Road Tax Made Simple — Find Yours in Seconds

Have ever wondered why one car pays £20 in road tax and another pays £270 — or more?

It all comes down to CO₂ emissions. Whether your car is petrol, diesel, hybrid, or electric, the amount of carbon dioxide it emits plays a big role in what you’ll pay. Here’s how it works — and what’s changing in 2025.

Check if a vehicle is taxed, its tax band, expiry date and how much you'll pay

🧾 What Is Road Tax?

Road tax, officially called Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), is a tax you pay to legally use your car on UK roads. It helps fund road maintenance, infrastructure, and environmental policies — and it’s charged yearly.

What you pay depends on:

• When your car was registered

• Its CO₂ emissions

• Its fuel type

• Its list price (if over £40,000)

📊 Why CO₂ Emissions Matter

The government uses your car’s g/km CO₂ rating to determine how much pollution it causes. The more CO₂ your vehicle emits, the more road tax you’ll pay. The key thing to remember is

• Lower emissions = lower tax.

• Higher emissions = higher tax.

This system is designed to encourage people to drive more environmentally friendly vehicles.

Check Your Car CO₂ Emissions in seconds

🧱 Which CO₂-Based Tax System Applies to You?

It depends on when your car was first registered:

📅 1. Cars Registered Before 1 March 2001

These cars are taxed based on engine size only:

• Up to 1549cc = £220 a year, if paid in a single 12 month payment

• Over 1549cc = £360 a year, if paid in a single 12 month payment

📅 2. Cars Registered Between 1 March 2001 – 31 March 2017

Your road tax is based on your vehicle’s CO₂ emissions in grams per kilometre (g/km). There are 13 tax bands, from A to M. Here’s the full breakdown:

👉 If your vehicle is a diesel that doesn’t meet the Euro 6 standard, it may also pay a diesel supplement under more recent rules (post-2018 changes).

📅 3. Cars Registered on or After 1 April 2017

Your first year’s tax is based on CO₂ emissions, then a flat rate of £190/year after that.

If the car cost over £40,000 new, there’s an additional £410/year luxury tax for years 2–6.

⚠️ What’s Changed?

Since the 1st of April 2025, the UK government is removed the electric vehicle exemption.

That means:

• Electric cars (0 g/km) will no longer be £0 tax

• They’ll pay the standard annual rate like petrol/diesel cars (currently £190/year)

• Expensive EVs (over £40,000) will also pay the luxury surcharge

This change affects new and existing EVs, and aims to “level the playing field” as EV sales grow.

💡 Example: Tax Comparison by CO₂

✅ How to Check Your Tax Band

Use Resolvo tax checker to see to instantly see your:

• Tax band

• Expiry Date

• Estimated annual cost

• Fuel type and engine details

🧠 Common Questions

1. Do hybrids get cheaper tax? Often, yes — many fall into lower bands thanks to lower CO₂ emissions. But some newer hybrids still pay standard rates under post-2017 rules.

2. Will older cars pay more? Yes, especially those with high CO₂ ratings. You could be in Band M (£695/year) if your car emits 255+ g/km.

3. Can my tax band change? Not usually. Your CO₂ rating is fixed when your car is first tested and registered. But government rules around rates and surcharges can change.

4. Can I still pay monthly or by Direct Debit? Yes — most tax bills can be split into monthly or six-month payments via the DVLA site.

🛠 Final Thoughts

Your road tax isn’t just about your car’s age — it’s about how much CO₂ it emits. That’s why two similar-looking cars can have completely different tax bills.

Use Resolvo’s CO₂ Emissions Checker to find out exactly where your car stands — and what you’ll pay now or in 2026

And don’t forget, if you ever get an unfair parking fine, Resolvo helps you fight back in minutes for free