UK Road Tax (VED) Calculator (2026)

On V5C section 4. Determines regime: pre-2001, 2001–2017, post-2017, or historic (40+ years).

On V5C section D2. For EVs, enter 0. Ignored for pre-2001 vehicles (engine-based rate applies).

Diesel has higher first-year rates unless the vehicle meets RDE2 standards (most post-2021 diesels do).

For £40k+ vehicles, triggers Expensive Car Supplement of £410/yr for years 2–6.

Annual mileage drives the fuel-cost estimate. Years project cumulative VED.

See VED by regime, yearly breakdown, total cost and indicative annual fuel cost.

April 2025 ended a 20-year electric vehicle VED exemption. Tesla, Polestar, BMW i4 and similar new-buy EVs over £40k now pay £10 year 1 + £600 years 2–6 + £190 thereafter = £3,620 over 7 years (vs £0 under old rules). This effectively removes ~£3k of the previous cost advantage over a similarly-priced ICE vehicle. Combined with rising EV insurance (charging safety costs, battery replacement), EVs are now only ~£1k/yr cheaper to run than a modern petrol hybrid — not the £3k+ gap that existed in 2021. Policy rationale: protecting Treasury revenue as fuel duty declines with EV adoption.

The Expensive Car Supplement threshold has been £40,000 since introduction in 2017. With 2017–2025 vehicle-price inflation of ~40%, this threshold now captures mainstream family SUVs (Kia Sorento, Skoda Kodiaq, BMW 3-Series with options) that wouldn't have been considered "expensive" in 2017. Campaigners argue for threshold indexation; Treasury has resisted. The supplement effectively acts as a 1% annual wealth tax on £40k+ vehicles for 5 years.

Vehicles registered before 1 March 2001 pay a flat engine-size rate (£180 under 1549cc; £190 over) regardless of CO₂. A 2001-registered 2L petrol with 180g CO₂ jumps to £270/yr (Band G). A 2000-registered identical vehicle stays at £190. This creates a small "sweet spot" for buyers of late-1990s/early-2000s classics. Watch for vehicles registered in January–February 2001 — they're on the pre-2001 rate even though chronologically in 2001.

Statutory Off-Road Notification is free but legally binding. Once SORN'd, a vehicle cannot be on public road or even tax-exempt-parked on-street. Enforcement via ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras and DVLA database cross-checking. Fines: £1,000 fixed + £2,500 prosecution limit. Common pitfall: moving a SORN'd vehicle to an MOT test = legal only if you have a valid booked appointment. Insurance companies routinely check SORN status and can void cover retrospectively.