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Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is commonly known as road tax or car tax

Use our free tool to check if your car is taxed

Car tax rates and tax bands explained

Car tax, or Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), is a legal requirement for anyone using UK roads. When it comes to taxing your vehicle, you'll need to apply through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

The tax you pay contributes towards general government funds, these typically cover the costs of public services including road maintenance. 

Exactly what you pay is determined by the age of your car and the fuel it uses. If you buy a new or used car, you must register for car tax - and renew annually. 

Depending on when your vehicle was registered, certain tax rates are applied based on fuel type, CO2 emissions and engine capacity. 

How do I tax my car?

You can tax your car online, over the phone, or at a post office. A reference number is required, this can be found in your vehicle logbook or a green new keeper slip if you've just bought the car. You may also be sent an email or letter reminding you to renew your VED, this should contain a reference number.

If you buy a new or used car you must register for tax. It lasts for one year and has to be renewed in order to continue driving on public roads.

How much is my car tax?

The cost of your car tax depends on a number of factors including the age of your car and the fuel it uses.

You can usually opt for a one-off annual payment, or by direct debit every month or every 6 months to spread the cost.

VED tax rates for tax year 2024/25

These are the first year VED rates for cars registered on or after 1 April 2024:

C02 emissions (g/Km) Petrol and clean diesel (£) first year rate  £ change since 2023/2024 Standard rate £ change since 2023/2024
0
0
 0
0
0
1-50
10
 0
190
10
51-75
30
 0
190
10
76-90
135
 5
190
10
91-100
175
10
190
10
101-110
195
10
190
10
111-130
220
10
190
10
131-150
270
15
190
10
151-170
680
35
190
10
171-190
1095
55
190
10
191-225
1650
85
190
10
226-255
2340
120
190
10
Over 255
2745
140
190
10

VED tax cost for cars registered before April 2017

For cars registered before April 2017, the car tax scale splits into 13 bands (A to M). Here are the new tax rates for these vehicles:

Band C02 emissions (g/Km) Petrol and diesel(£) £ change since 2023/2024 
A
Up to 100
0
0
B
101-110
20
0
C
111-120
35
0
D
121-130
160
10
E
131-140
190
10
F
141-150
210
10
G
151-165
255
15
H
166-175
305
15
I
176-185
335
15
J
186-200
385
20
K*
201-225
415
20
L
226-255
710
35
M
Over 255
735
40

* This includes cars with a CO2 figure over 225g/km but were registered before 23 March 2006

Car tax exemptions

There are certain conditions that could exempt you from having to pay tax. Even if you're exempt from paying, you'll still have to tax your vehicle. Any of the following can exempt you from having to pay for VED:

Vehicles used by a disabled driver or disabled passenger vehicles: You could be eligible for disability exemption when you're applying for car tax. If you have two or more vehicles you'll have to choose which car the exemption applies to. This is because the exemption is only valid for one vehicle at any given time. You can remove this if the vehicle is no longer used by a disabled person.

Organisations providing transport for disabled people are also exempt from paying VED.

Classic or historic vehicles: Any vehicle made before 1 January 1984 is exempt.

Electric zero emission vehicles: These vehicles can be exempt if they meet the following conditions:

  • Electricity is provided through an external source from a private or public charging point
  • Electricity is provided from a storage battery not connected to a source of power when the vehicle is on the move
  • Hydrogen fuel cells are used

Hybrid electric vehicles are not exempt from paying VED.

If you apply SORN to your vehicle: A Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) declares that you won't be driving your vehicle and it's off the road. This is registered through the DVLA and the vehicle cannot be driven or parked on a public road. It must be kept on private property while SORN is applied, this would make you exempt from paying car tax.If you decide to use the vehicle again, you’ll need to tax it. 

Any vehicle used for agriculture and forestry: These vehicles are used for specific purposes and are exempt from VED, they can include:

  • Tractors
  • ‘Limited use’ vehicles used for short journeys (no more than 1.5km) on a public road between land that’s used by the same person
  • Mowing machines used to cut grass, for example
  • Agricultural engines

Light agricultural vehicles used off road only

What documents do I need to tax my car?

To tax your vehicle, you'll need a reference number from:

  • Your V5C log book (it must be in your name)
  • A tax reminder letter or email from the DVLA
  • The green new keeper slip (you will have received this when you initially bought your car)

You may have to apply for a new log book if you do not have any of these documents. You'll typically be able to tax your vehicle at the same time.

You can apply or renew VED online, by phone or in person at a post office. Bear in mind you won't be able to pay by direct debit over the phone. And if you apply via a post office, only specific branches can assist with vehicle tax. When you're applying, you must have one of these documents to hand.

How to cancel my car tax?

You must inform the DVLA if you wish to cancel your car tax. The only exception is if you register your vehicle as off the road (SORN), in this instance your road tax will be cancelled automatically.

You'll be required to notify the DVLA If you're cancelling car tax for one of the following reasons:

  • Your car is written off by an insurance company
  • Moving abroad and taking your car with you
  • You sell your car or transfer it to another person
  • If it's scrapped at a vehicle scrapyard
  • The vehicle is stolen

In any of these instances, you can receive a cheque refund for any remaining months of road tax you have already paid for. There are a number of ways you can apply for this online.

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FAQs

Can you tax a car without insurance?

No, a valid insurance policy is needed when applying for VED. A valid MOT is also required, but you don't usually need these documents to hand as they're automatically checked when applying online.

Can you MOT a car without tax?

Yes, you'll be able to get an MOT if your car doesn't have tax. It's an exemption to drive your car to have its MOT before applying for tax.

This is because you need a valid MOT certificate to tax your car.

Page last reviewed: 11 Sep 2024

Reviewed by: Louise Thomas