| By Chandraketu Tripathi | Updated April 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Car tax — formally Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) — is a legal requirement for any vehicle driven or parked on a public road. Here is exactly how to tax your car in 2026, what documents you need, and the correct 2026/27 rates from the official DVLA V149 table. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Verdict 2026/27 Tax online: gov.uk/vehicle-tax | Standard VED 2026/27: £200/year | Electric vehicles: £10 year 1, £200 year 2+ | Expensive Car Supplement: £440/year extra (total £640) | DVLA phone: 0300 123 4321 (24/7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What You Need to Tax Your Car | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Good news: MOT and insurance are verified automatically by DVLA systems when you tax online. You do not need to upload proof. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to Tax Online (Fastest) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Go to gov.uk/vehicle-tax. Enter your V5C reference number or V11 reminder reference. Select 6 or 12 months, pay by card. Taxed instantly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to Tax by Phone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Call 0300 123 4321 (24 hours, 7 days a week). Have V5C or V11 to hand. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to Tax at the Post Office | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Take your V5C or V11 to a branch handling vehicle tax. The only method where you can pay by cash. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VED Rates 2026/27: Official Figures | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| April 2026 key changes: Standard rate up from £195 to £200. ECS up from £425 to £440 (£620 → £640 total). EV ECS threshold raised from £40,000 to £50,000. Top first-year rate now £5,690. Pre-2017 Band A (0–100g/km) no longer free — now £20/year. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Taxing a Car You Have Just Bought | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What Happens If You Drive Without Tax? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Verdict 2026/27 The correct 2026/27 standard VED rate is £200/year — not £190 as some older articles state. First-year rates range from £10 (zero-emission) to £5,690 (over 255g/km). EVs pay standard VED from April 2025. The ECS is £440/year extra (£640 total) for cars over £40,000 (EVs over £50,000). Tax online at gov.uk/vehicle-tax. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Asked QuestionsHow much is car tax in 2026? The standard VED rate from April 2026 is £200/year for most cars registered after April 2017. Cars over £40,000 (EVs over £50,000) pay £640/year including the £440 Expensive Car Supplement. Can I tax my car without a V5C? Yes — use your V11 tax reminder letter reference number, or the green V5C/2 new keeper slip if you recently bought the car. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Guides | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sources: DVLA V149 official VED rate table April 2026, GOV.UK vehicle-tax guidance. April 2026. |
How to Tax Your Car UK 2026/27: Online, Phone and Post Office — Correct Rates
Advertisement
Advertisement
Editorial Disclaimer The content on Kaeltripton.com is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, legal or regulatory advice. Kaeltripton.com is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is not a financial adviser, mortgage broker, insurance intermediary or investment firm. Nothing on this site should be construed as a personal recommendation. Rates, figures and product details are indicative only, subject to change without notice, and should always be verified directly with the relevant provider, HMRC, the FCA register, the Bank of England, Ofgem or other appropriate authority before any financial decision is made. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. If you require regulated financial advice, please consult a qualified adviser authorised by the FCA. Read More
|
|