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Vehicle excise duty

2025-10-24T09:45:24Z

37.31.144.71: /* Tricycles (not over 450kg unladen) (TC50) */ █kg

{{Short description|Motor vehicle tax in the United Kingdom}}
'''Vehicle excise duty''' ('''VED'''; also known as "vehicle tax", "car tax", and "road tax", formerly as a "tax disc") is an annual tax in the United Kingdom that is levied as an [[excise]] [[duty (tax)|duty]]. The VED must be paid for most types of powered vehicles which are to be used or parked on [[public road]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069869 |title=The road user and the law |quote=Most of the provisions apply on all roads throughout Great Britain, although there are some exceptions. |work=Direct.gov.uk}}</ref> Registered vehicles that are not being used or parked on public roads and which have been taxed since 31 January 1998 must be covered by a '''Statutory Off Road Notification''' ('''SORN''') to avoid VED. In 2016, VED generated approximately £6 [[billion]] for the [[Exchequer]].<ref name="rac-revenue">{{Cite web |url=https://www.racfoundation.org/motoring-faqs/economics#a15 |title=FAQs about motoring taxation and cost of running a car |website=www.racfoundation.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328102144/https://www.racfoundation.org/motoring-faqs/economics |archive-date=28 March 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="dft-stats-2017">{{cite web |title=Transport Statistics Great Britain 2017 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/661933/tsgb-2017-report-summaries.pdf |publisher=Department for Transport |access-date=28 March 2018|page=25|date=November 2017}}</ref>

A vehicle tax was first introduced in Britain in 1888. [[Finance Act#Finance Act 1920|In 1920]], an excise duty was introduced that specifically applied to motor vehicles; initially it was [[Hypothecated tax|hypothecated]] (ring-fenced or earmarked) for road construction and paid directly into a special [[Road Fund]]. After 1937, this reservation of vehicle revenue for roads was ended, and instead the revenue was paid into the [[Consolidated Fund]] – the general pot of money held by government. Since then, maintenance of the UK road network has been funded out of general taxation, of which VED is a part.<ref name="ved-briefing">{{Cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN01482.pdf |title=Parliamentary Briefing Paper: Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)|last=Butcher |first=Louise |date=23 November 2017 |website=House of Commons Library |access-date=13 February 2013}}</ref>

==Current regulations==
[[File:LT150 (LTZ 1150) from OCE3 (LJ14 SZR), Regent Street Bus Cavalcade.jpg|thumb|Prior to 2014, UK vehicles were required to display a tax disc as evidence of payment]]
VED across the United Kingdom is collected and enforced by the [[Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency]] (DVLA). Until 2014, VED in [[Northern Ireland]] was collected by the [[Driver and Vehicle Agency]] there; responsibility has since been transferred to the DVLA.<ref name="dva">{{Cite web |url=http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news-doe-160714-dva-issues-reminder |title=DVA Issues Reminder that all Motor Tax Offices in Northern Ireland Close on 17 July 2014 |publisher=Northern Ireland Executive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416233807/https://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news-doe-160714-dva-issues-reminder |archive-date=16 April 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/motoring/taxing-vehicles-at-northern-ireland-dva-offices-will-end-on-july-17/30377918.html |title=Taxing vehicles at Northern Ireland DVA offices will end on July 17 |work=Belfast Telegraph |first=Rebecca |last=Black |date=24 June 2014 |access-date=15 February 2025}}</ref>

The registered keeper of a vehicle that is liable for VED must pay the appropriate VED amount (which may be zero) to license the vehicle for road use. Owners of registered vehicles which have been licensed since 31 January 1998 and who do not now wish to use or store a vehicle on the public highway are not required to pay VED, but are required to submit an annual Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/make-a-sorn |title=Register your vehicle as off the road (SORN) |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Government Digital Service |access-date=15 February 2025}}</ref> Failure to submit a SORN is punishable in the same manner as failure to pay duty when using the vehicle on public roads.

Until 1 October 2014 a [[vehicle licence]] (tax disc) had to be displayed on a vehicle (usually adhered inside the windscreen on the nearside, thus easily visible to officials patrolling roads on foot) as evidence of having paid the duty. Since that date, the circular paper discs have not been issued and there is no longer a requirement to display a disc as the records are now stored in a centralised database and accessible using the [[vehicle registration plate]] details.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paper tax discs abolished |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/direct-debit-and-abolition-of-the-tax-disc |publisher=Gov.uk |access-date=22 January 2014}}</ref>

===Cars===
There are three payment schedules in effect, depending on whether the car was first registered before or after 1 April 2017, or before 1 March 2001. Further changes took effect in April 2025, affecting new and existing electric vehicles.

====Registered before 1 March 2001====
For cars registered before 1 March 2001 the excise duty is based on engine size.<ref name="Vehicle tax rates">{{Cite web |title=Vehicle tax rates |url=https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
!
!Cost as of 1 April 2025 (£)
(single annual payment)
|-
!Vehicle engine size <1549 cc
|220
|-
!Vehicle engine size >1549 cc
|360
|}

====Registered before 1 April 2017====
[[File:UK car vehicle excise duty 2013.svg|thumb|upright=0.7|Graph of vehicle excise duty vs theoretical [[carbon dioxide]] emission for cars in the United Kingdom as of 2013, labelled with class bands. The solid blue line denotes the first year and the dashed black line denotes subsequent years. The dotted black line (labelled *) denotes vehicles registered before 23 March 2006.]]
For vehicles registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 charges are based on theoretical CO2 emission rates per kilometre. The price structure was revised from 1 April 2013 to introduce an alternative charge for the first year (the standard cost was not changed, and remained the same as for 2001 onwards). The "first year rate" only applies in the year the vehicle was first registered and is said by the government to be designed to send "a stronger signal to the buyer about the environmental implications of their car purchase".<ref name="Vehicle tax rates"/><ref name=current_rates>{{cite web |url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_10012524 |title=The cost of vehicle tax for cars, motorcycles, light goods vehicles and trade licences |work=Direct Gov |access-date=2 June 2011}}</ref>

