Lithuania Pollution Tax Calculator 2026 — CO2 Emission Rates & Costs

Lithuania's pollution tax (taršos mokestis) in 2026: diesel cars pay from €13.50 to €1,740, petrol cars from €9 to €870, and hybrids from €0. The tax is a one-time fee charged when registering a vehicle in Lithuania for the first time or re-registering one imported from another EU country. Below you'll find the full rate table by CO2 emissions, fuel type, and Euro standard, along with calculation examples and practical tips on how to reduce the tax.

What Is the Pollution Tax and Who Pays It?

The pollution tax (officially — environmental pollution tax for registered vehicles) is a one-time fee paid when registering a car in Lithuania. It was introduced in 2020 to discourage the import of high-emission vehicles.

Who pays it:

• New cars being registered in Lithuania for the first time
• Used cars imported from abroad (EU and non-EU)
• Cars being re-registered from a legal entity to an individual (and vice versa) — exempt
• Cars changing owners within Lithuania — exempt

Who is exempt:

• Electric vehicles (0 g CO2/km)
• Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) with CO2 up to 50 g/km
• Historic vehicles (30+ years old)
• Disability vehicles (with appropriate documentation)
• Diplomatic vehicles

Important: the pollution tax is paid once — at registration. It is not an annual tax. However, if you sell a car and it is registered again, the tax may apply to the new owner.

Pollution Tax Rates 2026 — Full Table

Petrol Cars (Euro 5 and newer)

Diesel Cars (Euro 5 and newer)

Diesel costs ~1.5x more than petrol at the same CO2 levels. This reflects the additional pollution from diesel engines in terms of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Euro 4 and Older Standards

Cars with older Euro standards are subject to an additional multiplier:

Example: a diesel car with 175 g/km CO2, Euro 4 standard → base tax €270 × 1.5 multiplier = €405.

How to Calculate the Pollution Tax — 5 Examples

Example 1: Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid (2022)

• CO2: 101 g/km
• Fuel: petrol/hybrid
• Euro: 6
• Tax: €9 (CO2 91–120 g/km bracket, petrol)

Example 2: Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI (2020)

• CO2: 128 g/km
• Fuel: diesel
• Euro: 6
• Tax: €27 (CO2 121–130 g/km bracket, diesel)

Example 3: BMW X5 3.0d (2018)

• CO2: 198 g/km
• Fuel: diesel
• Euro: 6
• Tax: €459 (CO2 191–200 g/km bracket, diesel)

Example 4: Audi Q7 3.0 TDI (2015, Euro 5)

• CO2: 209 g/km
• Fuel: diesel
• Euro: 5
• Tax: €648 (CO2 201–225 g/km bracket, diesel, Euro 5 = 1.0x)

Example 5: BMW X6 M50d (2014, Euro 4 — a less common case)

• CO2: 235 g/km
• Fuel: diesel
• Euro: 4
• Base tax: €837 × 1.5 multiplier = €1,256

The golden rule: the lower the CO2 and the newer the Euro standard, the lower the tax. Hybrids and EVs are the clear winners.

Which Cars Pay €0 Pollution Tax?

Electric vehicles (always €0)

• Tesla Model 3, Model Y
• VW ID.3, ID.4
• Hyundai Ioniq 5
• Kia EV6
• BMW iX3, iX
• Nissan Leaf
• Renault Zoe

Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) with CO2 up to 50 g/km (typically €0)

• Toyota RAV4 PHEV (22 g/km) — €0
• BMW 330e (37 g/km) — €0
• Volvo XC60 T8 (29 g/km) — €0
• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (46 g/km) — €0

Fuel-efficient petrol/hybrid cars (up to 90 g/km — €0)

• Toyota Yaris Hybrid (87 g/km) — €0
• Toyota Corolla Hybrid (101 g/km) — €9 (almost zero)
• Suzuki Swift Hybrid (88 g/km) — €0

More about EVs and hybrids: Hybrids in Lithuania | Is It Worth Buying an Electric Car?

How to Reduce the Pollution Tax — 6 Ways

1. Choose a hybrid or electric vehicle

The most obvious approach — pick a car with low CO2. Hybrids often fall into the 0–90 g/km bracket (€0 tax), and PHEVs almost always do.

