Motor Tax Calculator Ireland 2026

Calculator

Pick the regime your car falls under (set by date of first registration), then enter the CO₂ figure or engine cc. The result shows annual, half-yearly × 2 and quarterly × 4, plus the saving you make by paying annually.

Three parallel rate systems by date

Ireland's motor tax has three concurrent rate tables, each set by the date of first registration of the vehicle:

• 1 January 2021 onwards: WLTP CO₂ in g/km. Sixteen bands from €120 (BEV) to €2,400 (226+ g/km).
• 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2020: NEDC CO₂ in g/km. Twelve bands from €120 (0–1 g/km, EV/PHEV in NEDC) to €2,400 (226+ g/km).
• Before 1 July 2008: engine cc. Twenty-two bands from €199 (under 1,000cc) to €1,809 (3,001cc+).

The regime is fixed by first-reg date and does not change for the life of the car. A 2018 diesel published with both NEDC (165 g/km) and WLTP (180 g/km) figures pays NEDC-table rates because it was first registered in 2018. A 2010 petrol pays NEDC even if it has been re-registered after a major modification — the original first-reg date governs.

WLTP rates — registered 1 January 2021 onwards

Half-yearly figures are paid twice in a year (annualised at ~111% of the annual figure); quarterly four times (annualised at ~113%). The premium funds Revenue's higher administrative cost on more frequent transactions.

NEDC rates — registered 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2020

The NEDC table has fewer (12) bands than WLTP (16). Because NEDC tests systematically under-stated real-world emissions on the older cycle, even a "low-CO₂" diesel from 2014 often registered around 110–130 g/km NEDC — the equivalent WLTP figure would be 135–160 g/km. So mid-range NEDC bands at €270–€600 are densely populated.

Engine-cc rates — registered before 1 July 2008

Engine-cc rates step every 100cc — so a 1,499cc petrol pays €413 while a 1,501cc petrol pays €514, a €101 jump for two cubic centimetres. Pre-2008 used cars are increasingly into vintage territory (a 1996 car turned 30 in 2026 and qualifies for the €56 vintage rate instead). Anything 30+ years old should be on the vintage path; see our vintage car VRT calculator for the eligibility check.

The 11% / 13% half-yearly and quarterly premium

Revenue's half-yearly motor tax is roughly 55.5% of the annual rate; quarterly is roughly 28%. Multiply both back to a full year:

On a €280/year car, paying half-yearly costs ~€311 (extra €31). Paying quarterly costs ~€316 (extra €36). Over a 5-year ownership, that's an extra €155–€180 you've handed over for cash-flow flexibility. For drivers who can absorb the annual hit, paying yearly is the clean win. For drivers genuinely cash-strapped on the renewal date, quarterly remains an option — just understand the surcharge. See our motor tax online guide for the screen-by-screen flow.

Worked examples — six common 2026 cases

1. New EV (2026) — Hyundai Kona Electric

WLTP, 0 g/km. €120/year. Half-yearly €67 × 2 = €134. Quarterly €34 × 4 = €136. Annual saves €14–€16.

2. New petrol family car — VW Golf 1.5 TSI

WLTP, 130 g/km. Band €200/year. Half-yearly €111 × 2 = €222. Quarterly €56 × 4 = €224. Annual saves €22–€24.

3. New petrol HEV — Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid

WLTP, 100 g/km. Band €170/year. Half-yearly €94 × 2 = €188. Quarterly €48 × 4 = €192. Annual saves €18–€22.

4. Used 2018 diesel — Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI

NEDC, 117 g/km. Band €200/year (NEDC table). Half-yearly €111 × 2 = €222. Quarterly €56 × 4 = €224.

5. Older 2012 diesel — BMW 320d

NEDC, 165 g/km. Band €600/year. Half-yearly €333 × 2 = €666. Quarterly €168 × 4 = €672. Annual saves €66–€72 — meaningful on a higher-band car.

6. Pre-2008 — 2005 Toyota Corolla 1.4

Engine cc 1,398. Band €385/year. Half-yearly €213 × 2 = €426. Quarterly €108 × 4 = €432. Pre-2008 cc-based rates have a slightly larger premium baked in.

How to pay — motortax.ie step by step

1. Have your reminder letter with the PIN, or your car's last 6 VIN digits if you don't have the letter.
2. Go to motortax.ie and pick "Renew motor tax".
3. Enter the registration number and PIN (or last 6 of VIN). The system pulls your car's tax band.
4. Confirm vehicle details, including current insurance details (insurer name and policy number for the renewal date).
5. Pick frequency: annual / half-yearly / quarterly. The system shows all three prices side by side.
6. Pay by debit/credit card. Receive an email confirmation immediately.
7. Tax disc arrives by post within 5–7 working days. Display in the windscreen.

For the full screen-by-screen including common errors (wrong PIN, wrong insurance details, expired NCT blocking renewal), see our motor tax online guide.

Missed your renewal? — the arrears formula

If you miss the renewal date, motor tax accrues at 1/10 of the annual rate per month for the missed months — even though there are 12 months in a year. The 1/10 (rather than 1/12) is a long-standing penalty rate baked into the system. Worked examples and the RF150 off-road declaration path that pauses arrears mid-stream are in our motor tax arrears guide.

Sources

• motortax.ie — official online motor tax service and current rates.
• Department of Transport — motor tax legislation and Budget changes.
• Revenue's Motor Tax — calculation rules and rate tables.
• Budget 2026 documentation on gov.ie — confirmed motor tax rates unchanged.
• citizensinformation.ie — motor tax overview.
• SIMI — industry reference rates.

Frequently asked questions