Charges as applicable from 1 April 2025:

{| class="wikitable"
|+Vehicles registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017
|-
!Car emission band
!Standard cost (£)
!Notes
|-
| Band A (up to 100 g/km)|| rowspan="2" | 20||
|-
| Band B (101–110 g/km)||
|-
| Band C (111–120 g/km)|| 35 ||
|-
| Band D (121–130 g/km)|| 160 ||
|-
| Band E (131–140 g/km)|| 190 ||
|-
| Band F (141- 150 g/km)|| 210 ||
|-
| Band G (151 to 165 g/km)|| 255 ||
|-
| Band H (166 to 175 g/km)|| 305 ||
|-
| Band I (176 to 185 g/km)|| 335 ||
|-
| Band J (186 to 200 g/km)|| 385 ||
|-
| Band K (201 to 225 g/km)|| 415 ||Also vehicles with >225 g/km registered before 23 March 2006.
|-
| Band L (226 to 255 g/km)|| 710 ||
|-
| Band M (Over 255 g/km)|| 735 ||
|}

====Registered after 1 April 2017====
The biggest changes from April 2017 were that hybrid vehicles were no longer rated at £0, and that cars with a retail price of £40,000 and over would pay a supplement for years 2 to 6.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Adrian |date=11 January 2023 |title=Car tax explained |url=https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/new-and-used-cars/article/car-tax-explained-aqnPf4D3c26Y |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Which? |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!
!First year rate
!Second year onwards rate
|-
!{{Chem2|CO2}} emissions
!Diesel cars (TC49) that meet the RDE2 standard, petrol cars (TC48),
Alternative fuel and zero emission cars
!
|-
!0 g/km
|£10
| rowspan="13" |£195
|-
!1 to 50 g/km
|£110
|-
!51 to 75 g/km
|£130
|-
!76 to 90 g/km
|£270
|-
!91 to 100 g/km
|£350
|-
!101 to 110 g/km
|£390
|-
!111 to 130 g/km
|£440
|-
!131 to 150 g/km
|£540
|-
!151 to 170 g/km
|£1,360
|-
!171 to 190 g/km
|£2,190
|-
!191 to 225 g/km
|£3,300
|-
!226 to 255 g/km
|£4,680
|-
!Over 255 g/km
|£5,490
|}
For cars with a "list price" over £40,000 an additional amount – the 'expensive car supplement' – is paid at the first five annual renewals, i.e. in years 2 to 6 of the vehicle's life. At first the supplement applied to all types of car, but the [[2020 United Kingdom budget|2020 Budget]] provided an exemption for zero-emission vehicles (both new and existing), effective from 1 April 2020;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Adrian |date=11 March 2020 |title=Car tax changes: most new car owners will pay more tax from April |url=https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/car-tax-changes-most-new-car-owners-will-pay-more-tax-from-april-aynuo2z5Nk8i |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Which? |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2020 |title=Budget 2020 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/871799/Budget_2020_Web_Accessible_Complete.pdf |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=HM Treasury |page=94}}</ref> this exemption ended in April 2025. The supplement increases each year, and is £425 from April 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Eleanor |date=11 February 2025 |title=What is the luxury car tax supplement? |url=https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-the-expensive-car-road-tax-supplement-luxury-car-tax-explained/n27431 |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=www.whatcar.com}}</ref>

====Changes on 1 April 2025====
In November 2022, the UK government announced that reduced tax rates for zero-emission vehicles would cease on 1 April 2025, making rates the same as for those with internal combustion engines. The changes affect new and existing vehicles as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 November 2022 |title=Introduction of Vehicle Excise Duty for zero emission cars, vans and motorcycles from 2025 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-vehicle-excise-duty-for-zero-emission-cars-vans-and-motorcycles-from-2025/introduction-of-vehicle-excise-duty-for-zero-emission-cars-vans-and-motorcycles-from-2025 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=HM Revenue & Customs |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 November 2022 |title=Autumn Statement 2022 – what does it mean for drivers? |url=https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/autumn-statement-2022-what-does-it-mean-for-drivers/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=RAC |language=en}}</ref>

* Zero-emission cars first registered on or after 1 April 2017 will pay the 1–50g/km rate in their first year of registration, and the standard annual rate in subsequent years.
* The £10 reduction for alternative fuel vehicles and hybrid vehicles will be removed, bringing them also onto the standard rate.
* The exemption from the expensive car supplement was already due to end in 2025.

==Other vehicle tax rates==
===Light goods vehicles (TC39)===
Registered on or after 1 March 2001 and not over 3,500 kg revenue weight (also known as maximum or gross vehicle weight).
{| class="wikitable"
!Single 12 month payment
!Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit
!Total of 12 monthly instalments by Direct Debit
!Single 6 month payment
!6 months by Direct Debit
|-
|£290
|£290
|£304.50
|£159.50
|£152.25
|}

===Euro 4 light goods vehicles (TC36)===
Registered between 1 March 2003 and 31 December 2006, Euro 4 compliant and not over 3,500 kg revenue weight.
{| class="wikitable"
!Single 12 month payment
!Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit
!Total of 12 monthly instalments by Direct Debit
!Single 6 month payment
!6 months by Direct Debit
|-
|£140
|£140
|£147
|£77
|£73.50
|}

===Euro 5 light goods vehicles (TC36)===
Registered between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2010, Euro 5 compliant and not over 3,500 kg revenue weight.
{| class="wikitable"
!Single 12 month payment
!Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit
!Total of 12 monthly instalments by Direct Debit
!Single 6 month payment
!6 months by Direct Debit
|-
|£140
|£140
|£147
|£77
|£73.50
|}

