Car tax check and calculator by registration

Enter the vehicle registration in the search box above. The free Check‑Buy‑Drive lookup inspects official DVLA records — registration date, fuel type, CO₂ emissions, and engine size — and immediately displays current 6-month and 12-month road tax rates, current tax status, and the exact expiry date. It works for vehicles you own as well as cars you are considering buying.

Your registration date, fuel type and emissions determine the applicable tax rules. The table above summarises 2026/27 rates; check GOV.UK for the current amount and any supplement.

Road tax is strictly non-transferable. When selling a vehicle, the DVLA automatically cancels the tax and refunds any remaining full months to the registered keeper. When buying, you must tax the car yourself before driving on public roads using the V5C logbook reference or V5C/2 new keeper slip. Checking the tax rate before buying is essential because an advertised 'taxed' status does not apply to you as a new keeper.

Type your registration number into the search bar above — our free check shows current road tax status and the exact expiration date. Unlike MOTs, there is no grace period for vehicle tax: driving an untaxed car on public highways risks an automated £80 fine, wheel clamping, and court prosecution. If your vehicle is off the road in a garage or private driveway, you can declare SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).

The main car tax systems depend on first registration: from April 2017, a first-year emissions rate followed by a standard rate; March 2001 to March 2017, emissions bands A to M; before March 2001, engine size. Supplements and exemptions may also apply.

The expensive-car supplement depends on the original list price and fuel type. For 2026/27, the thresholds are above £40,000 for petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and above £50,000 for electric cars. See the rate table above.

The tax due date indicates when the current vehicle tax expires. An additional-rate end date relates to an applicable supplement. Check the report's field description and confirm any unclear tax amount with DVLA before budgeting.

Yes. Electric cars registered from April 2017 pay the standard rate; those first registered from April 2025 pay £10 for their first year. Electric cars registered from March 2001 to March 2017 pay £20 annually. The expensive-car supplement can apply to electric cars registered from April 2025.

Yes. You can pay by Direct Debit in monthly or 6-monthly instalments, though both carry a 5% surcharge compared to paying for a full 12 months in advance. Paying the full 12-month amount upfront is the most cost-effective option. Setting up Direct Debit provides automatic renewal so you never risk missing a renewal date.

The primary exemptions include: historic vehicles built over 40 years ago (on a rolling 40-year basis), vehicles used by disabled drivers receiving qualified mobility allowances, and specific emergency or agricultural vehicles. Even if your vehicle qualifies for £0 tax, you must still process an annual renewal with the DVLA to keep the tax status valid.

Diesel vehicles first registered from 1 April 2018 that do not meet Real Driving Emissions Step 2 (RDE2) standards were moved up one tax band for their first-year showroom tax. This only impacts the initial first-year rate; from year two onward, they pay the standard flat rate. Check‑Buy‑Drive checks the vehicle's exact DVLA record so you see the precise figures.