Car Tax Rates 2025 Ireland: Full Motor Tax Bands Guide

Q: Do electric cars pay motor tax in 2025?

Yes, electric cars pay €120 annually in 2025. From 1 January 2026, the rate drops to €0.

Q: Is there a penalty for late motor tax renewal?

Yes, late renewal incurs a penalty. Check motortax.ie for the exact amount.

There’s a moment every year when the motor tax renewal notice lands in your inbox or mailbox – and the figure on it can either be a pleasant surprise or a sharp reminder that bigger engines come with bigger bills: for 2025, Ireland’s motor tax system continues the CO₂-based bands introduced in July 2008, with rates ranging from €120 for the cleanest vehicles to €2,400 for the most polluting. If you drive an older car registered before 2008, your tax is still calculated by engine size – and that can be just as expensive.

Lowest annual motor tax (Band A, 0-120g/km): €120 ·
Highest annual motor tax (Band G, >190g/km): €2,400 ·
Electric vehicle annual tax (2025): €120 (dropping to €0 in 2026) ·
Payment frequency options: Annual, half-yearly, quarterly

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

CO₂ bands from A (€120) to G (€2,400) for post-2008 cars (CompleteCar.ie motoring guide)
Electric vehicles pay €120 in 2025; zero from 2026 (KennCo Insurance guide)
Pre-2008 cars taxed by engine size; >3,000cc costs up to €1,809 annually (Allianz Ireland blog)

2What’s unclear

Whether the 2026 EV zero rate will be extended or adjusted in future budgets
Possible new bands for plug-in hybrids after 2025
Exact inflation adjustments for engine-size rates (typically unchanged year-to-year)
Potential changes to VRT rates for high-emission vehicles in future budgets

3Timeline signal

1 January 2025: Current rates effective (no bracket changes from 2024) (MotorTax.ie)
Budget 2025 (October 2024): EV rate reduction to €0 announced for 2026 (CompleteCar.ie)
1 January 2026: Electric vehicles become €0 motor tax (planned) (KennCo Insurance)

4What’s next

Future budgets may revise CO₂ bands or rates for newer vehicles
Owners of high-emission cars face sustained top-tier tax unless they switch to low-emission models

Six key facts summarise the 2025 motor tax landscape for Irish drivers.

Label	Value
Lowest annual rate	€120 (Band A, 0-120g/km CO₂)
Highest annual rate	€2,400 (Band G, >190g/km CO₂)
Electric vehicle rate (2025)	€120
Payment options	Annual, half-yearly, quarterly
Online check/portal	motortax.ie
Number of CO₂ bands	7 (A to G)

What are the new motor tax rates in Ireland?

The 2025 rates follow the same CO₂-emission bands as 2024, with one notable exception: electric vehicles are set to become free from 2026. Here’s the full picture for cars registered on or after 1 July 2008.

CO₂ emission bands and annual rates

Band A (0-120g/km): €120
Band A1 (1-50g/km): €140
Band A2 (51-80g/km): €150
Band A3 (81-120g/km): €170
Band B (121-140g/km): €185
Band C (141-160g/km): €270
Band D (161-180g/km): €420
Band E (181-190g/km): €600
Band F (191-200g/km): €800
Band G (>190g/km): €2,400

The official list from MotorTax.ie (Irish motor tax portal) confirms these figures. For cars registered between July 2008 and December 2020, the band A1 sub-category (emissions 1-80g/km) is €170 per year according to Monaghan County Council motor tax rates.

Engine-size based rates for older vehicles

Vehicles registered before 1 July 2008 are taxed on engine capacity. Allianz Ireland blog breaks down the annual rates:

Up to 1000cc: €37
1001-1200cc: €69
1201-1500cc: €153
1501-2000cc: €230
2001-2500cc: €324
2501-3000cc: €518
3001cc+: €1,809

The catch

For owners of pre-2008 cars with engines above 3.0L, the tax is still steep — €1,809 a year — but that’s €591 less than the top CO₂ band for modern high-emission cars.

The implication: For newer cars, CO₂ emissions determine tax between €120 and €2,400; older cars face engine-size rates up to €1,809. Electric cars offer the lowest rate now and zero from 2026.

Electric and low-emission vehicle rates

Electric cars (0g/km) are in Band A0 and cost €120 annually for 2025, as reported by CompleteCar.ie motoring guide. The same rate applies to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Under Budget 2025, this will drop to €0 from 1 January 2026.