===Motorcycle (with or without sidecar) (TC17)===
{| class="wikitable"
!Engine size (cc)
!Single 12 month payment
!Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit
!Total of 12 monthly instalments by Direct Debit
!Single 6 month payment
!6 months by Direct Debit
|-
!Not over 150
|£26
|£26
|£27.30
|N/A
|N/A
|-
!151-400
|£57
|£57
|£59.85
|£31.35
|£29.93
|-
!401-600
|£87
|£87
|£91.35
|£47.85
|£45.68
|-
!Over 600
|£121
|£121
|£127.05
|£66.55
|£63.53
|}

===Tricycles (not over 450 kg unladen) (TC50)===
{| class="wikitable"
!Engine size (cc)
!Single 12 month payment
!Single 12 month payment by Direct Debit
!Total of 12 monthly instalments by Direct Debit
!Single 6 month payment
!6 months by Direct Debit
|-
!Tricycle not over 150
|£26
|£26
|£27.30
|N/A
|N/A
|-
!All other tricycles
|£121
|£121
|£127.05
|£55.55
|£53.03
|}

===Trade licences===
Trade licences are available for between 6 and 12 months, depending on the month in which the application is made.
{| class="wikitable"
! Issue month
! Expiry month
! Period
!Rate (most vehicles)
!Rate (bicycles and tricycles)
|-
!rowspan="2" |January
|June
|6 months
|£94.05
|£65.55
|-
|December
|12 months
| rowspan="2" |£171
| rowspan="2" |£121
|-
!February
|December
|11 months
|-
!March
|December
|10 months
|£156.75
|£110.90
|-
!April
|December
|9 months
|£141.05
|£99.80
|-
!May
|December
|8 months
|£125.40
|£88.75
|-
!June
|December
|7 months
|£109.70
|£77.65
|-
!July
|December
|6 months
|£94.05
|£66.55
|-
!August
|June
|11 months
|£171
|£121
|-
!September
|June
|10 months
|£156.75
|£110.90
|-
!October
|June
|9 months
|£141.05
|£99.80
|-
!November
|June
|8 months
|£125.40
|£88.75
|-
!December
|June
|7 months
|£109.70
|£77.65
|}

===Heavy goods vehicles===
VED payable for [[Large goods vehicle|heavy goods vehicles]] (those over 3,500 kg revenue weight) varies according to their weight and axle configuration. The 12-month rates applicable from 1 August 2023 range from £80 to £850.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=V149/1 – Rates of vehicle tax for heavy goods vehicles etc |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64ca1f035c2e6f0013e8d967/v149x1-rates-of-vehicle-tax.pdf |access-date=16 February 2025 |website=DVLA}}</ref>

An additional HGV levy for vehicles with a revenue weight of 12,000 kg or more was introduced with effect from 1 April 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 February 2013 |title=HGV Road User Levy Act 2013 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/7/data.xht?view=snippet&wrap=true |access-date=16 February 2024 |website=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref> The levy is paid at the same time as VED, the amount varying according to weight, axle configuration and emissions rating; there are higher levies for vehicles pulling a trailer of over 4,000 kg. The 12-month levies applicable from 1 August 2023 range from £150 to £749.<ref name=":0" />

Vehicles over 12,000 kg that are not registered in the UK must also pay the HGV levy before entering the UK, although zero-emission vehicles are exempt. Payment can be made on a daily, weekly, monthly or annual basis. The rate ranges from £3 per day (or £150 per year) to £10 per day (or £749 per year).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-12 |title=How to use the HGV levy service |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-use-the-hgv-levy-service |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

The HGV levy was suspended from 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2023 to support the haulage sector and aid pandemic recovery efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Field |first=Russell |date=24 June 2022 |title=HGV levy: RHA says government should consider delay to reintroduction |url=https://transportuk.co.uk/2022/06/24/hgv-levy-rha-says-government-should-consider-delay-to-reintroduction/ |access-date=16 February 2025 |website=Transport UK}}</ref>

==Exempt vehicles==
Various classes and uses of vehicle are exempt, including vehicles older than 40 years (see below), trams, vehicles which cannot convey people, police vehicles, fire engines, ambulances and health service vehicles, mine rescue vehicles, lifeboat vehicles, certain road construction and maintenance vehicles, vehicles for disabled people, certain agricultural and land maintenance vehicles, road gritters and snow ploughs, vehicles undergoing statutory tests, vehicles imported by members of foreign armed forces, and crown vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994: Schedule 2 |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/22/schedule/2 |publisher=The Crown}}</ref> Electrically propelled vehicles were exempt until 1995 (at a time when the most common electric vehicles were [[milk float]]s); today, they are not exempt, though they were generally zero-rated until April 2025.

Each year on 1 April, vehicles constructed more than forty years before the start of that year become eligible for a free [[vehicle licence]] under "[[Classic car#United Kingdom|historic vehicle]]" legislation. This is due to the age of the vehicle and a presumption of limited mileage. Initially this was a rolling exemption applied to any vehicles over 25 years old; however, in 1997 the cutoff date was frozen at 1 January 1973. The change to "pre-1973" was unpopular in the classic motoring community, and a number of classic car clubs campaigned for a change back to the previous system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govyou.co.uk/classic-car-ved-exemption/|title=Classic Car VED Exemption|publisher=Your Government|access-date=12 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913121249/http://www.govyou.co.uk/classic-car-ved-exemption/|archive-date=13 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2006 there were 307,407 vehicles in this category.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=23|title=Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties|work=TheyWorkForYou|access-date=30 March 2010}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>{{needs update|date=July 2025}}

On 1 April 2014, vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1974 became exempt from the VED ([[Finance Act 2014]], as set out in the 2013 Budget, 20 March 2013). In the 2014 Budget, the government introduced the forty-year rolling exemption, with vehicles built before 1 January 1975 becoming exempt on 1 April 2015 and so on.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/293910/TIIN_2507_8011_40_year_rolling_exemption_for_classic_vehicles_.pdf |publisher=HM Revenue and Customs |title=Vehicle Excise Duty: 40 year rolling exemption for classic vehicles |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref>

