What Tax Band Is My Car by Reg in the UK?

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Last Updated on: 1st August 2025, 12:15 pm

Have you ever looked at your vehicle’s registration number and wondered how it impacts your car tax? In the UK, your registration plate isn’t just a combination of letters and numbers, it’s the key to discovering what tax band your vehicle falls under.

Whether you’re driving a brand-new electric car or a well-loved family hatchback, understanding your tax band helps you budget properly and stay compliant with DVLA regulations.

Road tax, officially known as Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), varies depending on your car’s registration date, fuel type, CO2 emissions, engine size, and other factors.

It’s easy to find your tax band just by using your reg, and in this guide, you’ll learn how to do just that. From modern EVs to older diesel models and even motorhomes, we’ll help you navigate the UK’s road tax system.

How Can You Check What Tax Band Your Car Is In By Registration?

Finding your car’s tax band by its registration number is straightforward and doesn’t take much time. The UK government provides an official tool that lets you enter your reg and instantly see your vehicle tax details.

Start by locating your registration number, which is printed on your vehicle’s number plate and V5C logbook (also called the registration certificate).

Once you have it:

Visit the official DVLA vehicle information checker.
Enter your reg number in the field provided.
Review your car’s details, including tax band, fuel type, emissions, and tax expiry.

The registration date is particularly important as it determines which tax rate table applies to your car. A car registered in 2005 is taxed differently than one registered in 2019, even if they have similar engines.

Why does this matter? Knowing your tax band can help you:

Understand how much road tax to pay
Budget for renewals every 6 or 12 months
Avoid fines for unpaid or incorrect tax

In just a few clicks, you can find the exact amount due and ensure you’re paying the correct tax, no surprises, no guesswork.

What Are The Car Tax Bands For Vehicles Registered After 1 April 2017?

If your vehicle was first registered on or after 1 April 2017, your road tax is calculated using a two-part system: the first-year tax rate, which is based on CO2 emissions, and a standard rate applied from the second year onwards.

First-Year Tax Rates Based on CO2 Emissions

When you first register your car, the DVLA uses CO2 emissions to determine your initial road tax. This applies to petrol, diesel, hybrid, and zero-emission vehicles. Diesel cars that don’t meet the RDE2 standard will pay higher rates than petrol or compliant diesels.

Here’s the breakdown:

CO2 Emissions (g/km)	Petrol/Alternative/Compliant Diesel	Non-Compliant Diesel
0	£10	£10
1 to 50	£110	£130
51 to 75	£130	£270
76 to 90	£270	£350
91 to 100	£350	£390
101 to 110	£390	£440
111 to 130	£440	£540
131 to 150	£540	£1,360
151 to 170	£1,360	£2,190
171 to 190	£2,190	£3,300
191 to 225	£3,300	£4,680
226 to 255	£4,680	£5,490
Over 255	£5,490	£5,490

Standard Tax Rates After the First Year

From year two onward, vehicles fall under a fixed annual tax rate depending on fuel type:

Petrol and Diesel: £195 (or £204.75 if paid monthly)
Alternative Fuel (hybrids, LPG, bioethanol): £185 (slightly lower)
Electric Vehicles: £0 (fully exempt)

You can choose to pay annually or split the payment:

£195 single annual payment
£204.75 split into 12 monthly Direct Debit payments
£107.25 for a 6-month payment

Extra Charges For Cars Over £40,000

Cars with a list price above £40,000 are subject to an additional charge of £425 per year, applied for five years starting from the second year of ownership.

This applies regardless of fuel type.
Zero-emission vehicles are exempt if registered before April 2025.

Luxury vehicles carry a premium in the eyes of the DVLA, so make sure you know your car’s list price before calculating your tax.

What Are The Vehicle Tax Bands For Cars Registered Between 1 March 2001 And 31 March 2017?

If your vehicle was registered in this period, road tax is based on your car’s fuel type and CO2 emissions. Unlike newer vehicles, there are predefined tax bands from A to M that determine how much you pay.

CO2 Emissions And Tax Band Breakdown

Here’s how CO2 emissions correlate with tax bands:

Band	CO2 Emissions (g/km)	12-Month Tax	Monthly DD Total	6-Month Tax
A	Up to 100	£20	£21	N/A
B	101–110	£20	£21	N/A
C	111–120	£35	£36.75	N/A
D	121–130	£165	£173.25	£90.75
E	131–140	£195	£204.75	£107.25
F	141–150	£215	£225.75	£118.25
G	151–165	£265	£278.25	£145.75
H	166–175	£315	£330.75	£173.25
I	176–185	£345	£362.25	£189.75
J	186–200	£395	£414.75	£217.25
K*	201–225	£430	£451.50	£236.50
L	226–255	£735	£771.75	£404.25
M	Over 255	£760	£798	£418

Petrol, Diesel, And Alternative Fuel Vehicles

The fuel type also influences your tax. Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) like hybrids or LPG-powered cars may qualify for slightly reduced rates. However, the primary determinant remains the CO2 emissions.

