Last checked against official sources on 19 October 2026.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, financial or mechanical advice. Rules, rates and fees change, so confirm the details with the official sources listed at the end before you act. CarQnA is not affiliated with any of them.
Motor tax in Ireland is not one system but three, and which one your car falls under depends on when it was first registered. Once you know that and its CO2 figure, the yearly cost is easy to look up. These are the rates for 2026: Budget 2026 made no change to motor tax, and Budget 2027 made none either.
Road tax, car tax or motor tax?
They are the same thing. Motor tax is the official name for the yearly charge most drivers call road tax or car tax. It is paid to your local authority, usually online at motortax.ie, and the disc goes on the windscreen. The rates below are the full amounts for 12 months.
Which system applies to your car
- Registered from 1 January 2021: taxed on CO2 under the WLTP test.
- Registered from 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2020: taxed on CO2 under the older NEDC test.
- Registered before 1 July 2008: taxed on engine size (cc). Some cars registered between January and June 2008 could move to the CO2 system.
Your car's CO2 figure and first registration date are on its Vehicle Registration Certificate.
WLTP rates: cars registered from 2021
- 0 g/km: €120
- 1 to 50 g/km: €140
- 51 to 80 g/km: €150
- 81 to 90 g/km: €160
- 91 to 100 g/km: €170
- 101 to 110 g/km: €180
- 111 to 120 g/km: €190
- 121 to 130 g/km: €200
- 131 to 140 g/km: €210
- 141 to 150 g/km: €270
- 151 to 160 g/km: €280
- 161 to 170 g/km: €420
- 171 to 190 g/km: €600
- 191 to 200 g/km: €790
- 201 to 225 g/km: €1,250
- Over 225 g/km: €2,400
NEDC rates: cars registered July 2008 to 2020
- 0 g/km: €120
- 1 to 80 g/km: €170
- 81 to 100 g/km: €180
- 101 to 110 g/km: €190
- 111 to 120 g/km: €200
- 121 to 130 g/km: €270
- 131 to 140 g/km: €280
- 141 to 155 g/km: €400
- 156 to 170 g/km: €600
- 171 to 190 g/km: €790
- 191 to 225 g/km: €1,250
- Over 225 g/km: €2,400
WLTP is a tougher test, so the same car usually shows a higher CO2 figure under WLTP than it did under NEDC. That is why the WLTP bands are wider.
Cars registered before July 2008
Older cars pay by engine size, in bands that rise with the cc, from €199 a year for an engine up to 1,000cc to €1,809 for 3,001cc or more. Check the exact rate for your car on motortax.ie, which shows it when you enter the registration.
Vintage cars
A car that is 30 years old or more counts as vintage for motor tax and pays a flat €56 a year, whatever its engine size or emissions.
Electric cars and hybrids
A fully electric car has zero tailpipe emissions and pays the lowest rate, €120 a year. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids are taxed on their official CO2 figure like any other car, so many plug-ins fall into the low bands.
Paying for 3, 6 or 12 months
You can tax a car for a year, six months or three months, but the shorter periods cost more overall. Six months costs 55.5% of the annual rate and three months costs 28.25%, so paying quarterly all year works out at 113% of the annual price.
To renew online at motortax.ie you need the registration number and your PIN, the last six digits of the Vehicle Registration Certificate number. Insurance is a legal requirement for driving, and you still need to display the tax disc on the windscreen. A replacement tax disc costs €6.
Declaring a car off the road
If a car will not be used for between 3 and 12 months, you can declare it off the road instead of taxing it. The declaration must be made in advance, in the month your current tax runs out; it cannot be backdated.
Refunds
If you scrap, export or stop using a car, you can claim a refund for any whole months left on the disc, as long as at least three whole months remain.
Buying a used car
Motor tax does not transfer to you automatically. Once the car is in your name on the Vehicle Registration Certificate, you can tax it yourself before you drive it.
Common questions
How much is road tax in Ireland?
Road tax is the everyday name for motor tax. For a car registered from 2021 it runs from €120 a year for an electric car to €2,400 for a car over 225 g/km, set by its CO2 band. Cars registered from July 2008 to 2020 use the NEDC table, and older cars pay by engine size.
How much is motor tax on an electric car?
€120 a year, the lowest rate.
Can I tax a car without an NCT?
Yes, for a private car. Motor tax and the NCT are separate, so you can tax the car online without a current NCT certificate. Driving it on the road without a valid NCT when one is due is still an offence, with 3 penalty points and a €60 fixed charge.
Why is my 2021 car in a different band from an older car with a similar engine?
Cars registered from 2021 are taxed on WLTP CO2 figures, which are usually higher than the older NEDC figures, so they use a different table.
Is it cheaper to pay motor tax yearly?
Yes. Six months costs 55.5% of the annual rate and three months 28.25%, so paying for the full year is cheapest.
Can I stop paying tax on a car I am not using?
Yes, by declaring it off the road for 3 to 12 months. You must do it in advance, in the month the current tax expires.