==Enforcement==
{{See also|Traffic enforcement camera}}

In 2008 it was reported that flaws in DVLA enforcement practices have meant that more than a million late-paying drivers per year have evaded detection, which lost £214 million in VED revenue during 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/advice/a-million-drivers-are-exploiting-loophole-in-road-tax-payments-350dk6lbvz6|title=A million drivers are exploiting loophole in road tax payments |work=The Times | location=London}}</ref> It was estimated that 6.7% of motorcycles were not taxed in 2007. Since then better systems reduced the loss to an estimated £33.9 million in 2009/2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/vehicles/excisedutyevasion/ved2009 |title=Vehicle excise duty evasion: 2009 |publisher=Department for Transport |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102024502/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/vehicles/excisedutyevasion/ved2009 |archive-date=2 November 2010}}</ref>

[[Automatic number plate recognition]] (ANPR) systems are being used to identify untaxed, uninsured vehicles and stolen cars.<ref name="misuse">{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/15/vehicle_movement_database/ |title=Gatso 2: rollout of UK's '24x7 vehicle movement database' begins|website=The Register |date=15 September 2005 |access-date=14 October 2008 |author=John Lettice}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |website=The Register |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/15/anpr_five_years/ |title=Vehicle spy-cam data to be held for five years |author=Chris Williams |date=15 September 2008 |access-date=15 October 2008}}</ref>

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2010}}
[[File:The Right Hon. David Lloyd George.jpg|thumb|The government of [[David Lloyd George]] introduced a [[Hypothecation (taxation)|hypothecated]] motor vehicle tax in 1920 to pay for the road network.]]
[[File:Churchill and Chamberlain.jpg|thumb|Hypothecation of vehicle tax was opposed by [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] and ended by [[Neville Chamberlain|Chamberlain]]'s government in 1937.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Savage|first1=Christopher|last2=Barker|first2=T. C.|title=Economic History of Transport in Britain|date=2012|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781135654559|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OOcw9LzrJa8C&q=road%20fund%20%20chamberlain%201937&pg=PA188|access-date=27 March 2018|language=en}}</ref>]]

Following the 1888 [[United Kingdom budget|budget]], two new vehicle duties were introduced – the ''locomotive duty'' and the ''trade cart duty'' (a general ''wheel-tax'' also announced in the same budget was abandoned). The ''locomotive duty'' was levied at [[£]]5 (equivalent to £{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|5|1888|{{Inflation-year|UK}}|r=2}}}} as of {{Inflation-year|UK}}),{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}} for each locomotive used on the public roads and the ''trade cart duty'' was introduced for all trade vehicles (including those which were mechanically powered) not subject to the existing ''carriage duty'', with the exception of those used in agriculture and those weighing less than 10 [[Hundredweight|cwt-imperial]], at the rate of 5[[£sd|s]] ([[£]]0.25) per wheel.<ref name="t_18880327">{{cite news |title=The speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer |date=27 March 1888 |newspaper=The Times}}</ref><ref name="t_18880507">{{cite news |title=The Excise Duties (Local) |date=27 March 1888 |newspaper=The Times}}</ref>

===The Road Fund===
In the [[People's Budget|budget of 1909]], the then [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]], [[David Lloyd George]] announced that the roads system would be self-financing,<ref name="hcl">{{Cite book|title=Vehicle excise duty (VED)|first=Louise|last=Butcher|publisher=House of Commons Library|date=25 November 2008}}</ref> and so from 1910 the proceeds of road vehicle excise duties were dedicated to fund the building and maintenance of the road system.<ref name="hceac"/> Even during this period the majority of the cost of road building and improvement came from general and local taxation owing to the tax being too low for the upkeep of the roads.<ref name="Plowden">{{Cite book|last1= Plowden|first1= William|title= The Motor Car And Politics 1896–1970|year= 1971|publisher= [[The Bodley Head]]|location= London|isbn= 0-370-00393-4}}</ref>

The [[Roads Act 1920]] required councils to "register all new vehicles and to allocate a separate number to each vehicle" and "make provision for the collection and application of the excise duties on mechanically propelled vehicles and on carriages". The [[Finance Act 1920]] introduced a "Duty on licences for mechanically propelled vehicles" which was to be ''[[Hypothecation (taxation)|hypothecated]]'' – that is, the revenue would be exclusively dedicated to a particular expenditure, namely the newly established [[Road Fund]].<ref name="buchanan">{{Cite book|title=Mixed Blessing: The Motor in Britain |author=C. D. Buchanan |publisher=Leonard Hill |year=1958}}</ref> [[Excise duty|Excise duties]] specifically for [[motor vehicles|mechanically propelled vehicles]] were first imposed in 1921, along with the requirement to display a [[vehicle licence|vehicle licence (tax disc)]] on the vehicle.<ref name="hceac">{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmenvaud/907/907.pdf|title=Vehicle Excise Duty as an environmental tax|author=House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee|publisher=The Stationery Office Limited|date=22 July 2008}}</ref>

===End of hypothecation===
The accumulated Road Fund was never fully spent on roads (most of it was spent on resurfacing, not the building of new roads), and became notorious for being used for other government purposes, a practice introduced by [[Winston Churchill]] when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} In 1926, by which time the direct use of taxes collected from motorists to fund the road network was already opposed by many in government, the Chancellor, Winston Churchill is reported to have said in a memo: "Entertainments may be taxed; public houses may be taxed ... and the yield devoted to the general revenue. But motorists are to be privileged for all time to have the tax on motors devoted to roads? This is an outrage upon ... common sense."<ref name="BBC News">{{cite news|last1=Harrabin|first1=Roger|title=Is there any such thing as 'road tax'?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23694438|access-date=27 March 2018|work=BBC News|date=15 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327201818/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23694438|archive-date=27 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Hypothecation came to an end in 1937 under the 1936 Finance Act, and the proceeds of the vehicle road taxes were paid directly into the Exchequer. The Road Fund itself, then funded by government grants, was not abolished until 1955.<ref name="hcl"/>