How To Locate Your CO2 Emissions Data?

You can find your car’s CO2 emissions:

On your V5C registration certificate
Through the DVLA checker
Via your car dealer or manufacturer website

Knowing this value is essential for calculating your VED properly and avoiding any miscalculations during tax renewal.

How Is Vehicle Tax Calculated For Cars Registered Before March 2001?

For older cars registered before 1 March 2001, your tax isn’t based on emissions but on engine size.

There are two simple categories:

Not over 1549cc – £220 per year
Over 1549cc – £360 per year

Engine Size (cc)	12-Month Tax	Monthly DD Total	6-Month Tax
Not over 1549	£220	£231	£121
Over 1549	£360	£378	£198

This system is more straightforward but may result in higher costs for larger engine vehicles. Make sure your car’s capacity is listed correctly on the logbook to avoid tax issues.

What If You Drive A Motorhome? How Does Tax Apply?

Motorhome tax depends on the revenue weight and engine size. If it’s 3,500kg or less, it’s taxed like light goods vehicles.

Vehicle Type	12-Month Tax	Monthly DD Total	6-Month Tax
Engine ≤ 1549cc	£220	£231	£121
Engine > 1549cc	£360	£378	£198
Over 3,500kg (Private HGV)	£171	£179.55	£94.05

If registered between 1 April 2017 and 11 March 2020, and classed as M1SP with CO2 ratings, tax is based on emissions, much like newer cars. Always check your certificate of conformity for emission details.

What Are The Tax Bands For Other Vehicle Types?

Besides cars and motorhomes, other vehicles also fall under VED:

Vehicle Type	12-Month Tax	Monthly DD Total	6-Month Tax
Light Goods (Post-2001)	£345	£362.25	£189.75
Euro 4 & 5 Light Goods (LPG)	£140	£147	£77
Motorcycle (under 150cc)	£26	£27.30	N/A
Motorcycle (151–400cc)	£57	£59.85	£31.35
Tricycle	£121	£127.05	£66.55

If you’re operating any of these vehicle types, it’s crucial to consult the DVLA tables and ensure the correct class is assigned on your logbook.

How Can You Calculate The Road Tax For Your Vehicle?

Calculating your road tax doesn’t need to be complicated if you know what factors affect the cost.

The main elements include:

Registration date
CO2 emissions or engine size
Fuel type
Vehicle list price (if over £40,000)

Using the DVLA’s rate tables or an online checker, simply input your reg number to get your current rate. Below is a comparison of the most common tax scenarios:

Vehicle Type	Tax Basis	12-Month Rate
Post-2017 Petrol Car	Emissions	£195
EV (Any Registration Date)	Exempt	£0
Pre-2001 (under 1549cc)	Engine size	£220
£40k+ Car (Standard Fuel)	+ Luxury Surcharge	£620

Always double-check the registration date, as it decides which tax rate applies. Calculators online can be useful, but referring to DVLA’s data is the most accurate method.

What Happens If You Don’t Pay The Correct Vehicle Tax?

Failure to pay the correct road tax can lead to serious consequences. DVLA enforcement includes fines, penalties, and even vehicle clamping.

Here’s what can happen if you skip or underpay your tax:

Automatic fines starting at £80
Clamping or impounding of your vehicle
Court prosecution for continued non-payment

Offence Type	Penalty Amount	Enforcement Action
Late Payment	£80 fine	Possible reminders
Driving Untaxed Vehicle	£1,000+ fine	Vehicle seizure
No SORN Declared	£100 fine	Monthly surcharges

To stay compliant, always tax your vehicle on time or declare it off-road (SORN) if it’s not in use.

How Often Should You Check Your Vehicle’s Tax Band?

Although vehicle tax bands don’t frequently change for existing vehicles, it’s good practice to check your vehicle’s tax status regularly.

You should especially check when:

You buy a used car
Your vehicle ownership changes
The DVLA updates tax rates annually

Scenario	Check Needed?	Why?
Annual Renewal	Yes	Rates may update yearly
Buying/Selling Vehicle	Yes	Ensure accurate band
Emission/Logbook Corrections	Yes	Prevent over/underpayment

A quick DVLA reg check takes seconds and can save you from unexpected penalties or overpaying.

Conclusion

Understanding what tax band your car falls into using your registration number is essential for every UK driver. Whether you’re running a zero-emission EV or a diesel SUV, each vehicle has its own set of tax rules based on registration date, emissions, engine size, and list price.

By checking your reg through official DVLA tools and using the right tax band tables, you’ll stay informed and avoid unwanted surprises.

Accurate road tax payments ensure legal compliance and help you budget efficiently year after year. Don’t let confusion lead to fines. Take a moment to check your tax band today and drive with confidence.