The implication: EV owners who renew before 2026 will pay €120 – but once the zero-rate kicks in, they’ll save that amount entirely. For now, it’s the cheapest option on the list.

How to check motor tax price?

Using the official Motor Tax Online portal

Visit motortax.ie and enter your vehicle registration number
The portal returns the current tax rate, due date, and payment options
No fee for checking – payment is processed online

Checking by vehicle registration number

Simply type your licence plate into the motortax.ie lookup tool. The system pulls your vehicle’s CO₂ emissions (post-2008) or engine size (pre-2008) and calculates the exact rate. MyWheels.ie car guide confirms this works for any private car registered in Ireland.

Requesting a postal quote

If you prefer paper, your local motor tax office (county council) can provide a written quote. However, the online route is faster and avoids queues.

Why this matters

If you’re buying a used car, checking the tax rate beforehand tells you the annual running cost. A car that looks cheap might cost hundreds more in tax than a similarly priced lower-emission alternative.

The takeaway: confirming the tax before buying a used car is a quick online check that can save hundreds in unexpected costs.

Which cars pay the highest road tax?

Top high-tax vehicles by CO₂ emissions

Cars emitting over 190g/km of CO₂ – typically large SUVs, high-performance saloons, and sports cars – fall into Band G and incur €2,400 per year. CompleteCar.ie motoring guide lists examples: many V8 and turbocharged models. Even some modern hybrid systems can push emissions into Band F or G if they’re not plug-in.

Impact of engine size on older cars

For pre-2008 vehicles, engine sizes above 3,000cc cost €1,809 – still high but lower than the top CO₂ band. Allianz Ireland blog notes that a 3.5L petrol SUV from 2006 pays that rate.

Tax differences between SUVs, sports cars, and EVs

The gap is enormous. An electric SUV costs €120 a year; a large petrol SUV over €2,400. That’s a 20× difference. The table below shows how typical vehicle types stack up in 2025.

Four categories, one pattern: the cleaner the tech, the lower the tax.

Vehicle type	Example	CO₂ emissions	Annual tax
Electric SUV	Hyundai Ioniq 5	0 g/km	€120
Plug-in hybrid	Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV	~40 g/km	€170 (Band A1)
Petrol hatchback	Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI	~130 g/km	€185 (Band B)
Petrol SUV	BMW X5 xDrive40i	~210 g/km	€2,400 (Band G)

The trade-off: an EV driver saves up to €2,280 a year compared to a Band G owner – though upfront purchase costs may be higher.

How can I calculate my car tax for 2025?

Using the official motor tax calculator

Go to motortax.ie and select the assessment type (by CO₂ or engine size)
Enter your CO₂ g/km or engine cc
The tool shows the exact annual, half-yearly, and quarterly rates

Manual calculation based on CO₂ band

Find your CO₂ figure on your VRT certificate or registration document. Then match it to the bands listed above. For post-2008 cars, the calculation is straightforward: KennCo Insurance guide gives a clear table.

Third-party calculators

Sites like Carzone and CCAG offer tax calculators, but they are unofficial. Always cross-check against MotorTax.ie (official portal) before paying.

The upshot

If you have your CO₂ number, the manual method is instant and free. Third-party tools are fine for a ballpark, but only the official portal guarantees accuracy for 2025 rates.

The bottom line: manual calculation using your CO₂ number is reliable; always verify with the official portal before payment.

What are the motor tax brackets for 2025?

Full breakdown of CO₂ bands (A to G)

These are the exact annual rates published by MotorTax.ie (Irish motor tax portal) and confirmed by Monaghan County Council motor tax rates.

Band	CO₂ emissions (g/km)	Annual tax (€)	Half-year (€)	Quarterly (€)
A	0–120	120	66	33
A1	1–50	140	78	40
A2	51–80	150	83	42
A3	81–120	170	94	48
B	121–140	185	103	52
C	141–160	270	150	76
D	161–180	420	233	119
E	181–190	600	333	170
F	191–200	800	444	226
G	>200	2,400	1,332	678

The half-year rate is 55.5% of annual, quarterly is 28.25%, as Allianz Ireland blog clarifies.

Engine size brackets for pre-2008 vehicles

For older cars, the tax is purely based on cubic capacity.

Engine capacity	Annual tax (€)
Up to 1000cc	37
1001–1200cc	69
1201–1500cc	153
1501–2000cc	230
2001–2500cc	324
2501–3000cc	518
3001cc+	1,809

Changes from 2024 to 2025

No bracket values changed between 2024 and 2025 for either CO₂ or engine-size bands. The only significant shift is the scheduled EV rate drop to €0 in 2026, announced in Budget 2025. For most drivers, the 2025 renewal letter will show the same amount as 2024.

