Attention: motor vehicle tax to rise this year in Hungary

Motorists in Hungary will face higher vehicle tax bills in 2026, as the annual charge is set to rise in line with inflation under rules introduced in recent years.

Vehicle tax rise will follow the inflation

From 2025, the amount payable has been automatically adjusted based on the previous year’s consumer price index published by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office. As inflation reached 4.3% last year, vehicle tax will increase by the same rate in 2026, reports Totalcar.hu.

Despite the rise, the basic structure of the tax remains unchanged. The amount payable does not depend on a car’s make or model but is determined by its age and engine power, calculated per kilowatt. In general, newer vehicles attract higher charges, while older cars fall into lower bands.

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Here are the price changes

Five age categories continue to apply. The highest rate will be HUF 375 per kilowatt for cars in their year of manufacture and the following three calendar years. This gradually drops to HUF 325 for vehicles aged four to seven years, HUF 250 for eight to eleven years, HUF 205 for twelve to fifteen years, and HUF 150 for cars older than sixteen years.

Drivers can estimate their liability using an online calculator provided by the National Tax and Customs Administration. Authorities also remind motorists that the payment deadline remains 15 April, with no changes to the rules beyond the inflation-linked increase.