calculator shows your exact annual road tax based on your vehicle's fuel type, first registration date, and CO2 emissions.

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🚗 Road Tax (VED) Calculator — 2025/26
EVs pay road tax from April 2025. Rates depend on fuel type, CO2 emissions, and first registration date.
Over £40,000 attracts expensive car supplement

Major Changes from April 2025

From 1 April 2025, electric vehicles lost their VED exemption and began paying road tax for the first time:

Why do EVs now pay road tax?+
The EV VED exemption was introduced to encourage EV adoption. As EV sales have grown substantially, the government decided to bring EVs into the VED system from April 2025 to ensure all motorists contribute to road funding. The rate for EVs is the standard £195/year — the same as an average petrol or diesel car.
What is the expensive car supplement?+
An additional annual charge of £425 for vehicles with a list price (when new) of over £40,000. It applies from the second year of registration for 5 years (years 2–6). After year 6, you just pay the standard rate. It applies to all vehicles including electric cars — many popular EVs exceed the £40,000 threshold.
Do I need to pay road tax on a SORN vehicle?+
No. If you have declared a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN), you do not pay VED. However, you cannot drive or park the vehicle on a public road while it is SORNed. SORN is free and can be done online at gov.uk.

Vehicle Excise Duty (Road Tax) UK 2025/26 — Complete Guide

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), commonly known as road tax, is a tax charged on most vehicles used or kept on public roads in the UK. It is administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and must be renewed annually. Failure to tax a vehicle is a criminal offence — even if you are not driving it — unless you have declared a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).

The rates changed significantly from April 2025, with electric vehicles losing their previous zero-rate exemption and entering the standard VED system for the first time. This guide explains how road tax is calculated, what rates apply to your vehicle, and how to pay.

How Vehicle Road Tax Is Calculated

The amount of VED you pay depends on several factors: when the vehicle was first registered, its fuel type, and its CO2 emissions (for vehicles registered after March 2001). The DVLA uses three broad registration bands:

Vehicles Registered Before 1 March 2001

These older vehicles are taxed based on engine size rather than CO2 emissions. The two bands are:

  • Engine capacity up to 1549cc: £200 per year
  • Engine capacity over 1549cc: £325 per year

These rates have remained relatively stable compared to newer vehicle bands and represent a simple, predictable cost for owners of classic or older vehicles.

Vehicles Registered Between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017

These vehicles are taxed using 13 CO2 emission bands (Band A through Band M). Zero-emission vehicles (Band A) pay nothing; the highest-polluting vehicles in Band M (over 255g/km CO2) pay up to £725 per year. Most mainstream petrol and diesel cars from this era fall into bands D through H, typically costing between £175 and £330 per year.

Vehicles Registered on or After 1 April 2017

Post-2017 vehicles use a two-part system: a first-year rate based on CO2 emissions, followed by a standard rate from year two onwards. The standard rate is £195 per year for most vehicles. However, vehicles with a list price over £40,000 attract a premium rate supplement of £325 per year on top of the standard rate, payable for five years (years two through six of registration). After six years, the standard rate applies regardless of original price.

Electric Vehicles and Road Tax from April 2025

Electric vehicles (EVs) registered on or after 1 April 2025 are no longer exempt from VED. This was one of the most significant changes in recent years, ending a long-standing zero-rate benefit that had been a major incentive for EV adoption. From April 2025:

  • New EVs in their first year: Pay the lowest first-year rate (£10 for zero-emission vehicles)
  • EVs from year two: Pay the standard rate of £195 per year
  • EVs with list price over £40,000: Also subject to the £325 premium rate supplement for years two to six
  • EVs registered before 1 April 2025: Are phased into standard rates — check your registration date carefully as transitional arrangements applied

This change affects hundreds of thousands of electric vehicle owners and represents a meaningful increase in running costs. When budgeting for an EV purchase, factor in VED from 2025 onwards alongside insurance, charging costs, and any workplace charging benefits.

How to Pay Road Tax

VED can be paid online at gov.uk/vehicle-tax, at a Post Office, or by Direct Debit for monthly or six-monthly payments. Payment options include:

  • Annual lump sum: Pay once per year — slightly cheaper than paying monthly as there is no surcharge
  • Six-monthly payment: Pay every six months at a 5% surcharge on the annual rate
  • Monthly Direct Debit: Pay monthly at a 5% annual surcharge — the most convenient option but not the cheapest

You will need the vehicle's V5C logbook (registration document) or a V11 reminder letter to renew online. The tax disc is no longer required to be displayed in the windscreen — it was abolished in October 2014. However, the DVLA maintains an electronic record and enforcement cameras can check VED status instantly.

SORN — Statutory Off Road Notification

If your vehicle is not being used on public roads — for example, if it is stored in a garage over winter, being repaired, or awaiting sale — you can declare a SORN. A SORN means you do not need to tax the vehicle, but it must not be driven or parked on a public road. SORN is free and takes effect immediately when declared online. It remains in force until you tax the vehicle again or sell it.

If you sell, scrap, or transfer a vehicle, you should notify the DVLA. Any unused full months of VED will be automatically refunded to the registered keeper by cheque.

Penalties for No Road Tax

Driving or keeping an untaxed vehicle on a public road without a valid SORN is a criminal offence. DVLA enforcement officers and police can issue an immediate £80 fixed penalty notice, reduced to £40 if paid within 28 days. If the case goes to court, the fine can rise to £1,000. The vehicle can also be clamped, impounded, and ultimately crushed if the situation is not resolved. ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras are used extensively to detect untaxed vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer road tax to a new owner when I sell my car?+
No. Road tax is no longer transferable between owners. When you sell a vehicle, your VED is automatically cancelled and you will receive a refund for any full remaining months. The new owner must tax the vehicle before driving it away — they cannot use your existing tax. This rule has applied since the abolition of the paper tax disc in 2014.
Does my vehicle need an MOT to get road tax?+
Yes, most vehicles over three years old must have a valid MOT certificate in order to be taxed. The DVLA checks MOT status electronically when you apply to tax a vehicle. If your MOT has expired, you will need to get it renewed before you can tax the vehicle. The exception is if you drive the vehicle directly to a pre-booked MOT test — you are legally permitted to do this on an untaxed vehicle.
How do I check if a vehicle is taxed before buying it?+
You can check a vehicle's tax status, MOT history, and mileage records for free at gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax using the registration number. This service shows whether the vehicle is currently taxed, when the tax expires, whether it has a SORN declaration, and the full MOT history. Always check this before purchasing any used vehicle.
What vehicles are exempt from road tax?+
Several vehicle categories remain exempt from VED, though most still need to be registered with the DVLA. Exempt categories include: vehicles over 40 years old (historic vehicles), vehicles used by disabled people receiving higher rate mobility component of DLA or PIP, certain agricultural vehicles and tractors, and vehicles owned by the Crown. Zero-emission vehicles are no longer automatically exempt from April 2025, though they continue to pay lower first-year rates.