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How to Check When Your Road Tax Is Due

Need to know when a vehicle’s road tax is due? It’s simple. Just enter the registration number above to get a free Total Car Check report. Our report instantly shows whether a vehicle is taxed, when it’s due for renewal, and other important details.

What Road Tax Information Is Included?

With our free car tax check, you’ll receive:

• Tax status – Find out if the vehicle is currently taxed or untaxed
• Days since last tax renewal – Know how recently the vehicle was taxed
• CO₂ emissions rating – Essential for calculating the tax band
• Road tax cost - See how much tax is payable, based on the vehicle's CO₂ output and registration date

What Is Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)?

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is the official name for road tax in the UK. It’s a government levy on vehicles used or parked on public roads. The amount you pay is based on:

• Vehicle type
• CO₂ emissions
• Fuel type
• Date of first registration

How Do I Tax a Vehicle?

You can tax a vehicle quickly and easily online via the DVLA’s Tax Your Vehicle service . To do this, you’ll need one of the following:

• The 11-digit reference number from your V5C (logbook)
• The 16-digit reference number from a recent DVLA tax reminder (V11 or V85/1)

Where can I find current road tax rates?

The UK Government publishes detailed vehicle tax rate tables that cover:

• Cars registered before 1 April 2017
• Cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017
• New vehicles registered after 1 April 2017

Rates vary based on CO₂ emissions, fuel type, and other vehicle characteristics.

How Has Road Tax Changed in 2025?

As of April 2025, the UK Government has introduced road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs)—including electric cars and vans—for the first time.

Key changes now in effect:

• New zero-emission vehicles registered from 1 April 2025 are now subject to first-year road tax, calculated similarly to petrol and diesel vehicles.
• From the second year onwards, zero-emission vehicles will pay the standard annual rate of road tax (currently £195 for most cars).
• Previously exempt vehicles, including electric cars registered between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2025, will also begin paying the standard rate from April 2025 onward.
• Vehicles with a list price over £40,000, including electric vehicles, are now subject to the expensive car supplement (an additional annual fee for years 2 to 6 after registration).

These changes are part of the government’s plan to make vehicle taxation more consistent, regardless of fuel type, while supporting the wider transition to electric transport.

What About the GOV.UK Vehicle Tax Check?

The GOV.UK tax check tool only tells you if a vehicle is currently taxed or not. It doesn't provide:

• The road tax amount
• CO₂ emissions
• Vehicle specification
• Ownership risks (e.g. if the car is stolen, written off, or has outstanding finance)

Total Car Check offers a more complete vehicle history report—including road tax info, MOT history, valuation data, and more—all in one place.