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Motor tax in Ireland: how much is it for my car?

Motor tax in Ireland depends on when your car was first registered. Cars registered from 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2020 are taxed on CO2 (NEDC figure); cars from 1 January 2021 on CO2 (WLTP figure). Older cars are generally taxed on engine size. Look up your car’s exact rate by reg on motortax.ie, where you also pay.

Last checked: 24 October 2026 against motortax.ie, the Department of Transport and Citizens Information

Check your car’s rate on motortax.ieRun a Motorly reg check

motortax.ie is the official government motor tax site, not a Motorly tool. Opens in a new tab.

How motor tax is worked out

The rate for a private car depends on when it was first registered. Newer cars are taxed on their CO2 emissions; older cars are generally taxed on engine size.

First registeredTaxed onSource
1 July 2008 to 31 December 2020CO2 emissions (NEDC value)Department of Transport rates PDF
From 1 January 2021CO2 emissions (WLTP value)Department of Transport rates PDF
Before 1 July 2008Engine size (cc), generallyDepartment of Transport

Some new private cars registered between 1 January 2008 and 30 June 2008 are taxed on CO2 emissions and use the NEDC table below (Department of Transport rates PDF).

NEDC and WLTP are different lab tests, so the same car can have different official CO2 figures under each. The Citizens Information page notes that the SEAI Power of One website lets you check CO2 levels for car models.

Motor tax rates by CO2 band (cars from July 2008)

Rates in euro for private cars. “Up to” means up to and including.

Cars registered from 1 January 2021 (WLTP)

Motor tax rates for private cars registered from 1 January 2021, by WLTP CO2 band
BandCO2 g/kmAnnualHalf-yearQuarterly
A0€120€66€33
A11–50€140€77€39
A2more than 50 up to 80€150€83€42
A3more than 80 up to 90€160€88€45
A4more than 90 up to 100€170€94€48
A5more than 100 up to 110€180€99€50
A6more than 110 up to 120€190€105€53
B1more than 120 up to 130€200€111€56
B2more than 130 up to 140€210€116€59
C1more than 140 up to 150€270€149€76
C2more than 150 up to 160€280€155€79
Dmore than 160 up to 170€420€233€118
Emore than 170 up to 190€600€333€169
F1more than 190 up to 200€790€438€223
F2more than 200 up to 225€1,250€693€353
Gmore than 225€2,400€1,332€678

Last checked: 24 October 2026. Source: motortax.ie WLTP rates and Department of Transport rates PDF.

Cars registered 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2020 (NEDC)

Motor tax rates for private cars registered 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2020, by NEDC CO2 band
BandCO2 g/kmAnnualHalf-yearQuarterly
A00€120€66€33
A11–80€170€94€48
A2more than 80 up to 100€180€99€50
A3more than 100 up to 110€190€105€53
A4more than 110 up to 120€200€111€56
B1more than 120 up to 130€270€149€76
B2more than 130 up to 140€280€155€79
Cmore than 140 up to 155€400€222€113
Dmore than 155 up to 170€600€333€169
Emore than 170 up to 190€790€438€223
Fmore than 190 up to 225€1,250€693€353
Gmore than 225€2,400€1,332€678

Last checked: 24 October 2026. Source: motortax.ie NEDC rates and Department of Transport rates PDF.

Electric cars

motortax.ie lists private electric cars at €120 a year, €66 for a half-year and €33 a quarter (motortax.ie electric rates). Citizens Information gives the annual rate for a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) as €120 per year.

Last checked: 24 October 2026. Source: motortax.ie electric rates and Citizens Information.

Motor tax rates by engine size (older cars)

Rates in euro for private cars registered before 1 July 2008 and taxed on engine size.

Motor tax rates for private cars registered before 1 July 2008, by engine size
Engine size (cc)AnnualHalf-yearQuarterly
Not over 1,000€199€110€56
1,001 to 1,100€299€165€84
1,101 to 1,200€330€183€93
1,201 to 1,300€358€198€101
1,301 to 1,400€385€213€108
1,401 to 1,500€413€229€116
1,501 to 1,600€514€285€145
1,601 to 1,700€544€301€153
1,701 to 1,800€636€352€179
1,801 to 1,900€673€373€190
1,901 to 2,000€710€394€200
2,001 to 2,100€906€502€255
2,101 to 2,200€951€527€268
2,201 to 2,300€994€551€280
2,301 to 2,400€1,034€573€292
2,401 to 2,500€1,080€599€305
2,501 to 2,600€1,294€718€365
2,601 to 2,700€1,345€746€379
2,701 to 2,800€1,391€772€392
2,801 to 2,900€1,443€800€407
2,901 to 3,000€1,494€829€422
3,001 or more€1,809€1,003€511

Last checked: 24 October 2026. Source: motortax.ie engine size rates and Department of Transport rates PDF.

How to check your car’s motor tax rate by registration

  1. Go to motortax.ie, the official government site.
  2. Open the motor tax rates lookup.
  3. Choose the lookup by vehicle registration number.
  4. Enter the reg to see the rate for that car.

You can also see the rates by basis of assessment (WLTP, NEDC, engine size or electric) on the same site.

How to check if a car is taxed

  • motortax.ie has a Motor Tax Status option to check the motor tax status of a vehicle.
  • The online Change of Vehicle Ownership service lets buyers check key vehicle details against the vehicle register, such as its motor tax status, test status, number of previous owners and whether it was imported (motortax.ie).

Motorly’s reg check shows listing and price history and market data, not tax status.

How to pay motor tax online

To tax online at motortax.ie you need your Vehicle Registration Number, Personal Identification Number (PIN), email address, credit or debit card and billing details.