2. Choose a smaller engine variant

The same model with a smaller engine can have significantly lower CO2:

• VW Tiguan 1.5 TSI (148 g/km) → €54 vs VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI (165 g/km) → €189
• Savings: €135

3. Choose newer Euro standards

A Euro 6 car with the same CO2 pays 1.5–3x less than a Euro 3/4 with the same emissions. Always prioritise Euro 5+ vehicles.

4. Check CO2 before buying

Before purchasing a car (especially from abroad), verify the CO2 emissions:

• On the registration certificate (field V.7)
• Using a VIN decoder — try our VIN decoder tool
• In the manufacturer's specifications

5. Avoid large diesel SUVs

The biggest tax offenders are old, large diesel SUVs:

• BMW X5 3.0d (Euro 4): up to €689
• Audi Q7 4.2 TDI (Euro 4): up to €1,553
• Mercedes GL 350d (Euro 4): up to €1,256

6. Consider LPG (gas)

LPG vehicles are taxed at the petrol rate (lower than diesel), and fuel costs are approximately 50% lower. However, CO2 emissions are similar to petrol, so the pollution tax itself doesn't decrease — only running costs do.

More tips on economical cars: Most Fuel-Efficient Cars 2025 | Diesel vs Petrol 2025 | Pollution Tax — Glossary

Pollution Tax and the Registration Process

Step by step: how to pay the pollution tax

1. Register your vehicle at Regitra — online or in person
2. The system automatically calculates the tax — based on CO2, fuel type, and Euro standard
3. Pay the tax — via online banking or at the Regitra office
4. Receive your registration documents — only after the tax is paid

Where to find your CO2 emissions

If you're buying a car from Germany or another EU country, the CO2 emissions are listed in the foreign registration documents. Check before you buy so you know the exact tax amount.

Pollution Tax for Popular Models

The most popular models in Lithuania typically fall within the €9–189 tax range. Large diesel SUVs (X5, Q7, ML) can reach €400–1,000+.

Lithuania's Pollution Tax in the European Context

Lithuania is far from alone — many EU countries apply similar taxes:

Lithuania's pollution tax is one of the lowest in the EU. In the Netherlands or Denmark, a large SUV can be taxed in the tens of thousands of euros.

More about diesel restrictions in Europe: Diesel Bans in Europe 2025

Common Mistakes with the Pollution Tax

1. Not checking CO2 emissions before purchase — especially when importing from abroad
2. Confusing it with an annual tax — this is a one-time fee, not a recurring one
3. Buying old diesel SUVs — a BMW X5 3.0d Euro 4 = €400–1,000+ in tax
4. Not knowing about the Euro standard multiplier — Euro 3/4 = 1.5–2x more expensive
5. Overlooking PHEVs — plug-in hybrids often qualify for €0 tax, but many buyers don't know this

Also read: How to Inspect a Used Car | VIN Check Guide

The Future of the Pollution Tax — What to Expect

The European Union's plans include increasingly strict CO2 standards:

• 2025–2029: current rates remain, with possible increases in multipliers for Euro 3/4 cars
• 2030: new CO2 limits — a fleet average of only 95 g/km (for manufacturers)
• 2035: the EU plans to ban the sale of new petrol/diesel vehicles

Practical advice: if you're buying a car for the long term (5+ years), choose a hybrid or electric vehicle. Diesel taxes will only increase, and regulations will tighten. More about Euro 7 standards.

Pollution Tax and KASKO — The Total Cost of Car Ownership

When buying a car, it's important to consider not just the pollution tax but all other costs as well. Here's how the pollution tax fits into the bigger picture:

The pollution tax is a one-time fee, but KASKO insurance and fuel are annual costs. When choosing a car, consider the total cost of ownership, not just the purchase price. Use our running cost calculator.

Pollution Tax by Popular Search Scenarios

"I want a car under €10,000 with a low tax"

Best options: Toyota Yaris Hybrid (€0), Suzuki Swift Hybrid (€0), Toyota Corolla Hybrid (€9). More options — best car under €10,000. You can also search on Autoplius — see Autoplius listing prices and how to use the platform effectively.

"I want a family car with a reasonable tax"

We recommend: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (€18), Hyundai Tucson Hybrid (€36), Škoda Octavia 2.0 TDI (€13.50). More — best family car.

"I'm importing from Germany — how much will I pay?"

Check the CO2 from the registration certificate (field V.7) before buying. Most commonly imported models: VW Golf 2.0 TDI (€27), BMW 320d (€54), Audi A4 2.0 TDI (€27). Full guide — buying a car from Germany.

Frequently Asked Questions