Car tax bands by CO2: cars registered 2001 to 2017
The 2026/27 car tax bands A to M for cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017, by CO2 in g/km, and where to find a car's CO2 figure.
Updated
Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by their CO2 emissions, in thirteen bands from A to M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C log book and stays the same for the life of the car. For the 2026/27 tax year a 12 month payment runs from £20 in band A to £790 in band M.
This page has the full table from GOV.UK, how to find a car's band, and why a car from this period can cost less to tax than a newer one.
The 2026/27 car tax bands
These rates apply from 1 April 2026. They are the same for petrol, diesel, alternative fuel and zero emission cars in this registration period.
| Band | CO2 (g/km) | 12 months | 6 months | 12 monthly Direct Debit (total) | 6 month Direct Debit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to 100 | £20 | not available | £21 | not available |
| B | 101 to 110 | £20 | not available | £21 | not available |
| C | 111 to 120 | £35 | not available | £36.75 | not available |
| D | 121 to 130 | £170 | £93.50 | £178.50 | £89.25 |
| E | 131 to 140 | £200 | £110 | £210 | £105 |
| F | 141 to 150 | £225 | £123.75 | £236.25 | £118.13 |
| G | 151 to 165 | £275 | £151.25 | £288.75 | £144.38 |
| H | 166 to 175 | £325 | £178.75 | £341.25 | £170.63 |
| I | 176 to 185 | £360 | £198 | £378 | £189 |
| J | 186 to 200 | £410 | £225.50 | £430.50 | £215.25 |
| K | 201 to 225 | £445 | £244.75 | £467.25 | £233.63 |
| L | 226 to 255 | £760 | £418 | £798 | £399 |
| M | Over 255 | £790 | £434.50 | £829.50 | £414.75 |
Band K also includes cars with a CO2 figure over 225g/km that were registered before 23 March 2006. Those cars pay the band K rate, not the band L or M rate.
A single 12 month payment by Direct Debit costs the same as paying for 12 months by card.
Where to find a car's CO2 figure
The CO2 figure is on the V5C log book, in g/km. Ask the seller to show you the V5C at the viewing and note three things:
- the date of first registration, to confirm the car falls between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017
- the CO2 figure in g/km
- the fuel type
Then find the band in the table above, or put the details into our car tax check. The car tax calculator works out the rate from the registration date, fuel and CO2.
The advert may quote a CO2 figure too. Trust the V5C over the advert. Two versions of the same model with different engines or gearboxes can be in different bands.
Why these cars can be cheaper to tax than newer ones
Cars first registered from 1 April 2017 pay a flat standard rate after the first year: £200 for 12 months in 2026/27, whatever their CO2 figure. Some pay £640 with the expensive car supplement.
Cars in this earlier group still pay by CO2. So a low-emission car from this period pays less than the flat rate:
- bands A and B pay £20 a year
- band C pays £35
- band D pays £170
That is why a car registered in early 2017 can cost less to tax than a nearly identical car registered a few weeks later, after 1 April 2017. If you are choosing between two cars either side of that date, check both.
The opposite is true at the top end. A car in band L or M pays £760 or £790 a year in 2026/27, far more than the £200 standard rate for a newer car. If you are looking at a large engine from this period, the tax is a real running cost.
Electric and alternative fuel cars in this period
Electric cars registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 have a CO2 figure of zero, so they fall into band A and pay £20 in 2026/27. They used to be exempt, but electric cars have paid vehicle tax since 1 April 2025. See our guide to electric car tax.
Hybrids and other alternative fuel cars in this period use the same table as petrol and diesel cars.
Paying for the lower bands
In bands A, B and C you cannot pay for 6 months. You pay for 12 months, or by monthly Direct Debit. Paying monthly by Direct Debit adds 5%, which is why band A costs £21 in total that way instead of £20. Our guide to paying car tax by Direct Debit explains the options.
The rates change every April
The band a car is in does not change. The amount each band pays is normally updated each year, with new rates from 1 April. The table on this page is for 2026/27. If you read this after March 2027, check the GOV.UK table.
For cars registered before 1 March 2001 or from 1 April 2017, see car tax explained.
Frequently asked questions
What car tax band is my car in?
If it was first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017, the band depends on the CO2 figure on the V5C. Find the figure, then match it to the table on this page.
How much is band A car tax in 2026/27?
£20 for 12 months, or £21 in total if you pay by monthly Direct Debit. Band B costs the same.
Do car tax bands apply to cars registered after April 2017?
Not after the first year. Cars registered from 1 April 2017 pay a first-year rate based on CO2, then a flat standard rate of £200 in 2026/27, plus the expensive car supplement if their list price was high.
Does a car's tax band ever change?
The band is fixed by the CO2 figure recorded when the car was registered. The price of each band changes every 1 April.