The rules now
Electric cars pay car tax now. They have done since April 2025, and from 1 April 2026 the standard rate is £200 a year. The first year has its own rate, so don't assume £200 is your first bill. Use our car tax calculator to see exactly what you'll pay.
The expensive car supplement is the one to watch. It adds £440 in years 2 to 6 if the list price is over £50,000 for an electric car registered from April 2025. For other cars the threshold is £40,000. Check the original list price, not what you paid.
Tax doesn't transfer to a new keeper, so you must tax the car before you drive it away. Our free car check shows its tax status by registration, so you can confirm it before you hand over any money.
Older electric cars
Older electric cars pay the standard rate, not the supplement. If your electric car was registered before April 2025, the £440 supplement doesn't apply. It only covers electric cars registered from April 2025 with a list price over £50,000. An older electric car pays the £200 standard rate from 1 April 2026, the same as other cars registered from 1 April 2017.
Tax doesn't transfer to a new keeper, and you must tax the car before you drive it. Electric cars didn't pay car tax before April 2025, so check this before you buy. Our free car check shows the tax status from the registration number. For the exact figure, use the car tax calculator.
- Check the tax status yourself rather than relying on the seller's word.
- Paying monthly by Direct Debit costs 5% more than one payment.
- Electric cars always comply with ULEZ, so the daily charge won't apply.
Other EV costs
Electric cars always meet ULEZ, so the £12.50 daily ULEZ charge won't apply to them. The risk is with petrol and diesel cars. In London, petrol cars need to meet Euro 4 (most from 2006) and diesels need Euro 6 (most from September 2015). Birmingham charges £8 a day and Bristol £9 for non-compliant cars. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee have low emission zones with a £60 penalty, halved if paid within 14 days. If you'll drive a petrol or diesel car in those places, check before you buy.
Charging costs depend on how you plan to charge, so work that out before you buy. A home charger needs a suitable place to park, and public charging is paid for in different ways. Ask the seller how they charged the car and whether the charging cable came with it.
Enter the registration on our free check to see the car's ULEZ status and tax. If London is on your route, also run the ULEZ check.