Used cars with no road tax to pay
Cars with no road tax to pay are ideal for cutting back on running costs – here are some of our faves
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Finding the best used cars with no road tax to pay
Low road tax is great, but no road tax cars take the biscuit. There’s nothing sweeter than taxing your car for the year with nothing to pay.
Electric cars don’t have to pay road tax until 2025, and some cars from before 2017 also get free road tax.
These aren’t just the dinky models either – you can get a whole Qashqai with free road tax if you choose the right model.
Take a look at some of our favourite cars with no road tax fees below.
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What makes a car tax exempt?
For free road tax, cars registered between May 2001 and April 2017 are your best bet.
Road tax in the UK is calculated differently depending on the age of the car.
Cars registered on or after 1 April 2017 pay a flat rate for vehicle excise duty (VED), aka road tax, based on whether they’re in the ‘zero’, ‘standard’ or ‘premium’ bands.
These bands are based on CO2 emissions and come into play after the first-year showroom tax.
Electric cars are exempt from paying road tax until April 2025 because they don’t produce any exhaust emissions. This is the only way to get free road tax on a post-April 2017 car.
If your car is worth over £40,000, even if it’s electric, you’ll have to pay an extra luxury car fee of £410 on top of the standard rate for the first five years.
Cars registered between May 2001 and April 2017 are placed into bands A to M based on their emissions.
Cars with lower than 100g/km CO2 emissions will pay no road tax until 2025, when they move from band A to band B.
So, if you want free road tax for the time being – pick one of our older used models or electric cars.
Explore used cars with no road tax
Nissan Qashqai
 "Nissan Qashqai front three quarters")
The Nissan Qashqai needs no introduction. As one of the best-selling SUVS in the UK, you’ll have a hard job making it a mile down the road without spotting one.
The used car market is packed with great Qashqai examples and can mean you’ll find premium trims like the Tekna at much lower prices.
Speaking of lower prices, a used Nissan Qashqai from pre-2017 can get you free road tax. Specifically, a 1.5 dCi engine model with 99g/km emissions is the one you’ll need to pick.
Ford Fiesta
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If the Qashqai is ruling the SUVs, then the Ford Fiesta is leading the hatchbacks. It’s another UK bestseller that can have free road tax.
A used Ford Fiesta is a reliable pick that’s suited to families, new drivers, older motorists, and everyone in-between.
For free road tax, you’ll need a used Fiesta from before 2017 with a 1.5 TDCi engine – but check the trim level as there’s some tax variation across the range.
Kia EV6
 "Kia EV6 front three quarters")
Another way to get free road tax is to take advantage of the impressive electric cars on the market – a used Kia EV6 being right near the top of that list.
This electric SUV will save you on fuel costs as well, offering a 328-mile range in the best-case scenario.
As a fuel-less fiend, you won’t need to pay any road tax on your EV6 until April 2025. It’s also currently exempt from the luxury vehicle charge – so fill your boots.
BMW 3 Series
 "BMW 3 Series (F30)")
No, we’re not pulling your leg – there really are BMW 3 Series models out there with free road tax.
You’ll need to be picky with the models you choose, but it’s worth it for the savings. A 330e SE Step Auto model from 2016 to 2017 will be free to tax, while a 330e M Sport model from the same year can also be free (if you can believe it).
We think it’s also worth noting that there are used BMW 3 Series models on the market that can be between £20 - £35 to tax for the year.
A 316d from 2015 can set you back £20 annually, with the 318d jumping up slightly to £35.
Skoda Citigo
 "Skoda Citigo front three quarters")
For something smaller, the Skoda Citigo is another cheap tax option that (as the name suggests) is perfect for inner-city living.
Sibling to the Volkswagen Up and SEAT Mii, the Citigo can be free to tax if you choose a GreenTech model from before April 2017. There are models that are just £20 per year to tax, as well.
They’re seriously fuel efficient as well, with that GreenTech model capable of up to 67.3mpg in best-case – keeping emissions as low as 96g/km.
Tesla Model 3
 "Tesla Model 3 front three quarters")
It wouldn’t be a complete free road tax line-up if we didn’t mention, arguably, the biggest name in electric cars.
A used Tesla Model 3 gets you free tax, no fuel costs, and you’ll look proper tech savvy on the roads.
You’ll be able to cover up to 348 -miles from a Long Range model, and the low maintenance of electric cars means upkeep can be cheaper.
Benefits of cars with no road tax
The benefits of cars with no road tax (or low road tax) are pretty self explanatory – you're spending less money on running costs.
As well as that, choosing no road tax cars means you’re also picking a low emissions vehicle. That means you’re doing your bit for the environment.
Cutting down on the CO2 emissions that come from driving a fuel powered car is an easy way to reduce your environmental footprint.
How to save even more on a tax-exempt cars
There are a few things you can do to cut back even further on car running costs. You might want to consider:
Find a car in a low insurance group to save on the cost of getting covered
Get a few insurance quotes or consider black box insurance
Choose an electric or hybrid car to cut back on fuel costs completely
Look at the miles per gallon (MPG) figures to find a frugal fuel powered car
Electric cars often need less upkeep as there are fewer oily engine parts to look after
Cars with low road tax
It can be tricky to find cars with free road tax and it’s worth noting that things are due to change in 2025. Even if your tax is free now, it might not be after that point.
Cars with low emissions now are still set to be the cheapest to tax going forward, so it’s still worth considering those factors.
If you want to purchase a newer model, some cars on this list are still cheap to tax even after the 2017 cut-off.
For example, the Nissan Qashqai sits at the £190 flat rate in its newest form, and it’s worth mentioning that you get a £10 discount with hybrid models.
Find used cars with no road tax at cinch
Cutting running costs with no road tax cars is easier when you can still enjoy models like the BMW 3 Series and Tesla Model 3.
We’ve got plenty of used cars for sale from before the April 2017 cut-off that are eligible for free road tax, plus newer options that can still be cheap to tax.
Take a look at our full range of post-2017 cars here.