===1990s===
Since 1998, keepers of registered vehicles which had been licensed since 1998, but which were not currently using the public roads, have been required to submit an annual ''Statutory Off-Road Notification'' (SORN).<ref>[http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/UntaxedVehicle/DG_4022058 How to make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) : Directgov – Motoring]</ref> Failure to submit a SORN is punishable in the same manner as failure to pay duty when using the vehicle on public roads. It was announced in the 2013 Budget that SORN declarations would become perpetual, thus removing the need for annual renewal after the initial declaration has been made. In June 1999, a reduced VED band was introduced for cars with an engine capacity up to 1100cc.<ref>[http://archive.treasury.gov.uk/budget/1999/nr/hmt5.txt : Budget Report 1999] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120002659/http://archive.treasury.gov.uk/budget/1999/nr/hmt5.txt |date=20 November 2008 }}</ref> The cost of 12 months tax for cars up to 1100cc was £100, and for those above 1100cc was £155.

===2001 onwards: incentives for lower emissions===
During the 1990s, political arguments were put forward for the abolition of VED. Among the proposals was a suggestion that VED could be replaced by increased [[Hydrocarbon Oil Duty|fuel duty]] as an incentive for consumers to purchase vehicles with lower emission ratings. The proposal was politically unappealing, as it would increase costs for businesses and for people living in rural areas. Rather than abolish VED, the [[Premiership of Tony Blair|Labour government under Tony Blair]] introduced a new system for calculating of VED that was linked explicitly with a vehicle's [[carbon emission]]s ratings, as a means for [[vehicle emissions control]]. Since March 2001, VED for cars has been levied in a system of tax bands based on [[Carbon dioxide|CO2]] ratings.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Butcher |first=Louise |date=16 November 2010 |title=Parliementary briefing: Vehicle Excise Duty |url=http://www.parliament.uk/Templates/BriefingPapers/Pages/BPPdfDownload.aspx?bp-id=SN01482 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125013025/http://www.parliament.uk/Templates/BriefingPapers/Pages/BPPdfDownload.aspx?bp-id=SN01482 |archive-date=25 November 2011 |website=House of Commons Library |pages=5–8 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

In [[tax year]] 2002–2003, it is estimated that evasion of the tax equated to a loss to the [[Exchequer]] of £206 million. In an attempt to reduce this, from 2004 an automatic £80 penalty (halved if paid within 28 days) is issued by the DVLA computer for failure to pay the tax within one month of expiry. A maximum fine of £1,000 applies for failure to pay the tax, though in practice fines are normally much lower.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

In April 2009 there was a reclassification to the CO2 rating based bandings, with the highest set at £455 per year and the lowest at £0; the bands were also backdated to cover vehicles registered on or after 1 March 2001, meaning that vehicles with the highest emissions ratings registered after this date pay the most. Vehicles registered before 1 March 2001 continued to be charged according to engine size, above or below 1549cc.<ref name=":1" />

In 2010, different first-year rates were introduced as a signal to purchasers.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Budget 2008: Motorists suffer tax hits in 'green' budget |author=Robert Winnett |date=13 March 2008 |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/03/12/bcnbudget1912.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314054517/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/03/12/bcnbudget1912.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 March 2008 |access-date=14 May 2008 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Budget 2008 – motoring taxes |publisher=DirectGov |url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/Budget2008/DG_073093 |access-date=14 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518104852/http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/Budget2008/DG_073093 |archive-date=18 May 2008 }}</ref>

VED can be automatically be collected from a bank account by [[Direct Debit]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-direct-debit/renewing|title = Vehicle tax Direct Debit payments}}</ref> VED can still be paid if a reminder is not received.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Tax your vehicle without a vehicle tax reminder |url=https://www.gov.uk/tax-vehicle-without-v11-reminder |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Gov.uk}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Car costs]]
*[[London congestion charge]]
*[[Motoring taxation in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Road Fund]]
*[[Vehicle registration plates of the United Kingdom]]
*[[Velology]] – the study and collection of tax discs
*[[Vignette (road tax)]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.direct.gov.uk/vehicletax UK vehicle tax information] on [[Directgov]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080823023332/http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/ Apply online]

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2024}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vehicle Excise Duty}}
[[Category:Motoring taxation in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Vehicle taxes]]
[[Category:Transport policy in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1888 introductions]]
[[Category:Car costs]]

Tonne

2025-10-24T09:32:43Z

37.31.144.71: /* Origin and spelling */ lang=

{{Short description|Metric unit of mass equivalent to 1,000 kilograms or 1 megagram}}
{{Redirect-several|dab=off|Ton (disambiguation)|Tonne (disambiguation)|Megagram (geometry)|Gigaton (album){{!}}''Gigaton'' (album)}}
{{Infobox unit
| bgcolor =
| name = Tonne {{Small|Megagram}}
| image = File:A 1-tonne weight (geograph 6511341).jpg
| caption = A one-tonne (1000-kilogram) concrete block
| standard = [[Non-SI units mentioned in the SI|Non-SI]]
| quantity = mass
| symbol = t Mg
| extralabel = In [[SI unit]]s:
| extradata = {{Val|1000|u=kg}}
}}

The '''tonne''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-tonne.ogg|t|ʌ|n}} or {{IPAc-en|t|ɒ|n}}; symbol: '''t''') is a [[unit of mass]] equal to 1,000 [[kilogram]]s. It is a [[Non-SI units mentioned in the SI|non-SI unit accepted for use with SI]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316121104/https://www.bipm.org/utils/common/pdf/si-brochure/SI-Brochure-9-EN.pdf|work=Bureau International de Poids et Mesures|title=Non-SI units accepted for use with the SI, and units based on fundamental constants|pages=145-146}}</ref> It is also referred to as a '''metric ton''' in the United States to distinguish it from the [[ton|non-metric unit]]s of the [[short ton]] ([[United States customary units]]) and the [[long ton]] ([[Imperial units|British imperial units]]). It is equivalent to approximately 2,204.6 [[international avoirdupois pound|pound]]s, 1.102 short tons, and 0.984 long tons. The official SI unit is the '''megagram''' ('''Mg'''), a less common way to express the same amount.

