What tax band is my car in? How to find out for free
PAYING your car tax is a major running cost of having a vehicle and can set drivers back £1,000 or more a year.
The amount you pay will depend on how old your car is and how environmentally friendly is it.
What tax band is my car in?
Car tax is also known as vehicle excise duty (VED) and is a tax on the emissions your vehicle produces.
Anyone who owns a vehicle registered in the UK will need to pay car tax to drive it.
However, the amount you fork out will depend on how much carbon dioxide (CO2) your vehicle emits.
Only owners of brand new cars that produce 0 grams of CO2 emissions and have a price of less than £40,000 are exempt.
Another group of drivers that are exempt includes owners of a car registered between March 1, 2001, and before April 1, 2017, that produces up to 100 grams of CO2 per kilometre driven.
If you have a disability, you may also be exempt from car tax.
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If none of the above apply to you and your car was registered on or after April 1, 2017, you'll have to pay the following for the first 12 months:
- You won’t have to pay anything if your car doesn't emit CO2
- £10 if your car emits 1-50 grams per kilometre of CO2 (the same tax rate as 2020).
- £25 if your car emits 51-75 grams per kilometre of CO2 (the same tax rate as 2020)
- £115 if your car emits 76-90 grams per kilometre of CO2 (£5 extra than 2020)
- £140 if your car emits 91-100 grams per kilometre of CO2 (£5 extra than 2020)
There are 13 pay brackets in total, and the highest you’ll be paying is £2,245 if your vehicle emits over 255g per kilometre of CO2, marking an increase of £70 since 2020.
You can check out the full list in the table below, including how much you'll pay from the second year onwards.
Other types of cars have different rates too, such as alternative fuel cars that pump out less emissions. The prices for these are cheaper in each category.
You can find out exactly how much you’ll be paying by using the
How often do I have to tax my car?
Car tax can be paid in a single payment for the whole year, once every six months or monthly.
Usually a single yearly payment will work out to be the cheapest way but you'll get the choice when you apply.
Some vehicles may be exempt from car tax, but every owner needs to apply for it on the .
Car tax renewal dates will vary between vehicles depending on when you started paying it.
If you're unsure of when your road tax expires, fear not because it's easy to check.
Simply and enter your vehicle registration number.
How much does car tax cost?
The cost of tax varies depending on the make, model, year and value of your car.
The amount you pay may change each year as your car ages or if you get a new one altogether.
Costs range between £25 and £2,245.
Can I get fined for driving without tax?
Yes. If you are caught driving your vehicle without tax, you will face an £80 on the spot fine.
This can be reduced by half if paid within 28 days though.
Should you fail to pay the fine, it could increase up to £1,000 and the case could end up in court.
And if you are keeping a car untaxed without a SORN (statutory off-road notice), you could face a fine of £1,000.
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This can increase to £2,500 if you are using an untaxed car that has a SORN in place.
Untaxed cars are also at risk of being clamped or towed away - and the release of a car or clamp removal will mean added charges too.