This is the complete RTSA road tax fee schedule for all vehicle categories in Zambia, effective from 20 May 2024 under Statutory Instrument No. 25 of 2024. Use these tables to find the exact annual fee for any vehicle, or use our road tax calculator for an instant lookup with quarterly breakdowns.
How to read these tables: Each vehicle category has a set number of fee units. Multiply the fee units by K0.40 (the current fee unit value) to get the annual road tax in Kwacha. We have done the maths for you in the "Annual Fee" column.
Two-wheelers
Category | Fee Units | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
Motorcycle | 183.7 | K74 |
Motorcycles are the cheapest category to licence. For context, the original Road Traffic Act of 2002 set motorcycle fee units at 50 - the current figure of 183.7 reflects incremental increases over two decades.
Private cars and light vehicles (by GVW)
Private cars are classified by gross vehicle weight (GVW). The GVW is the maximum weight the vehicle is designed to carry including passengers and cargo - not the kerb weight (empty weight). Check your registration card or the door jamb sticker for the GVW.
Weight Band | Fee Units | Annual Fee | Common Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
Up to 800 kg | 1,100 | K440 | Suzuki Alto, small kei cars |
801 - 1,000 kg | 1,283.37 | K514 | Toyota Vitz, Mazda Demio |
1,001 - 1,200 kg | 1,466.63 | K587 | Toyota IST, older Corolla |
1,201 - 1,400 kg | 1,650 | K660 | Toyota Allion, Mazda Axela |
1,401 - 1,600 kg | 1,833.37 | K734 | Honda Fit, Subaru Impreza |
1,601 - 2,000 kg | 2,016.63 | K807 | Toyota Camry, Mark X, Mazda 3 |
SUVs, vans and light trucks (by GVW)
Weight Band | Fee Units | Annual Fee | Common Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
2,001 - 4,000 kg | 2,292.63 | K918 | RAV4, HiLux, Ranger, Prado, HiAce, Alphard |
4,001 - 6,000 kg | 2,566.63 | K1,027 | Land Cruiser 200/300, light trucks |
The 2,001 - 4,000 kg band is particularly broad, covering everything from mid-size SUVs like the RAV4 to pick-up trucks like the HiLux and minibuses like the HiAce. This is the most common band for commercial and family vehicles.
Medium and heavy trucks
Weight Band | Fee Units | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
6,001 - 9,000 kg | 2,933.37 | K1,174 |
9,001 - 12,000 kg | 3,300 | K1,320 |
12,001 - 15,000 kg | 3,666.63 | K1,467 |
15,001 - 17,000 kg | 4,583.37 | K1,834 |
17,001 - 20,000 kg | 5,958.37 | K2,384 |
Above 20,000 kg | 13,750 | K5,500 |
The jump from 20,000 kg and below (K2,384) to above 20,000 kg (K5,500) is the steepest in the schedule - more than double. This reflects the disproportionate road damage caused by the heaviest vehicles. Heavy haulage trucks and fuel tankers typically fall in this top band.
Special categories
Several vehicle types have their own fee structures outside the weight band system:
Category | Fee Units | Annual Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Government vehicle | 0 | K0 (exempt) | Vehicles owned by the Government of Zambia |
Farm vehicle | 611 | K245 | Vehicles used exclusively for farming purposes |
Tractor (non-farm road use) | 916.3 | K367 | Tractors used on public roads outside farming |
Motor dealer licence | 6,111.6 | K2,445 | Licence for the dealership itself |
Motor dealer token | 916.3 | K367 | Per-vehicle token for dealer stock on the road |
Hand-cart (per wheel) | 12.1 | K5 | Charged per wheel, not per vehicle |
Farm vehicles get a significant discount (K245 vs K918+ for the equivalent weight band) because they primarily operate off-road and cause less wear on public roads. Motor dealers pay a substantial licence fee (K2,445) plus a token fee (K367) for each vehicle they drive on public roads from their stock.
Fee unit value - historical context
Road tax amounts are not set directly in Kwacha - they are set in fee units, and the government adjusts the fee unit value to change rates across the board. Here is the history:
Period | Fee Unit Value | Motorcycle Annual Fee | Honda Fit Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
Before SI 25/2024 | K0.30 | K56 | K551 |
From 20 May 2024 | K0.40 | K74 | K734 |
The increase from K0.30 to K0.40 per fee unit represented a 33% increase in all road tax fees. The fee unit system means the government can adjust all rates with a single statutory instrument rather than rewriting the entire schedule.
For comparison, the original Road Traffic Act of 2002 set motorcycle fee units at just 50 (compared to 183.7 today) and the heaviest truck category at 5,000 fee units (compared to 13,750 today). Both the fee unit counts and the fee unit value have increased over time.
Quarterly payment breakdown
All categories can be paid quarterly at 25% per quarter with no surcharge. Here are quarterly amounts for the most common categories:
Vehicle Type | Annual | 1 Quarter | 2 Quarters | 3 Quarters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Motorcycle | K74 | K19 | K37 | K56 |
Honda Fit (1,401-1,600 kg) | K734 | K184 | K367 | K551 |
Mark X (1,601-2,000 kg) | K807 | K202 | K403 | K605 |
RAV4/HiLux (2,001-4,000 kg) | K918 | K230 | K459 | K688 |
Land Cruiser (4,001-6,000 kg) | K1,027 | K257 | K514 | K770 |
Heavy truck (above 20,000 kg) | K5,500 | K1,375 | K2,750 | K4,125 |
For a step-by-step explanation of how to calculate road tax, see our road tax calculation guide. For information about penalties and exemptions, see our guide on road tax payments and penalties.
If you are importing a vehicle and want to understand the total cost of ownership, our vehicle import duty calculator covers the ZRA duty side.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know my vehicle's weight band?
Check your vehicle registration card (blue book) for the gross vehicle weight (GVW). It is also printed on a sticker or plate on the driver's door jamb of most vehicles. If you cannot find it, search for your vehicle's make, model, and year online - manufacturer specifications list the GVW (sometimes called GVWR or GVM).
Why is road tax based on weight, not engine size?
Heavier vehicles cause more road damage. Road tax is fundamentally a contribution to road maintenance, so basing it on weight ensures that vehicles causing the most wear pay the most. Engine size is used for import duty (a different charge administered by ZRA), but road tax uses weight because it better reflects the vehicle's impact on infrastructure.
Are electric vehicles charged differently?
No. The current fee schedule does not have a separate category for electric or hybrid vehicles. They are classified by GVW just like petrol and diesel vehicles and pay the same road tax. This may change as electric vehicle adoption grows in Zambia, but for now the weight band system applies to all vehicle types.