==Symbol and abbreviations==
The [[International Bureau of Weights and Measures|BIPM]] symbol for the tonne is t, adopted at the same time as the unit in 1879.<ref name=bippy>[http://www.bipm.org/en/si/si_brochure/chapter4/table6.html Table 6] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001100650/http://www.bipm.org/en/si/si_brochure/chapter4/table6.html |date=2009-10-01 }}. BIPM. Retrieved on 2011-07-10.</ref> Its use is also official for the metric ton in the United States, having been adopted by the United States [[National Institute of Standards and Technology]] (NIST).<ref name=fedreg/><ref>[[National Institute of Standards and Technology|NIST]] [https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.330-2019.pdf Special Publication 330, 2019 edition] states "The name of the unit with symbol t and defined according to 1 t = 103 kg is called 'metric ton' rather than 'tonne.'".</ref> It is a symbol, not an abbreviation, and should not be followed by a [[period (punctuation)|period]]. Use of lower case is significant, and use of other letter combinations can lead to ambiguity. For example, T, MT, mT, are the SI symbols for the [[Tesla (unit)|tesla]], megatesla, and millitesla, respectively, while Mt and mt are SI-compatible symbols for the megatonne (one teragram) and millitonne (one kilogram). If describing [[TNT equivalent]] units of energy, one megatonne of TNT is equivalent to approximately 4.184 [[petajoule]]s.

==Origin and spelling==

In English, ''tonne'' is an established spelling alternative to ''metric ton''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/203217?redirectedFrom=tonne#eid |title=tonne, n |work=[[OED]] |access-date=6 August 2021}}</ref> In American English and British English, tonne is usually pronounced the same as ton ({{IPAc-en|t|ʌ|n}}), but the final "e" can also be pronounced, i.e. "tunnie" ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ʌ|n|i}}).<ref>The Oxford English dictionary 2nd ed. lists both /tʌn/ and /ˈtʌni/</ref> In Australian English, the common and recommended pronunciation is {{IPAc-en|t|ɒ|n}}.<ref>{{cite book |title= Macquarie Dictionary|edition= fifth |year= 2009|publisher= Macquarie Dictionary Publishers Pty Ltd|location= Sydney}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1972-11-21 |title=How To Pronounce Metrics Units (advertisement by Australian Metric Conversion Board) |work=The Age |page=14 |access-date=2021-11-01 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9ihVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3ZADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6434%2C4864047}}</ref> In the United States, ''metric ton'' is the name for this unit used and recommended by NIST;<ref name="fedreg">[http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/laws/63fr40333.pdf Metric System of Measurement: Interpretation of the International System of Units for the United States] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409102714/http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/laws/63fr40333.pdf|date=2008-04-09}} (PDF). See corrections in the Errata section of [http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/laws/nist-interpretation.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418115704/http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/laws/nist-interpretation.html|date=2008-04-18}}.</ref> an unqualified mention of a ''ton'' typically refers to a [[short ton]] of 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) and to a lesser extent to a [[long ton]] of 2,240 lb (1,016 kg), with the term ''tonne'' rarely used in speech or writing. Both terms are acceptable in [[Canadian English]].

''Ton'' and ''tonne'' are both derived from a [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] word in general use in the [[North Sea]] area since the [[Middle Ages]] ({{cf.}} [[Old English]] and [[Old Frisian]] {{Lang|ofs|tunne}}, [[Old High German]] and [[Medieval Latin]] {{Lang|la-x-medieval|tunna}}, [[German language|German]] and [[French language|French]] {{Lang|fr|tonne}}) to designate a large cask, or ''tun''.<ref>{{OEtymD|tonne}}</ref> A full tun, standing about a metre high, could easily weigh a tonne. See also the common German word {{lang|de|[[wikt:Mülltonne|Mülltonne]]}} ({{literal translation|garbage [[Drum (container)|drum]]}}).

