Vehicle Benefits

Chargeable on employees earning £8,500 or over (including benefits), and directors.

Car Benefit

The taxable benefit is calculated as a percentage of the list price of the car, on the day before it was first registered, plus certain accessories. This percentage depends upon the rate at which the car emits carbon dioxide (CO2), and the fuel type.

From April 2015, the five year exemption for zero carbon and the lower rate for ultra-low carbon emission cars came to an end. Two new bands were introduced for ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs). These were set at 0-50 g/km (5%) and 51-75 g/km (9%). The appropriate percentages for the remaining bands increased by 2% for cars emitting more than 75 g/km, to a new maximum of 37%.

You can find the appropriate percentage for 2016/17 using the following table:

CO2 emissions
(g/km)		 Appropriate percentage
Petrol % Diesel %
0-50 7 10
51-75 11 14
76-94 15 18
95-99 16 19
100-104 17 20
105-109 18 21
110-114 19 22
115-119 20 23
120-124 21 24
125-129 22 25
130-134 23 26
135-139 24 27
140-144 25 28
145-149 26 29
150-154 27 30
155-159 28 31
160-164 29 32
165-169 30 33
170-174 31 34
175-179 32 35
180-184 33 36
185-189 34


37
190-194 35
195-199 36
200 and above 37

CO2 emission information

For all cars first registered from at least November 2000, the definitive CO2 emissions figure for tax purposes is recorded on the Vehicle Registration Document (V5). Under an agreement with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is providing a CO2 emissions enquiry service on their website at www.smmt.co.uk for cars first registered from January 1998.

Reliable emissions data is not widely available for cars registered before 1 January 1998. For them, the following taxable percentages apply, regardless of fuel type:

Engine capacity Taxable %
Up to 1400cc 15%
1401 - 2000cc 22%
Over 2000cc 32%

Car fuel benefit

The taxable car fuel benefit, for 2016/17, is calculated by applying the CO2 based car benefit percentage to the car fuel benefit charge multiplier of £22,200.

If the employee pays for the full cost of all fuel for private journeys (usually including home to work) there will be no car fuel benefit. In all other cases the full tax charge will be due.

Fuel-Only Mileage Rates
HMRC advisory mileage rates at the time of the Budget for employee private mileage reimbursement or employer reimbursement of business mileage in company cars are:
Engine Size Petrol LPG
1400cc or less 10p 7p
1401cc - 2000cc 12p 8p
Over 2000cc 19p 13p
Engine Size Diesel  
1600cc or less 8p  
1601cc - 2000cc 10p  
Over 2000cc 11p  

Example: A company car driver has a car which, on the day before it was first registered, had a list price of £21,000. It runs on petrol, and emits 177 g/km of CO2.

If we assume the driver pays tax at 40%, the 2016/17 tax bill on the car is: £21,000 x 32% x 40% = £2,688

If the employer provides any fuel used for private journeys and is not reimbursed for the cost, the 2016/17 tax bill for the fuel is: £22,200 x 32% x 40% = £2,842.

Company vans

The taxable benefit for the unrestricted use of company vans is £3,170 plus a further £598 of taxable benefit if fuel is provided by the employer for private travel.

Van and fuel charge Van Fuel Total
Tax (20% taxpayer) £634 £119.60 £753.60
Tax (40% taxpayer) £1,268 £239.20 £1,507.20
Tax (45% taxpayer) £1,426.50 £269.10 £1,695.60
Employer's class 1A NICs £437.46 £82.52 £519.98

Van drivers can avoid a benefit charge if they agree not to use the van for personal journeys. Driving to and from work is acceptable so long as there is a reasonable amount of business use.

The flat rate of £3,170 is reduced by 80% to £634 for vans which cannot produce C02 engine emissions under any circumstances when driven. There is no fuel benefit for such vans.