UK car and van tax bands in 2022

If you’re driving in London, it’s important to know which cars are affected by the ULEZ and whether you need to pay to use your vehicle.

ULEZ is short for Ultra-Low Emission Zone and its aim of it is to improve air quality in London by charging older, more polluting vehicles to drive in the city 

Cars that don’t meet the ULEZ standards will have to pay a daily charge to enter the zone, which is in addition to the Congestion Charge. 

London’s ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – except for Christmas Day.

The tax band is dictated by a vehicle’s emissions

To find out if your car is affected by the ULEZ, you’ll need to know its tax band – which is dictated by its emissions.

You can do this by checking the V5C registration document (or logbook as it is sometimes called) that came with your car when you bought it. 

The document will have a section on vehicle excise duty (VED) which will tell you which band your car is in.

If you’re not sure where your V5C is, you can find out your car’s tax band by doing a quick search online.

You can check the tax band of your vehicle on our website.

Is your vehicle is affected by the ULEZ?

Once you know which band your car is in, you can check to see if your vehicle is affected by the ULEZ.

If your car doesn’t meet the ULEZ standards, you’ll need to pay the daily charge of £12.50 to drive in the zone. 

The charge is in addition to the Congestion Charge, so if you’re driving into London during the week, you could be paying up to £24 a day 

Why are vehicle emissions important for ULEZ?

ULEZ is important for vehicle emissions because they help to improve air quality and reduce harmful pollutants for people living and working in London.

By reducing the number of vehicles emitting high levels of pollution, it helps to create a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone.

In addition, ULEZ can also help to save money on fuel costs and maintenance expenses because older cars cost more to run and maintain.

Typically, newer cars will meet the emission standards laid down by ULEZ.

What are car and van tax bands in the UK?

The car and van tax band system is a way of categorising vehicles according to their emissions. The bands start at A and go all the way up to N.

The UK car and van tax bands in 2022 are as follows:

  • Band A – Up to 100 g/km CO2 emissions (electric cars)
  • Band B – 101-110 g/km CO2 emissions 
  • Band C – 111-120 g/km CO2 emissions 
  • Band D – 121-130 g/km CO2 emissions 
  • Band E – 131-140 g/km CO2 emissions 
  • Band F – 141-150 g/km CO2 emissions 
  • Band G – 151-160 g/km CO2 emissions 
  • Band H – 161-170 g/km CO2 emissions 
  • Band I – 171-180 g/km CO2 emissions 
  • Band J – 181-190 g/km CO2 emissions 
  • Band K – 191-200 g/km CO2 emissions 
  • Band L – 201-225 g/km CO2 emissions 
  • Band M – 226-255 g/km CO2 emissions 
  • Band N – Over 255 g/km CO2 emissions

If you’re looking to drive a car or van in the ULEZ, it’s important to be aware of the different tax bands.

The amount of tax you’ll pay on your vehicle will depend on its emissions, with electric cars being exempt from taxation altogether – currently. 

If you’re considering a more polluting vehicle, remember that you’ll be liable for higher tax rates.

AND you may not be able to drive in the ULEZ without having to pay if you do.

FAQs on UK car and van tax bands

Below are the most frequently asked questions about car tax and car tax bands.

Do all vehicles need to pay road tax?

No, some vehicles are exempt from car and van tax. These include electric cars, classic cars, and vehicles used by disabled people.

When do I need to pay the car tax?

You will need to pay your vehicle tax when you renew your vehicle registration 

How much tax will I need to pay? 

Depending on the vehicle tax band that your car or van falls into, you will need to pay a different amount of tax.

What if I don’t pay the car tax?

If you don’t pay your vehicle tax, you could be fined up to £1,000. You may also have to pay back the money you owe. If you don’t pay, your vehicle could be seized 

I have a question about car and van tax bands. Who can I contact?

You can contact the DVLA for more information about car and van tax bands.

UK car and van tax bands in 2022

The most important thing to remember about UK car and van tax bands in 2022 is that the Vehicle Excise Duty (or VED) is a tax that will rise in accordance with a vehicle’s emissions.

The higher emissions that your vehicle has, the higher the tax will be.

The aim of this progressive scheme is to force older, more polluting cars off the road and make drivers buy newer cars – especially hybrids and electric cars.

Though you still need to check because there are some older models – for example, the Ford Focus – that will meet the emissions standards and comply with the ULEZ rules.

Not everyone will want to do that, but if you buy a gas-guzzler, you will pay more in taxes. 

Electric cars, on the other hand, will be cheaper as they produce no emissions. Though they are much more expensive to buy than a petrol- or diesel-powered car.

Diesel cars are taxed at a higher rate than petrol cars, as they release more harmful emissions into the atmosphere. 

However, ‘clean’ diesel cars that meet the RDE2 standards are taxed at the same rate as petrol cars.

There’s no doubt that knowing and understanding a vehicle’s tax band will help you avoid paying the ULEZ charge.