The spelling ''tonne'' pre-dates the introduction of the SI in 1960; it has been used with this meaning in France since 1842,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atilf.atilf.fr/dendien/scripts/tlfiv4/showps.exe?p=combi.htm;java=no;|title=Recherche d'un mot|website=atilf.atilf.fr}}</ref> when there were no metric prefixes for multiples of 106 and above, and is now used as the standard spelling for the metric mass measurement in most [[English language|English]]-speaking countries.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.nmo.bis.gov.uk/Docs/Legislation/Units%20of%20Measurement/Gnotes%20for%20public%20sector%20on%20use%20of%20metric.pdf
|title=Guidance Note on the use of Metric Units of Measurement by the Public Sector
|year=2007
|publisher=National Measurement Office
|access-date=2010-02-13
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110207120946/http://www.nmo.bis.gov.uk/Docs/Legislation/Units%20of%20Measurement/Gnotes%20for%20public%20sector%20on%20use%20of%20metric.pdf
|archive-date=2011-02-07
}} "Tonne" is listed under "The Principal Metric Units of Measurement" on p. 7.
</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url= http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/LegislativeInstrumentCompilation1.nsf/framelodgmentattachments/35F21696B4C9E27CCA2575EC001FA5D1
|title= National Measurement Regulations 1999 {{pipe}}|year=1999
|publisher=Australian Government
|access-date=2010-02-13}} "Tonne" is listed under Schedule 1, Part 3 as a non-SI unit of measurement used with SI units of measurement.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.maf.govt.nz/statistics/forestry/annual/nzstats2000/appendix/append4.htm|title= Appendix 4: Units of Measurement and Conversion Factors|publisher= MAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (New Zealand))|access-date=2010-02-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazette.gc.ca/archives/p2/1999/1999-11-10/html/sor-dors430-eng.html|title=Canada Gazette|date=1998–2007|publisher=Government of Canada|access-date=2010-02-13|quote=The Corporation shall pay to producers selling and delivering wheat produced in the designated area to the Corporation the following sums certain per tonne basis...|archive-date=2011-07-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706181616/http://www.gazette.gc.ca/archives/p2/1999/1999-11-10/html/sor-dors430-eng.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the United States, the unit was originally referred to using the [[French language|French]] words {{Lang|fr|millier}} or {{Lang|fr|tonneau}},<ref>Act of 28 July 1866, codified in {{UnitedStatesCode|15|205}}</ref> but these terms are now obsolete.<ref name="FR1998">{{cite journal |title=Metric System of Measurement: Interpretation of the International System of Units for the United States |journal=[[Federal Register]] |date=28 July 1998 |volume=63 |issue=144 |id=63 FR 40333 |page=40338 |url=http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/pdf/SIFedReg.pdf |url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015081850/http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/pdf/SIFedReg.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2011}}</ref> The British imperial and United States customary units are comparable to the ''tonne'' and the spelling of ''ton'' in English is the same, though they differ in mass.

===French pre-metric tonne===
Prior to metrification the French tonne consisted of 2000 French pounds (livres). Therefore a French tonne of that era weighed 979 kg compared to an English ton of 1016 kg. Prior to the use of tonne for this weight tonneau (plural: tonneaux) was used.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Winfield |first1=Rif |last2=Roberts |first2=Stephen S. |title=French warships in the age of sail 1626-1786: design, construction, careers and fates |date=2017 |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire |isbn=978-1-4738-9351-1 |page=2}}</ref>

==Conversions==
One tonne is equivalent to:
*{{val|1000|u=[[kilogram]]s (kg)}} by definition.<ref>{{SIbrochure9th}}</ref>
*{{val|1000000|u=[[gram]]s (g)}} or 1 megagram (Mg). Megagram is the corresponding official SI unit with the same mass; it is rarely used, in part because the base SI unit of mass is the kilogram, not the gram. Mg is distinct from mg, milligram.
*{{sfrac|1000|0.453{{thin space}}592{{thin space}}37}} [[Pound (mass)|pounds]] (lb), by definition of the pound,<ref name=nbs447>{{Cite book | title=Weights and measures standards of the United States – A brief history | year=1976 | url=http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP447/contents.html | first=L. E. | last=Barbrow | last2=Judson |first2=L. V. | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511153143/http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP447/contents.html | archive-date=2008-05-11 }}</ref> or approximately {{val|2204.622622|u=lb}}.<ref name=NGS>{{cite web | url= http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/FedRegister/FRdoc59-5442.pdf | author = United States National Bureau of Standards | title= Notices 'Refinement of values for the yard and the pound' | date= 1959-06-25 | access-date= 2006-08-12}}</ref>
*{{sfrac|1|0.907{{thin space}}184{{thin space}}74}} [[short tons]] (tn), exactly, or approximately {{val|1.102311311}} tn.
**One short ton is exactly {{val|0.90718474|u=t}}.<ref name="NISTUnits">National Institute of Standards and Technology. {{cite book |date=October 2013 |chapter=Appendix C – General Tables of Units of Measurement |chapter-url=https://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/pubs/upload/appc-14-hb44-final.pdf |editor1-last=Butcher |editor1-first=Tina |editor2-last=Crown |editor2-first=Linda |editor3-last=Harshman |editor3-first=Rick |editor4-last=Williams |editor4-first=Juana |title=Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices |url=https://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/pubs/hb44-14.cfm |series=NIST Handbook |volume=44 |edition=2014 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, Technology Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology |page=C-13 |issn=0271-4027 |oclc=58927093 |access-date=10 December 2013}}</ref>
*{{sfrac|1|1.016{{thin space}}046{{thin space}}9088}} [[long tons]] (LT), exactly, or approximately {{val|0.9842065276}} LT.
**One long ton is exactly {{val|1.0160469088|u=t}}.<ref name="NISTUnits" />

A tonne is the mass of one [[cubic metre]] of pure water at {{convert|4|C}}.{{efn|To within 0.003%.}}

