April 12, 2026 in United Kingdom — Vehicle excise duty (VED) in the UK is primarily determined by your car's CO2 emissions. Understanding which CO2 band your vehicle falls into can save you hundreds — or thousands — of pounds in road tax, especially in the first year. The UK's CO2-based tax system ranks vehicles from £0 for zero-emission cars up to £2,745 for the highest emitters. This guide explains every VED band, which vehicles fall into each one, and how the bands work for cars registered before and after April 2017.
How UK Car Tax Bands Work
VED is calculated based on a vehicle's official CO2 emissions figure, measured in grams per kilometre (g/km). The lower the CO2, the lower the tax — or in some cases, the lower the first-year payment. There are two separate systems:
- First-year rate: A higher rate paid in year one, based on CO2 bands
- Standard rate: A flat £195/year paid in subsequent years (for post-April 2017 vehicles)
Vehicles registered from April 2017 onwards pay a CO2-based first-year rate, then £195/year from year 2 onwards regardless of emissions. Vehicles registered before April 2017 continue on the old CO2-based annual system, where rates range from £0 to £2,745 per year.
First-Year VED Bands 2026 — Post-April 2017 Vehicles
The first-year rate applies when a vehicle is first registered. Here's the complete table:
| CO2 Band (g/km) | First-Year Rate |
|---|---|
| 0 | £0 |
| 1 – 50 | £10 |
| 51 – 75 | £30 |
| 76 – 90 | £130 |
| 91 – 100 | £160 |
| 101 – 110 | £180 |
| 111 – 130 | £220 |
| 131 – 150 | £280 |
| 151 – 170 | £680 |
| 171 – 190 | £1,090 |
| 191 – 225 | £1,705 |
| 226 – 255 | £2,480 |
| Over 255 | £2,745 |
From year 2 onwards, all post-April 2017 vehicles pay the standard rate of £195/year, regardless of CO2 emissions — they've already paid a premium for their emissions in year one.
Pre-April 2017 Annual VED Bands
For vehicles registered before April 2017, the CO2-based rate applies every year, not just in year one:
| CO2 Band (g/km) | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| 0 | £0 |
| 1 – 50 | £0 |
| 51 – 75 | £20 |
| 76 – 90 | £30 |
| 91 – 100 | £105 |
| 101 – 110 | £125 |
| 111 – 120 | £145 |
| 121 – 130 | £165 |
| 131 – 140 | £180 |
| 141 – 150 | £195 |
| 151 – 165 | £225 |
| 166 – 175 | £265 |
| 176 – 185 | £295 |
| 186 – 200 | £350 |
| 201 – 225 | £495 |
| 226 – 255 | £655 |
| Over 255 | £690 |
Premium Car Supplement
Since April 2023, vehicles with a list price above £40,000 pay an additional annual supplement of £410 on top of the standard rate. This applies for 5 years from the second tax payment. The supplement applies to all vehicle types, including electric vehicles.
- Standard vehicle over £40k: £195 + £410 = £605/year (years 2–6)
- Electric vehicle over £40k: £195 + £410 = £605/year (years 2–6)
- After year 6: reverts to standard £195/year
Which CO2 Band Does My Car Fall Into?
The CO2 figure for your vehicle is recorded on the V5C log book and shown in the vehicle's registration documents. You can find your vehicle's exact CO2 figure using the free GOV.UK vehicle tax check with just your registration number.
CO2 bands use the exact gram per kilometre figure, not rounded ranges. A car with 130g/km falls in the 111–130 band, while a car with 131g/km moves up to the 131–150 band.
Diesel Supplement
Diesel vehicles pay a 15% surcharge on the first-year rate compared to equivalent petrol vehicles. A diesel car in the 131–150 g/km band pays £320 first year (£280 × 1.15 = £322), while the petrol equivalent pays £280. The standard rate from year 2 onwards is the same £195 for both.
CO2 Bands for Common UK Cars
Here's where popular car models typically fall:
- Toyota Yaris Hybrid: 92g/km — £160 first year
- Honda Civic 1.5T: 128g/km — £220 first year
- Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI: 124g/km — £220 first year
- Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost: 108g/km — £180 first year
- BMW 3 Series 320d: 138g/km — £280 first year
- Mercedes C-Class C220d: 142g/km — £280 first year
- Audi Q5 40 TDI: 168g/km — £680 first year
- Range Rover Sport 3.0: 222g/km — £1,705 first year
How CO2 Is Measured
CO2 emissions are measured during the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) test cycle for vehicles registered from 2018 onwards. This replaced the older NEDC test. WLTP figures are generally higher than NEDC — typically 15–25% higher — which means some vehicles appear in higher tax bands under WLTP than they would have under the old system.
Vehicles registered between 2001 and 2017 may use NEDC figures, which were typically lower. Check your V5C to confirm which test standard applies to your vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CO2 band is my car in?
Check your V5C log book for the official CO2 figure, then match it to the bands above. You can also use the free GOV.UK vehicle tax check which shows your exact VED band.
Does lower CO2 always mean lower road tax?
For the first year, yes. Lower CO2 vehicles fall into lower first-year VED bands. From year 2 onwards for post-April 2017 vehicles, all pay £195/year regardless of CO2 — so the long-term road tax benefit of lower CO2 is eliminated under the current system.
What if my car's CO2 figure isn't on the V5C?
Some older vehicles registered before 2001 may not have a CO2 figure recorded. In this case, the DVLA uses engine size to determine the tax band. Contact the DVLA on 0300 790 6802 to query your specific vehicle.
Does the CO2 band change if I modify my car?
Modifications that change the official CO2 emissions must be reported to the DVLA. If a modification increases CO2, your tax band may move up. If it decreases CO2, you can apply to have the band recalculated.
Are Kit cars and home-built vehicles taxed differently?
Kit cars and specially constructed vehicles are taxed based on their CO2 emissions if known, or a standard flat rate if the CO2 is unrecorded. Contact the DVLA for guidance on your specific vehicle type.
Conclusion
UK car tax bands range from £0 first-year for zero-emission vehicles up to £2,745 for the highest emitters. The key distinction is between pre-April 2017 vehicles (where CO2 affects every year's tax) and post-April 2017 vehicles (where CO2 only affects the first year). Use our UK car tax calculator to find your vehicle's exact VED band and total road tax cost.