Auto Tax Calculator
Enter engine displacement (cc) and vehicle age to compute the annual Korean auto tax and education surtax for non-commercial passenger cars.
Years since first registration. From year 3, tax is reduced by 5% per year, up to 50%.
From the vehicle registration. e.g. 1.6L = 1591, 2.0L = 1999.
Total annual tax
493,753KRW
Annual — split-billed in June and December
- Base auto tax
- 399,800KRW
- Age reduction rate
- 5%
- Tax after age reduction
- 379,810KRW
- Education surtax
- 113,943KRW30%
- Bracket
- Over 1,600cc
200원/cc
- 200 KRW/cc × 1999cc applied
- Age 3 years → 5% reduction
What is Korean auto tax?
Auto tax is a local tax levied annually on vehicle ownership. Rates differ depending on commercial vs. personal use and vehicle type (passenger, multi-purpose, freight, special) under the Local Tax Act. For personal-use passenger cars, the tax is proportional to engine displacement (cc). As of 2026: KRW 80/cc up to 1,000 cc, KRW 140/cc for 1,001–1,600 cc, and KRW 200/cc above 1,600 cc, creating jumps at the 1,600 cc and 2,000 cc boundaries. Commercial passenger cars use separate flat rates (from KRW 50,000). An age discount reduces the tax by 5% per year starting from year 3 after registration, capped at 50% from year 12. Local Education Tax of 30% is added on top, making the total burden about 1.3× the base tax. Payment is twice a year (June and December) by default. Paying the full amount in January earns about a 5% discount. Eco-friendly vehicles (EV, hydrogen, hybrid) receive separate discounts — this calculator targets standard internal-combustion personal passenger cars.
When is this calculator useful?
Pre-purchase ownership-cost review
Check the annual auto tax by displacement before buying. The bracket jumps at 1,600 cc and 2,000 cc significantly affect the model choice.
Used-car age discount check
From year 3 onward, the tax decreases 5% per year, up to 50% from year 12. Estimate the cost when buying a used vehicle.
Annual prepayment effect
Paying in January saves about 5%. Use the calculator to estimate the savings against the default twice-a-year schedule.
Eco-friendly vs. internal combustion
EVs and hydrogen cars are taxed at a flat low amount (about KRW 130,000), much less than the cc-based rate. The savings are substantial.
Non-commercial passenger car rates
| Displacement | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,000cc | 80 KRW/cc |
| 1,001 – 1,600cc | 140 KRW/cc |
| Over 1,600cc | 200 KRW/cc |
| Electric / Hydrogen (flat) | 100,000 KRW (flat) |
| Education surtax | 30% |
Age reduction
Year 3: 5% / Year 4: 10% / ... / Year 12+: 50%. Reduction grows by 5 percentage points each year and is capped at 50% — vehicles 12+ years old pay half.
How to read the result
The result is composed of: • Displacement: in cc. • Per-cc rate: 80–200 KRW depending on bracket. • Age discount: 5% per year from year 3, fixed at 50% from year 12. • Base auto tax: displacement × per-cc rate × (1 − age discount). • Local Education Tax: 30% of base auto tax (added separately). • Total burden: base + Local Education Tax. Paying in January earns roughly a 5% additional discount. This calculator targets personal-use internal-combustion passenger cars.
Worked examples
1,999cc engine, vehicle age 3 years (5% reduction begins)
Assume a 1,999cc combustion passenger car, vehicle age 3 years. ① Over-1,600cc band rate of KRW 200/cc → base tax = 1,999 × 200 = KRW 399,800 ② Year 3 (reduction begins) → 5% reduction → reduced tax = 399,800 × 0.95 = KRW 379,810 ③ Local education tax (30% of reduced tax) = KRW 113,943 ④ Total due = 379,810 + 113,943 = KRW 493,753
Electric vehicle, vehicle age 1 year (flat KRW 100K base)
Assume an electric vehicle, vehicle age 1 year (below the reduction threshold). ① Electric/hydrogen vehicles pay a flat KRW 100K base tax regardless of any displacement figure ② No reduction applies below 3 years, so it stays at KRW 100K ③ Local education tax (30%) = KRW 30,000 ④ Total due = 100,000 + 30,000 = KRW 130,000 At the same vehicle age, an electric vehicle (≈KRW 130K) carries a much lighter tax burden than a 1,999cc combustion car (≈KRW 494K).
Things to keep in mind
- This calculator targets personal-use internal-combustion passenger cars. Commercial, multi-purpose, freight, and special vehicles have separate rates.
- EVs, hydrogen, and hybrid vehicles receive eco-friendly discounts and pay much less than the calculator shows. Verify the actual amount at Wetax.
- Age discount starts from year 3 after registration, increasing 5% per year and capped at 50% from year 12 (year 9: 30%, year 12: 50%).
- Local Education Tax of 30% is added separately, making the total about 1.3× the base. This calculator shows only the base.
- Paying in January (lump sum) gives about a 5% discount versus the default twice-a-year schedule.
- If the vehicle is sold or scrapped mid-year, the tax is prorated and refunded or further charged. Confirm at Wetax right after.
Frequently asked questions
- When is auto tax due?
- It's paid twice a year: the 1st half (Jan-Jun) is billed in June, and the 2nd half (Jul-Dec) in December. Prepaying the full year in January gets a government-set discount (rate varies by year — check Wetax at wetax.go.kr), and this calculator shows the pre-discount standard tax amount.
- How is vehicle age counted?
- It's counted from the vehicle's original registration date, not the model year. Buying a used car doesn't reset this — the original registration date carries over regardless of ownership changes. The 5% annual reduction starts in year 3 and caps at 50% by year 12.
- Do hybrid cars get the eco-friendly discount?
- No. The hybrid tax reduction has already ended, so hybrids now pay the same cc-based rate as regular gasoline/diesel cars. This calculator treats hybrids under the combustion category, not electric/hydrogen. Only fully electric and hydrogen vehicles get the flat KRW 130K rate.
- How much do I save by paying the full year in January?
- The prepayment discount rate is set annually by government notice (roughly 5-7% in recent years). Check Wetax (wetax.go.kr) for the exact current-year rate and application deadline. This calculator only computes the standard tax before any prepayment discount.
- Do kei/mini cars (under 1,000cc) get a reduction?
- Yes — vehicles under 1,000cc get a separate reduction under the Restriction of Special Local Taxation Act. This calculator doesn't model that reduction and uses the standard under-1,000cc rate (KRW 80/cc), so actual kei car owners may owe less than shown here — check your local Wetax office for the exact reduced amount.
- Does this calculator work for commercial vehicles (taxis, rental cars)?
- No. This is for privately-owned (non-commercial) passenger vehicles. Commercial vehicles use a separate, lower rate table, so running one through this calculator would overstate the tax.
- Does buying a used car reset the vehicle age?
- No. Vehicle age keeps accumulating from the original registration date regardless of how many times it changes hands. This means an older used car often has a bigger reduction and a lower tax bill.
- Are trucks and vans calculated the same way?
- No. Trucks and vans use a separate rate table based on cargo capacity or passenger capacity rather than engine displacement. This calculator is for non-commercial passenger cars only and doesn't apply to trucks or vans.
Related Guide
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Electric two-wheeler (전기 이륜차) delivery workers get up to 17.5% off mutual aid insurance — based on MOLIT official announcement.
Read guide →Official Sources
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