==Derived units==
As a non-SI unit, the use of SI metric prefixes with the tonne does not fall within the SI standard. For multiples of the tonne, it is more usual to speak of thousands or millions of tonnes. Kilotonne, megatonne, and gigatonne are more usually used for the energy of nuclear explosions and other events in [[TNT equivalent|equivalent mass of TNT]], often loosely as approximate figures. When used in this context, there is little need to distinguish between metric and other tons, and the unit is spelled either as ''ton'' or ''tonne'' with the relevant prefix attached.{{efn|The Oxford English Dictionary 2nd ed. gives both megaton and megatonne and adds "The unit may be calculated in either imperial or metric tons; the form megatonne generally implies the metric unit". The use for energy is the first definition; use for mass or weight is the third definition.}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=2 | Tonnes
! colspan=2 | Grams
! colspan=3 | Equivalents<ref group="table">The equivalent units columns use the [[short scale]] large-number naming system currently used in most English-language countries, e.g. 1 billion = 1000 million = {{val|1,000,000,000}}.</ref>
|-
! Name !! Symbol
! Name !! Symbol
! Tonnes (t) !! Short Tons (tn)<ref name="rounding" group="table">Values in the equivalent short and long tons columns are [[Rounding|rounded]] to five [[significant figures]]. See [[#Conversions|Conversions]] for exact values.</ref> !! Long Tons (LT)<ref name="rounding" group="table"/>
|-
| tonne ||t
| megagram ||Mg
|1 t || {{convert|1|t|ST|disp=output number only|sigfig=5|comma=gaps}} tn || {{convert|1|t|LT|disp=output number only|sigfig=5|comma=gaps}} LT
|-
| kilotonne ||kt<ref group="table">Though non-standard, the symbol "kt" is also used (instead of the standard symbol "kn") for [[knot (unit)|knot]], a unit of speed for [[aircraft]] and [[watercraft]]. The standard meaning of the symbol kt is for kilotonne.</ref>
| gigagram ||Gg
| 1,000 t || {{convert|1000|t|ST|disp=output number only|sigfig=5|comma=gaps}} tn || {{convert|1000|t|LT|disp=output number only|sigfig=5|comma=gaps}} LT
|-
| [[Orders of magnitude (mass)#106 to 1011 kg|megatonne]] ||Mt
| teragram ||Tg
| 1,000,000 t || {{convert|1|t|ST|disp=output number only|sigfig=5|comma=gaps}} million tn || {{convert|1000000|t|LT|disp=output number only|sigfig=5|comma=gaps}} LT
|-
| gigatonne||Gt
| petagram||Pg
| 1,000,000,000 t || {{convert|1|t|ST|disp=output number only|sigfig=5|comma=gaps}} billion tn || {{convert|1000|t|LT|disp=output number only|sigfig=5|comma=gaps}} million LT
|}

<references group=table/>

==Alternative usages==
===Metric ton units=== 
A '''metric ton unit''' (mtu) can mean {{convert|10|kg|abbr=on}} within metal trading, particularly within the United States. It traditionally referred to a metric ton of ore containing 1% (i.e. 10 kg) of metal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emis.platts.com/thezone/guides/platts/metals/conversion.html|title=Platt's Metals Guide to Specifications – Conversion Tables|date=8 September 2008|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908055702/http://www.emis.platts.com/thezone/guides/platts/metals/conversion.html|archive-date=8 September 2008}}</ref><ref>[http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/dictM.html How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904024909/http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/dictM.html |date=2011-09-04 }}. Unc.edu. Retrieved on 2011-07-10.</ref>
The following excerpt from a mining geology textbook describes its usage in the particular case of tungsten:
{{quote|
Tungsten concentrates are usually traded in metric tonne units (originally designating one tonne of ore containing 1% of WO3, today used to measure WO3 quantities in 10 kg units. One metric tonne unit (mtu) of tungsten (VI) contains 7.93 kilograms of tungsten.|Walter L Pohl, ''Economic Geology: Principles and Practices'', English edition, 2011, p 183.}}

In the case of [[uranium]], ''MTU'' is sometimes used in the sense of ''metric ton of uranium'' ({{convert|1,000|kg|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}}).<ref>[http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/rwmp-3/REFERENCE.pdf Reference.Pdf]. (PDF) . Retrieved on 2011-07-10.</ref><ref>"[http://www.hanford.gov/rl/uploadfiles/ea/ea1319/ea1319.html Glossary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314163903/http://www.hanford.gov/rl/uploadfiles/ea/ea1319/ea1319.html |date=2010-03-14 }}". (June 2000). ''Disposition of Surplus Hanford Site Uranium, Hanford Site, Richland, Washington''. US Department of Energy.</ref><ref>"[http://www.y12.doe.gov/library/acronyms/letter.php?index=M Acronyms] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312082236/http://www.y12.doe.gov/library/acronyms/letter.php?index=M |date=2013-03-12 }}". Y-12 National Security Complex.</ref><ref>[https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr0544/r4/ NRC Collection of Abbreviations (NUREG-0544, Rev. 4), United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission]. Nrc.gov (2011-03-13). Retrieved on 2011-07-10.</ref>

===Use of mass as proxy for energy===
{{Main article|TNT equivalent|Tonne of oil equivalent}}

The ''tonne of [[trinitrotoluene]] (TNT)'' is used as a proxy for energy, usually of explosions (TNT is a common [[high explosive]]). Prefixes are used: kiloton(ne), megaton(ne), gigaton(ne), especially for expressing [[nuclear weapon yield]], based on a [[Fuel value|specific combustion energy]] of TNT of about 4.2 [[megajoule|MJ]]/[[kilogram|kg]] (or one [[calorie|thermochemical calorie]] per [[milligram]]). Hence, 1 t TNT = {{abbr|approx.|approximately}} 4.2 [[Gigajoule|GJ]], 1 [[kiloton|kt]] TNT = approx. 4.2 [[Terajoule|TJ]], 1 Mt TNT = approx. 4.2 [[Petajoule|PJ]].

The SI unit of energy is the [[joule]]. One tonne of TNT is approximately equivalent to 4.2 gigajoules.

In the [[petroleum industry]], the [[tonne of oil equivalent]] (toe) is a [[units of energy|unit of energy]]: the amount of energy released by burning one tonne of [[crude oil]], approximately 42 GJ. There are several slightly different definitions. This is ten times as much as a tonne of TNT because atmospheric oxygen is used.

===Unit of force===
Like the [[gram]] and the kilogram, the tonne gave rise to a (now obsolete) force unit of the same name, the tonne-force, equivalent to about 9.8 [[Newton_(unit)#Kilonewtons|kilonewtons]]. The unit is also often called simply "tonne" or "metric ton" without identifying it as a unit of force. In contrast to the tonne as a mass unit, the tonne-force is not accepted for use with SI.

==See also==
* [[Metre–tonne–second system of units]]
* [[Orders of magnitude (mass)]]
* [[Ton]]
** [[Tonnage]]
** [[Ton (volume)]]

== Notes and references ==
;Notes
{{notelist}}
;Citations
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*NIST Special Publication 811, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100216211152/http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP811/ ''Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)'']

{{SI units}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Non-SI metric units]]
[[Category:Units of mass]]