🚗 Germany Vehicle Tax (Kfz-Steuer) Calculator

The Kraftfahrzeugsteuer (Kfz-Steuer) is Germany's annual vehicle tax, collected by the Zoll (customs authority) rather than the tax office. It applies to every registered vehicle whether or not it is driven, and is due from the date of registration.

Since the 2009 reform, passenger-car tax has two pillars: an engine-displacement component and a CO2 component based on WLTP emissions. Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) registered by 31 December 2030 are exempt for ten years. The tax is designed so that larger, higher-emitting, and especially diesel vehicles pay substantially more.

1. Displacement component - charged per started 100 cc of engine capacity: petrol (and gas/hydrogen) 2.00 euro, diesel 9.50 euro. A 1,498 cc petrol engine rounds up to 1,500 cc = 15 blocks x 2.00 = 30.00 euro.

2. CO2 component (cars first registered from 2021) - the first 95 g/km is free, then a progressive scale applies:

Cars first registered in 2018-2020 use a flat 2.00 euro per gram above 95 g/km. 2012-2017 registrations pay 2.00 euro per gram above 110 g/km. Pure EVs are exempt for 10 years from first registration.

Displacement tax by engine size (annual, before any CO2 component):

1. Choose the fuel type (petrol or diesel).
2. Enter the engine displacement in cc.
3. Enter the WLTP CO2 value in g/km.
4. Enter the year of first registration.
5. Tick the EV box if it is a battery-electric vehicle.
6. Click Calculate to see the annual Kfz-Steuer.

Why is German vehicle tax so much higher for diesel?

The displacement rate for diesel is 9.50 euro per 100 cc versus 2.00 euro for petrol - a deliberate surcharge because diesel fuel is taxed less at the pump. A 2.0 litre diesel pays about 190 euro/year in displacement tax alone, roughly five times a comparable petrol engine.

How is the CO2 component calculated in 2026?

For cars first registered from 2021, the first 95 g/km is free, then a progressive scale runs from 2.00 euro per gram (96-100 g/km) up to 16.00 euro per gram (above 195 g/km). Cars registered in 2018-2020 use a flat 2.00 euro per gram above 95 g/km. 2012-2017 registrations pay 2.00 euro per gram above 110 g/km.

Are electric cars really tax-free in Germany?

Battery-electric vehicles first registered by 31 December 2030 are exempt from Kfz-Steuer for ten years from first registration. After that they pay a reduced weight-based rate. Plug-in hybrids qualify for reduced rates only if they meet minimum electric-range rules.

Who collects the Kfz-Steuer and when is it due?

The Zoll (customs authority) collects it, and it is due annually from the registration date regardless of how much the car is driven. Deregistering the vehicle stops the accrual for the months it is off the road.

Does engine tuning or modifications change the tax?

Yes. The tax is fixed at first registration but is recalculated if the vehicle is modified in ways that change its displacement or emissions class. Significant changes should be reported to the registration office.

This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial professional for advice specific to your situation.

Diesel cars pay roughly five times the displacement tax of an equivalent petrol car, so a 2.0 litre diesel alone costs about 190 euro/year versus 40 euro for petrol. Because the CO2 scale is progressive, small reductions in emissions can save noticeable amounts in the higher bands. EVs registered by the end of 2030 pay nothing for a decade. You can stop the clock by deregistering the vehicle (Saisonkennzeichen or Abmeldung) - you then pay only for the months it is registered.