How much is road tax for a 2017+ petrol car in 2026?

After the first year, almost all petrol and diesel cars pay £195/year — plus £410 extra for years 2–6 if the list price was over £40,000.

Do I pay road tax on an electric car now?

Yes, since 1 April 2025. The rate is the same £195/year standard rate, plus the £410 Expensive Car Supplement if it cost over £40,000 new.

Is paying tax monthly more expensive?

Yes — monthly Direct Debit adds a 5% surcharge over the year. Paying annually upfront is cheapest.

Can I tax a car without the V5C log book?

Yes, you can tax it online using the 11-digit reference number from your V11 reminder letter, or the V5C/2 new keeper slip if you just bought it.

UK Road Tax (VED) Bands Explained: 2026 Edition

UK Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) — universally known as road tax — changed massively in April 2025 when EVs lost their exemption. Here's what every driver needs to know about how much they'll pay in 2026, and how to check or renew their tax.

How VED actually works

Your tax depends on three things:

When your car was first registered
Its CO2 emissions (or whether it's electric)
Its list price when new (for cars over £40k)

Cars registered from 1 April 2017

Most modern cars fall into this group. There's a first-year rate based on CO2 — anywhere from £10 for ultra-low emission models to £2,745 for the dirtiest. Then from year two, almost everything pays a flat standard rate of £195/year (2026 figures).

The Expensive Car Supplement

If your car had a list price over £40,000 when new, you also pay an extra £410/year for years 2 through 6 — a total surcharge of £2,050 over five years. This catches many EVs and large SUVs.

Electric vehicles (EVs) — the big change

From 1 April 2025, EVs are no longer tax-free. The current rules:

EVs registered from 1 April 2025 — £10 first-year rate, then £195 standard
EVs registered 1 April 2017 – 31 March 2025 — £195 from April 2025 onwards
EVs registered before 1 April 2017 — £20/year (the "lowest band" rate)
Expensive Car Supplement now applies to EVs too — £410/year for years 2–6 if list price was over £40,000

Cars registered before April 2017

Older cars stay on the original 13-band CO2 system (A to M). The cheapest band (A, <100g/km CO2) is £0/year. The most expensive (M, >255g/km) is £760/year. This is why some older diesels with surprisingly low CO2 still cost almost nothing to tax.

How to check your car's tax band

The fastest way:

Go to gov.uk's "Check vehicle tax" page
Enter your registration plate
You'll see the current cost, due date, and CO2 band

Or use the AI Pocket Mechanic app — it pulls the exact same DVLA data instantly, including the next due date for renewal reminders.

How to pay your tax

You can pay:

Online — gov.uk/vehicle-tax (debit card or Direct Debit)
By phone — 0300 123 4321
At a Post Office — but you need your V5C reminder

Direct Debit is the easiest — pay monthly (5% surcharge), 6-monthly, or annually. Setting it up once means you'll never accidentally drive untaxed.

What happens if you don't tax your car?

The DVLA's ANPR cameras catch untaxed vehicles automatically. The penalties:

£80 fixed penalty (reduced to £40 if paid within 28 days)
If you ignore it, prosecution and a fine of £1,000+
Your car can be clamped or impounded — and you'll pay £100+ to get it back

Always declare a car SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notification) if you're not using it. It's free and stops the tax clock.

The road tax system is one of the most-changed bits of UK motoring law. Set up a Direct Debit, keep your details up to date, and you'll never have to think about it again.