Which cars are exempt from road tax?
April 04, 2025 by Siobhan Doyle
Some cars are exempt from road tax, but which ones? This guide has all the details.
Road tax, or vehicle excise duty, has been in place for UK motorists since 1903, and like most taxes, it’s become more complex and costly over time. However, some cars are exempt from road tax altogether. This guide explains which ones.
Before we dive in, it’s important to note that there are two parts to road tax: the initial one-off payment based on CO2 emissions, ranging from £10 to £5,490, which is included in the car’s on-the-road price, and the annual fee, which includes a £425 surcharge for cars costing over £40,000, applied for the first five years after registration.
If you’re planning to buy an electric car, be aware that the tax has changed. EVs were previously exempt from car tax, but now, anyone buying a new electric, zero-emission, or low-emission car will need to pay a first-year rate of £10.
Our guide to road tax has more information.
Tax exempt cars
There is more than one route to having a zero-VAT-rated car, with cars used by someone with a disability and historic cars all exempt – assuming certain criteria are met.
Cars used by someone with a disability
Some disabilities exempt you from having to pay road tax. People claiming the following benefits are eligible for this exemption:
- Higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
- Higher rate mobility component of Child Disability Payment
- War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
The Government has information on disability-related road-tax exemption.
If you receive one of these benefits, you may also be eligible for a car on the Motability scheme. Our guide to the best Motability cars should be your next stop if you qualify.
Historic cars
Cars built or first registered over 40 years old are ‘historic’ in the eyes of the government and are therefore exempt from road tax. So, if yours was made before 1 January 1985, you’re in luck. If you do not know when your vehicle was built, but it was registered before 8 January 1985, you do not need to pay vehicle tax.
You can apply for vehicle tax exemption, which is sometimes known as putting a vehicle into the ‘historic tax class,’ through the government website.
Cars with a SORN
If you have a car you plan not to use for some time, you can make a Statutory Off Road Notification, also known as ‘SORNing’ a car. You won’t be able to drive the car if you SORN it, but you won’t have to pay road tax on it, either.
Road tax for electric and low emission vehicles
Electric, zero and low emission cars are now subject to the vehicle tax rates that were introduced on 1 April 2025. This change applies to both new and existing vehicles, and the amount you’ll need to pay depends on the type of vehicle and when it was registered.
Electric vehicles
Planning to buy an EV? You will need to pay the lowest first year rate of vehicle tax set at £10. Then, from the second tax year onwards, the charge will rise to the standard rate of £195.
Low emission vehicles
Low-emission cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 are taxed at £20 annually, while the £10 discount for hybrids has been removed. Hybrids registered before 1 April 2017, are taxed based on CO2 emissions, while those registered after pay the standard £195 rate.
How to apply for road tax exemption
Follow these simple steps to apply for road tax exemption at a Post Office that handles vehicle tax:
Step 1: Gather your required documents
Bring the following:
- Your vehicle log book (V5C) in your name
- Your vehicle tax reminder letter (V11), if available
- Proof of a valid MOT (if required), such as: a copy of your vehicle’s MOT history and your MOT certificate (if available)
- Your MOT certificate (if available)
- Evidence of MOT exemption (V112), if applicable
Step 2: Apply for a log book (if needed)
If you don’t have the log book (V5C), download and complete a V62 application form. Take it to the Post Office along with a £25 fee.
Step 3: Visit a Post Office
Go to a Post Office that processes vehicle tax and submit your documents. Once approved, your vehicle will be exempt from road tax.
Cars exempt from road tax FAQs
Can I freeze my road tax?
You can’t pause your car tax payments, but you can cancel them if you’re no longer using the car on the road or have sold it. If you’re taking your car off the road, you need to let the DVLA know by submitting a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).
What cars have the cheapest road tax?
For the cheapest road tax, consider electric vehicles or low-emission cars registered before 2017. Although no longer tax-exempt, EVs still have the lowest tax. However, if you buy an EV costing £40,000 or more, you’ll likely face an extra fee, known as the expensive car supplement (ECS), between years two and six.
Here are some of our top picks that steer clear of the ECS for you to consider:
Are hybrid cars exempt from road tax?
The £10 discount for hybrid and alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) are no more. Tax rates now depend on the registration date of your car: vehicles registered before April 1, 2017, are taxed based on CO2 emissions, while those registered after pay the standard £195 rate.
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