Vehicle Tax Calculator

German vehicle tax seems opaque but follows clear rules from the Motor Vehicle Tax Act (KraftStG). For a car it consists of two components: a displacement component and a CO2 component. For the displacement component you pay 2.00 euros per started 100 cc for petrol cars and 9.50 euros per 100 cc for diesels. The calculator takes both figures from your registration certificate (field P.1 for displacement) and adds them up.

The CO2 component is progressive and makes the difference between economical and thirsty. Up to 95 g/km it stays tax-free; above that the rate rises in tiers - the more your car emits, the more each further gram costs. This staggering applies to first registrations from 1 July 2009; for vehicles registered earlier, older rules under Section 9(1) apply. The calculator factors in the registration date automatically.

Electric vehicles are the big special case. Pure EVs first registered by 31 December 2030 are fully exempt from vehicle tax for ten years from first registration, until 31 December 2035 at the latest. New registrations from 2031 onwards get no exemption. After the exemption expires, weight-based taxation applies - the calculator shows what falls due then so the first bill after the exemption does not surprise you.

Motorhomes are taxed not by displacement but by gross vehicle weight and emission class (Section 9(1) No. 2a). Up to 2,000 kg you pay 16 euros per 200 kg (low-emission from S4) or 24 euros (worse rating); above 2,000 kg a flat 10 euros per 200 kg. It is capped at 800 euros (S4 and better) or 1,000 euros. The calculator covers cars, motorcycles, light motorcycles and motorhomes and switches to the right calculation automatically.

Tax exemptions for people with disabilities are built in too: 100 percent exemption with the markers H, BI or aG, 50 percent reduction with G or Gl. Anyone using the 50 percent reduction, however, cannot also use free local public transport - the calculator points out this choice.

Everything runs fully client-side in your browser - no signup, no data transfer, works offline. The calculator is a guide based on the current KraftStG rates and replaces neither the assessment notice from the customs office nor tax advice. For the official amount, your notice is what counts.