EIM23950 - Car benefit calculation Step 5, appropriate percentage, 2002 to 2003 onwards: car without a CO2 emissions figure

Section 140 ITEPA 2003

This page relates to step 5 of the method statement in section 121(1) ITEPA 2003, see EIM24015.

It should be unusual for a car first registered on 1 January 1998 or later not to have an approved CO2 emissions figure. This will probably only be the case for rare and one-off models of car (see EIM24530) and for some cars that have been individually imported from outside the European Union (see EIM24525).

Cars powered by petrol

For cars first registered on 1 January 1998 or later that do not have an approved CO2 emissions figure the appropriate percentage used to calculate the car benefit charge is based on engine size.

Engine size (cc)	Appropriate percentage
0 to 1,400	15%
1,401 to 2,000	25%
2,001 and more	35%

If a car has no cylinder capacity (i.e. it does not have an engine size measured in cc) the appropriate percentage will be:

• if the car runs solely on electricity (see EIM24815 for definition of electric car)
  • 15% until 2010 to 2011
  • 9% thereafter (primary legislation changed to retain the same net percentage despite the abolition of all reductions)
• 35% otherwise, for example a rotary engine

Cars powered by diesel or alternative fuels

The adjustments to the appropriate percentage detailed below apply, except for any part of the reduction that depends on the CO2 emissions figure. The appropriate percentage from the table above is used unless the car falls within one of the categories for which adjustments are required.