What you'll see
- Current tax status: taxed, SORN or untaxed
- Tax expiry date
- CO2 emissions (g/km)
- VED (road tax) band
- Fuel type
- First registered date
- Engine size
Why check a car's tax status before buying?
Road tax, officially called Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), is a legal requirement for any car driven or parked on a public road in the UK. Driving an untaxed car carries a fine of up to £1,000. When you buy a used car, the existing tax does not transfer to you. You must tax the car in your name before driving it away. Checking the tax status before you buy tells you whether the car is currently legal and what the annual cost will be.
Tax costs vary enormously depending on the car's CO2 emissions, fuel type and when it was first registered. Cars registered before April 2017 are taxed on a sliding scale based on CO2 emissions, ranging from £0 for the lowest emitters to over £600 per year for the highest. Cars registered from April 2017 onwards pay a flat rate of £190 per year (2024/25), but cars costing over £40,000 new pay an additional £410 per year for five years.
For electric and zero-emission vehicles, road tax was free until April 2025. From April 2025, EVs pay the standard rate. If you are considering an EV or plug-in hybrid, checking the exact tax position for that specific car matters because the rules have changed multiple times in recent years.
Checking tax status also flags potential problems. A car that has been declared SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) has been off the road, which could mean it has been sitting unused and may need work to make it roadworthy. A car that is untaxed without a SORN is technically in breach of the law, which raises questions about the seller's diligence.
UK car tax explained: the three eras
Road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) works differently depending on when the car was first registered. Understanding which era your car falls into is essential when budgeting for a used car purchase.
Pre-March 2001: taxed by engine size
Cars registered before 1 March 2001 are taxed purely on engine capacity. Under 1549cc costs £230 per year; over 1549cc costs £360 per year. Cars manufactured before 1 January 1986 qualify for the Historic Vehicle class at £0, though you still need to "tax" the car annually.
March 2001 to March 2017: CO2 emissions bands
Cars in this era are taxed on a sliding scale of CO2 emissions, from Band A (0-100 g/km, £20 per year) up to Band M (255+ g/km, £790 per year). This is where tax costs vary enormously. A clean diesel from 2015 might cost £30 per year while a V8 from the same era costs £600+.
April 2017 onwards: flat rate plus first-year showroom tax
Cars registered from April 2017 pay a CO2-based first-year rate (from £0 for zero emissions up to £2,745 for the highest emitters), then a flat standard rate of £200 per year regardless of emissions. A 500bhp sports car and a 1.0-litre city car pay the same annual rate after year one.
The Expensive Car Supplement
Cars with an original list price over £40,000 (including factory options) pay an additional £440 per year for five years (years two to six after registration). This applies regardless of what you pay for the car second-hand. A three-year-old car bought for £25,000 that had a £45,000 list price still owes two more years of the supplement, bringing annual tax to £640.
SORN and penalties
A car declared SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) cannot be driven or parked on any public road. SORN does not transfer to a new owner, so if you buy a SORNed car, you must tax and insure it before driving it away. Driving an untaxed car carries a fine of up to £1,000, and DVLA uses ANPR cameras for automated enforcement.
Frequently asked questions
How much is road tax for my car?
Road tax costs depend on your car's CO2 emissions, fuel type and registration date. Enter your registration above to see the exact figures. For cars registered from April 2017, the standard rate is £190 per year. For older cars, rates range from £0 to over £600 based on CO2 emissions. Electric cars registered from April 2025 pay the standard rate.
Does car tax transfer when I buy a used car?
No. Since October 2014, road tax does not transfer with the vehicle when it is sold. The previous owner's tax is cancelled and they receive a refund for any full remaining months. You must tax the car in your own name before driving it. You can do this at a Post Office or online at gov.uk using the V5C/2 (green slip) from the logbook.
What does SORN mean?
SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. It means the registered keeper has declared the vehicle is not being used or parked on public roads. A SORNed car does not need tax or MOT, but it cannot be driven on any public road. If you buy a SORNed car, you must tax and insure it before driving it away. A SORN is not necessarily a red flag, but check why the car was off the road.
What is the road tax for electric cars?
Electric cars registered before April 2025 were exempt from road tax entirely. From April 2025, newly registered EVs pay the standard VED rate (£190 per year in 2024/25). EVs registered before April 2025 that previously paid £0 will also start paying the standard rate. Additionally, EVs that cost over £40,000 new are subject to the expensive car supplement of £410 per year for five years from the second tax payment.
Can I drive a car without tax?
No. It is illegal to drive or park an untaxed vehicle on a public road in the UK, unless you are driving directly to a pre-booked MOT test. The penalty is a fine of up to £1,000. DVLA uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to detect untaxed vehicles, and enforcement is automated. If you buy a car, you must tax it before driving it away from the seller.
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Learn more
Tax status and vehicle data from DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service. VED rates from HM Revenue & Customs. Last updated September 2026.