Car tax rates revealed
In the recent 2013 budget announcement, the latest changes to car tax rates were revealed. Read our guide to find out what rate you’ll pay for your car.
Car tax otherwise known as road tax is now governed either by CO2 emissions or on engine size, all depending on what date the car was registered.
Cars registered after 1st March 2001
For cars registered after 1st March 2001, car tax rates remain as before and fall under one of thirteen car tax bands from A to M with yearly charges spanning from £0 - £490. These tax bands are structured by the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) a car releases into the atmosphere per kilometre. The less efficient your car, the more tax you’ll end up paying per year. See the below table to work out what band your car falls into and what you’ll need to pay.
2013 car tax rates
| VED Band | CO2 Emmisions | 2012-13 standard rate | 2013-14 standard rate |
| A | Up to 100g/km | £0 | £0 |
| B | 101 - 110g/km | £20 | £20 |
| C | 111 - 120g/km | £30 | £30 |
| D | 121 - 130g/km | £100 | £105 |
| E | 131 - 140g/km | £120 | £125 |
| F | 141 - 150g/km | £135 | £140 |
| G | 151 - 165g/km | £170 | £175 |
| H | 166 - 175g/km | £195 | £200 |
| I | 176 - 185g/km | £215 | £220 |
| J | 186 - 200g/km | £250 | £260 |
| K* | 201 - 225g/km | £270 | £280 |
| L | 226 - 255g/km | £460 | £475 |
| M | Over 255g/km | £475 | £490 |
Table notes
a.* Band K includes cars that have a CO2 figure over 225g/km but were registered before 23 March 2006.
Cars registered before 1st March 2001
Cars registered before 1st March 2001 fall under another category and their tax rates do not relate to CO2 emissions but by engine size and whether they fall under or over 1549cc.
| Engine size (cc) | 12 months rate | 6 months rate |
| Not over 1549 | £140.00 | £77.00 |
| Over 1549 | £225.00 | £123.75 |