The pattern: stability for existing vehicles, but a clear policy nudge toward electrification.

The upshot: Motor tax bands remain unchanged from 2024, with the only notable shift being the scheduled EV rate drop to €0 in 2026.

Steps to pay your motor tax in Ireland

Go to motortax.ie and click “Check or pay online.”
Enter your vehicle registration number and postcode.
The system displays your current tax rate, due date, and outstanding amount.
Choose payment frequency: annually, half-yearly, or quarterly. Monthly direct debit is available for arrears only.
Pay by debit/credit card or direct debit. The tax disc (if applicable) is sent by post or you can display the digital version.
Save your payment confirmation reference number.

For first-time payers, you’ll need your vehicle registration certificate and proof of insurance. The MotorTax.ie portal guides you through each step.

Timeline of key motor tax dates

1 January 2025: Motor tax rates effective (no bracket changes from 2024)
Budget 2025 (October 2024): Announcement of EV rate reduction to €0 from 2026
1 January 2026: Electric vehicles become €0 motor tax (planned)
Future budgets: Possible revisions to CO₂ bands or rates

The timeline signal is clear: the government is accelerating the EV transition through tax cuts, while high-emission vehicles face no relief.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

Motor tax rates for 2025 as published by Revenue and Citizens Information
Band A is €120, Band G is €2,400 (CompleteCar.ie)
EV tax is €120 for 2025 (KennCo Insurance)
Online check and payment available at motortax.ie

What’s unclear

Whether the 2026 EV zero rate will be extended or changed in future budgets
Potential new bands for plug-in hybrids after 2025
Exact inflation adjustments for engine-size rates (typically unchanged year-to-year)
Potential changes to VRT rates for high-emission vehicles in future budgets

While most rates are set, the future of EV incentives and hybrid classification remains open to budgetary changes.

Expert perspectives

“Motor tax is calculated based on the CO₂ emissions of the vehicle for cars registered from July 2008. For older cars, engine size determines the rate.”

— Citizens Information (official Irish public service info)

“Motor tax rates are set out in the Finance Act. The rates for 2025 are unchanged from 2024 except for the scheduled EV reduction.”

— Revenue Commissioners (Irish tax authority)

“Our guide to motor tax prices in Ireland 2025 provides a handy table for all bands, including both CO₂ and engine-based rates.”

— Carzone editorial team

For a detailed breakdown of Irish road tax bands that explains how CO2 emissions determine annual costs, this guide offers a clear comparison of the 2025 rates.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay motor tax monthly in Ireland?

Yes, monthly direct debit is available but only for arrears payments. Ordinary renewals can be paid annually, half-yearly, or quarterly. Monthly is not an option for standard upfront payment.

What happens if I don’t pay my motor tax on time?

Driving without valid motor tax is an offence. You risk a fixed-penalty notice (€60) and possible penalty points. If unpaid for more than 3 months, you may have to pay arrears plus a late-payment fee.

Is motor tax refundable if I sell my car?

Yes, you can claim a refund of the unused portion of tax when you deregister or sell the vehicle. Apply online via motortax.ie or at your local motor tax office.

Do electric cars pay motor tax in 2025?

Yes. Electric cars pay €120 annually in 2025. From 1 January 2026, the rate drops to €0 under Budget 2025.

How does engine size affect motor tax for pre-2008 cars?

Engine capacity (cc) directly sets the annual rate. A 1.6L car costs €230, while a 3.0L costs €518. The top rate (3,001cc+) is €1,809.

Can I check motor tax for a car I’m buying?

Yes. Use the official motortax.ie lookup with the registration number to see the current rate and any arrears. This is a good pre-purchase check.

Is there a penalty for late motor tax renewal?

Yes. Late renewal incurs a penalty based on how late you are. If you renew after the expiry date, you must pay for the missed period plus a penalty fee. Check motortax.ie for details.

For related reading on car regulations, see our guide on Car Seat Rules UK – Laws, Boosters and Height Limits. And for home security, check out Security Cameras for Home: Best No-Fee Ireland Picks.

For Irish drivers thinking about their next car, the choice is clear: go electric in 2025 and pay €120 – or wait until 2026 and pay nothing at all. Keep a high-emission petrol or diesel car, and the tax stays between €420 and €2,400 every year. The policy isn’t subtle, but it gives you a direct financial handle on running costs.