Which Used Cars Have Low Road Tax?

Which used cars have low road tax? 

When looking to purchase a used car road tax is something that should be considered along with other ongoing costs including insurance and fuel costs. In this article we take a look at some of the used cars with the lowest road tax, so you can minimize your ongoing vehicle expenses. 

What is road tax? 

Road tax or car tax has changed over the years and varies depending on the year your car was registered. If your vehicle is registered between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 the tax paid each year is based on the vehicle's emission output, the higher the emissions the vehicle emits the higher the cost of road tax. If your car is registered after 2017 then the tax paid for the first year is based on emission and subsequent years are based on a set rate, unless your vehicle is exempt. If your vehicle costs more than £40,000 you will also pay much higher taxes for the first 6 years.  

Any car that is on the road must pay road tax, it is illegal, and you can face fines and criminal charges if you do not pay road tax. A car that is not tax also has invalid insurance, so if you are in an accident the cost won’t be covered by your insurance.  

Cars exempt from road tax 

There are several vehicles that are exempt from road tax, this means they pay £0 a year. However even exempt cars still need to register for road tax each year, but they do not have to pay.  

Electric vehicles 

All electric vehicles are exempt from road tax, this is because they do not emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If you’re looking at buying a used car with low road tax an all-electric vehicle is a great option. They are future proof and are exempt from paying road tax. At SPOTiCAR we have a great range of electric vehicles for you to browse, take a look at our electric vehicles. 

Historic vehicles or classic cars 

Vehicles that were made before 1st January 1981 are exempt from paying any road tax. They are often referred to as classic cars, if you have a vehicle of this age, you do not have to pay any road tax.  

Cars registered before 2017 

The car tax system changed in 2017, vehicles registered between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 are still subject to a lower road tax if they have low emissions. By purchasing a used car which falls in this age range you can save yourself a significant amount of money each year on road tax. There are several cars in this age bracket that cost £0, £20 or £30 per year. If you are looking for a petrol or diesel car with low road tax these are the vehicles you need to look out for.  

Cars with under £30 road tax 

To make it easier for you to find a car with low road tax we have listed below a selection of the cars that cost under £30 a year for road tax. Make sure to look at the year the car was registered as this will only apply to vehicles registered between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2017. 

• Skoda Octavia 

• Kia Sportage 

• Vauxhall Corsa 

• Mazda 6 Tourer 

• Audi Q3 

• Ford C-Max 

• Audi A6 

• Mini Convertible 

• VW Up 

• Ford Fiesta 

• Skoda Fabia 

• Toyota Aygo 

• Fiat 500 

• Peugeot 108 

• Citroen C1 

• Honda Insight 

• Kia Rio 

• Suzuki Alto 

• Suzuki Splash 

• Vauxhall Agila  

Cars registered after 2017 

Cars registered after 2017 are subject to a different tax system, this system is a set fee which is charged per year and increases based on inflation. If you purchase a vehicle registered after 2017 you can expect to pay a flat rate of £155 per year after the first year's payment which is based on carbon dioxide emissions. Hybrid vehicles are offered at a £10 discount on this price and diesel vehicles can expect to pay more tax. For full information on the tax after 2017 see the government website.