How UK Road Tax Works
Road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty, or VED) is calculated differently depending on when your car was first registered. For cars registered after April 2017, you'll pay a first-year rate based on CO₂ emissions, then a standard annual rate from year two.
Registration date determines your rate
- Before March 2001: based on engine size
- March 2001 – March 2017: based on CO₂ band (up to 13 bands)
- After April 2017: first-year CO₂ rate, then standard rate from year 2
- EVs from April 2025: now subject to VED (previously exempt)
Important
From April 2025, cars with a list price over £40,000 pay an additional 'premium vehicle' supplement of £620/year for years 2–6 on top of the standard rate.
Cars Registered 2001–2017: Best Low Tax Options
For cars in this age bracket, your tax rate is locked to your CO₂ band for life. These are some of the best picks for genuinely cheap annual tax.
Toyota Yaris 1.0 / 1.3 VVT-i (2006–2011)
£30/yr- CO₂: 109–140g/km depending on engine
- Tax band: C or D — £30–£130/yr
- 1.0 petrol is the cheapest to tax
- Also very cheap to insure and maintain
Honda Jazz 1.2 / 1.4 (2008–2015)
£30/yr- CO₂: 109–139g/km
- Tax band: C or D — £30–£130/yr
- Excellent reliability
- Low insurance and fuel costs too
Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost (2012–2017)
£20/yr- CO₂: 99g/km (1.0 100ps EcoBoost)
- Tax band: B — £20/yr
- Fun to drive, cheap in every category
- Widely available used
VW Polo 1.2 TDI BlueMotion (2010–2014)
£20/yr- CO₂: 89g/km
- Tax band: B — £20/yr
- Diesel — best for longer journeys
- Exceptional fuel economy: 80+ mpg
Cars Registered After April 2017
Post-2017 cars pay the standard rate from year two (£190/year in 2025). To save on year one, pick a car with very low CO₂. After year one the rate is the same for almost all petrol and diesel cars.
Best post-2017 low-emission options
- Toyota Yaris Hybrid (1.5) — 82g/km CO₂, £10 first year
- Honda Jazz Hybrid — 92g/km CO₂, £25 first year
- Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid — 103g/km, £140 first year
- Renault Zoe (EV) — 0g/km, see current DVLA rates
- VW ID.3 (EV) — 0g/km, check current 2025 EV rate
How to Check Road Tax for Any Car
You can check the current road tax status and cost for any UK vehicle using its registration number. MOTR pulls this data directly from the DVLA so you always have up-to-date information.
What MOTR shows you
- Current road tax (VED) status — taxed, untaxed, or SORN
- Tax renewal due date
- MOT expiry date
- Full MOT history and advisories