Question 1

How do I check my car's road tax by reg?

Accepted Answer

Enter your number plate in the checker above. We look your car up on the DVLA database and read its CO₂ emissions, fuel type and first-registration date, then apply the current 2026/27 Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates to show your annual road tax, the first-year 'showroom' rate for its CO₂ band, and whether the expensive-car supplement could still apply.

Question 2

How much is car tax in 2026/27?

Accepted Answer

Most cars registered on or after 1 April 2017 pay a flat standard rate of £200 a year, whatever the fuel — the old alternative-fuel discount and the electric-car exemption have both ended. Cars registered between March 2001 and March 2017 pay a CO₂-based band rate (£20 to £790 a year). The one-off first-year rate for a brand-new car ranges from £10 up to £5,690 depending on CO₂.

Question 3

What is the expensive-car supplement?

Accepted Answer

If a car's list price when new was over £40,000 (over £50,000 for a zero-emission car registered on or after 1 April 2025), it pays an extra £440 a year on top of the standard rate for five years — from the second to the sixth licence. Because the DVLA lookup doesn't include the original list price, the checker tells you whether your car is still inside that window rather than assuming it applies.

Question 4

Are electric cars still tax-free?

Accepted Answer

No. The electric-vehicle VED exemption ended on 1 April 2025. Electric cars registered on or after that date pay £10 in the first year and the £200 standard rate after that, and higher-value EVs can also attract the expensive-car supplement.

Question 5

Is this the same as the DVLA tax check?

Accepted Answer

The checker uses your car's DVLA-registered CO₂, fuel and first-registration date and applies the published DVLA V149 rate tables, so the figures match the official 2026/27 rates. For the definitive amount due and to actually tax your vehicle, always use the DVLA's own service at gov.uk — rates and your car's status can change.

Car tax checker

Check your road tax

Your road tax in three steps

How car tax is worked out in 2026/27

Frequently asked questions

Know the running costs before you buy