Where your PIN comes from

  • Second-hand car taxed before: the last six digits of the Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) number.
  • Brand new or imported car taxed for the first time: the last six characters of the chassis number (VIN) as printed on the RF100 form. See our guide to importing a car from the UK.
  • The PIN is also on your renewal notice.
  • Lost your PIN? Use the PIN retrieval page linked from motortax.ie.

Source: motortax.ie, checked 24 October 2026.

Payment periods

  • Motor tax discs are issued for periods of three, six or 12 whole calendar months, and there is a surcharge for non-annual discs (Department of Transport).
  • The half-year payment is 55.5% of the annual rate and the quarterly payment is 28.25% of the annual rate, so shorter discs cost more in total over a year (Department of Transport).
  • Monthly arrears are charged at one tenth of the annual rate (Department of Transport).
  • The tax disc is posted within four working days of an online transaction (motortax.ie).

Other services on motortax.ie

motortax.ie also has options to declare a vehicle off the road and to record a change of ownership, personal details or vehicle details. To claim a refund, apply on Form RF120 to your local motor tax office; at least three unexpired whole calendar months must be left on the disc when it is surrendered (Department of Transport).

Motor tax when you buy a used car

Citizens Information says:

  • When buying privately, make sure the seller completes and signs the change of ownership section so a new VRC can be sent to you. Without a VRC, you can’t tax the car.
  • You cannot tax the car until the change of ownership has been registered. There is no charge for registering a change of ownership.
  • You can renew the motor tax on a second-hand car you have recently bought, but you must be the registered owner.
  • If the motor tax has already expired, you do not have to pay the arrears from the expiry of the last tax disc to the end of the month immediately before the date you bought it.
  • It is an offence to drive without paying motor tax.

Liability for motor tax arises when a vehicle is used in a public place or road (Department of Transport).

Buying-used checklist

  • Check the VRC matches the car and the seller.
  • Run a Motorly reg check for listing and price history, and a VIN check.
  • Compare the asking price with the market on the price checker.
  • Look up the car’s motor tax rate by reg on motortax.ie and include it in your yearly running costs. Our depreciation guide covers another part of the cost of owning a car.

Example: Toyota Corolla hybrid road tax

There is no single road tax figure for a Corolla hybrid. As with any car, the rate depends on when that car was first registered and its official CO2 figure, which sets its band in the WLTP or NEDC table above. To see the rate for a specific car, enter its reg in the rates lookup on motortax.ie. For more on the car itself, read our Toyota Corolla buying guide.

Did Budget 2027 change motor tax?

We found no confirmed change to motor tax rates in official Budget 2027 documents as of 24 October 2026.

Budget 2027 changed VRT, not motor tax (Department of Finance: Finance Bill (No.2) 2026). See our VRT guide for the details.

Motor tax, VRT and NCT: what’s the difference

ItemWhat it isSource
Motor taxA recurring charge on most motor vehicles, collected by local authorities and paid for 3, 6 or 12 months.Citizens Information
VRTVehicle registration tax, dealt with by the Revenue Commissioners when a vehicle is registered. For cars it is based on CO2 plus nitrogen oxide emissions. See our VRT guide.Revenue, gov.ie
NCTA separate test, not a tax. See our NCT guide.NCT guide

Motor tax questions

How much is motor tax for my car?

It depends on when the car was first registered and on its CO2 figure or engine size. Look up the exact rate by reg on motortax.ie. (motortax.ie)

Is motor tax based on CO2 or engine size?

Cars registered from 1 July 2008 are taxed on CO2 emissions: the NEDC figure for cars registered to 31 December 2020 and the WLTP figure from 1 January 2021. Before that date, cars are generally taxed on engine size, although some cars first registered from 1 January to 30 June 2008 are taxed on CO2. (Department of Transport: Motor tax rates)

How do I check my car’s tax rate by registration?

Use the rates lookup on motortax.ie and enter the vehicle registration number. motortax.ie is the official government site; it is not a Motorly tool. (motortax.ie)

What do I need to pay motor tax online?

motortax.ie asks for your Vehicle Registration Number, Personal Identification Number (PIN), email address, credit or debit card and billing details. For a second-hand car taxed before, the PIN is the last six digits of the Vehicle Registration Certificate number. For a brand new or imported car taxed for the first time, it is the last six characters of the VIN as printed on the RF100 form. The PIN is also on your renewal notice. (motortax.ie)

Can I pay motor tax quarterly?

Yes. Motor tax discs are issued for three, six or 12 whole calendar months. The half-year payment is 55.5% of the annual rate and the quarterly payment is 28.25% of the annual rate, so there is a surcharge for non-annual discs. (Department of Transport: Motor tax rates)

Can I check if a car is taxed?

motortax.ie has a Motor Tax Status option to check the motor tax status of a vehicle. The online Change of Vehicle Ownership service also lets buyers check key details against the vehicle register, such as its motor tax status, test status, number of previous owners and whether it was imported. Motorly’s reg check shows listing and price history and market data, not tax status. (motortax.ie)

Do I need to tax a used car when I buy it?

It is an offence to drive without paying motor tax. You cannot tax the car until the change of ownership has been registered, and you must be the registered owner to renew it. If the tax has already expired, you do not have to pay the arrears from the expiry of the last disc to the end of the month before the date you bought it. (Citizens Information: Motor tax)

Did Budget 2027 change motor tax?

We found no confirmed change to motor tax rates in official Budget 2027 documents as of 24 October 2026. Budget 2027 changed VRT, not motor tax. (Department of Finance: Finance Bill (No.2) 2026)

Sources

All official pages checked 24 October 2026. This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice.