How much is road tax in the UK?
Learn how much road tax is in the UK and how those prices are influenced
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How much is road tax?
A big question that many of us ask when purchasing a new car is ‘how much is my road tax going to be?’ - the costs of running a car can rack up quickly so it’s ideal to research ahead of time.
UK Vehicle Excise Duty (VED – or usually known as road tax) is the fee we pay on a monthly or annual basis to ensure we can legally use our cars on the road.
How much road tax costs depends on the type of car you choose, as it differs with each model.
Zero emissions electric cars get road tax for free until April 2025, but cars with higher emissions can be pricier to tax.
It’s best to check each car individually before you make a purchase if road tax prices are a concern.
What does road tax pay for?
Road tax used to be for the maintenance of UK roads, but these days it’s used for many things.
Contrary to what most of us might believe, road tax isn’t used purely to pay for the fixing of potholes. All road tax payments end up with the UK Exchequer with other funds like council tax.
This money is then spent across multiple different areas that could be road and vehicle-related, as well as wider projects like the police service and hospitals.
This also includes national infrastructure like new roads and motorways, and local projects such as new car parks and new local roads.
So, while some road tax is used on our roads, it also pays towards many other areas.
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How to check road tax prices
Road tax price is calculated using a few factors, depending on when the vehicle was first registered.
Cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 were awarded a tax band based on their CO2 emissions. Essentially, cars with the lowest emissions are the cheapest to tax.
For cars registered after 1 April 2017, the vehicle will be placed into the zero, standard or premium tax band. These cars also receive a discount for the first year after being registered.
You can check the cost of road tax by checking the UK Government website and seeing the official figures for each tax band.
There are also websites that can check the price of car tax using your car’s registration or model details.
You’ll also need to be aware that vehicles with a list price of over £40,000 must pay an extra £410 per year for five years, starting from the vehicle’s second tax year.
Audi road tax
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The cost of Audi road tax will depend on the model you’re purchasing and its age.
If you’re purchasing an older Audi from before 2017, the cost of road tax is decided using the CO2 emissions of the car. An Audi from after this period will follow the CO2 tax system and will be placed into one of the three bands.
Audi Q3 road tax will be around £190 for a 35 TFSI Technik model from 2018 onwards. Similarly, Audi A1 Road tax for models after 2018 will cost about £190 for a 30 TFSI 110 Technik model.
Flashier trims and larger engines see Audi road tax costs increase. Audi Q5 road tax for a 40 TDI Quattro Vorsprung model from after 2016 can cost £600 per year.
BMW road tax
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BMW road tax also varies between models, especially if you choose a car that’s subject to the over £40,000 list price charge.
BMW X5 road tax for models from 2018 sits at around £600 per year, depending on the model. BMW X3 road tax for the smaller SUV also sits at £600 annually, for models after 2019.
BMW 330e road tax for the popular hybrid is usually lower, with some models from after 2019 sitting at £180 per year.
Ford road tax
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There’s plenty of variation with Ford road tax prices, but they do tend to be cheaper to tax due to their lower list price.
Ford Fiesta road tax is often on the cheaper side, usually costing around £180 per year if your car was registered after April 2017.
You’ll find that Ford Kuga road tax is slightly more expensive, with most models after 2020 costing around £190 per year. Options like the 2.5 PHEV Black Package Edition are pricier, costing £590 annually.
Volkswagen road tax
 "Volkswagen Tiguan")
You’ll find that Volkswagen road tax prices vary as well, especially if you compare older and newer models.
Volkswagen Tiguan road tax will usually be around £190 per year for a standard model, but you will have to pay the extra charge for models that cost over £40,000 brand-new.
Volkswagen Polo road tax for models after 2020 will also cost around £190 per year, while older models will usually cost less to tax per year.
Road tax for a Volkswagen Golf will also cost around £190 for models after 2020, but again you’ll find that older models are usually cheaper.
Mercedes road tax
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There are plenty of options when buying a Mercedes, but choosing a flashier trim will mean you could end up paying that extra charge for tax.
Mercedes A-Class road tax for a saloon model from 2019 onwards will typically start at £190 annually and can go up to £590.
Mercedes GLA road tax for the SUV version of the A-Class isn’t that much different for tax. Prices start at £180 per year for models from 2020 onwards, and can go right up to £600 per year.
Electric car road tax
Electric cars are currently free to tax until 1 April 2025, but you will still need to tax them.
Annual VED for battery-powered vehicles with zero emissions will be free until the change comes into place.
Electric cars registered after April 2025 will have to pay the first-year lowest tax rate of £10 a year (as of April 2024). They’ll have to pay the standard rate for the second year of registration.
As of April 2025, electric cars will also be subject to the tax supplement charge for cars with a list price of over £40,000.