Top 13 Cars in Tax Band A
Car ownership can be expensive, so if you're looking at reducing your motoring costs, you might want to consider swapping your car for one in tax band A. The Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), or road tax as it's more commonly known, for cars in this bracket was £0 every year because they produced less than 100g/km of CO2.
Since 1st April 2017, the VED changed for any new cars registered after that date. The new tax system introduced a flat standard rate of £140 from the second year onwards for any car under £40,000 that isn't 100% electric.
On 1st April 2018, the road tax rates changed again to increase the amount paid in the first year by any diesel car that doesn't meet the latest Real Driving Emissions (RDE2) rules. You can read about the latest changes in more detail here.
Buying a car in tax band A that was registered between 1st March 2001 and 31st March 2017 will mean that you will be paying nothing in annual road tax. We've picked out the best cars that you'll find available here at Wilsons Epsom.
NISSAN QASHQAI
The multi-award winning Nissan Qashqai has been a popular model in the UK for more than 10 years now because of its stylish design and practical appeal to families.
The 110PS 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine is the one you're looking for to reach the holy grail of tax band A as well as receive a smooth, relaxed and composed driving experience.
With a reputation for reliability and a spacious cabin, the Qashqai can handle anything that busy family life has to throw at it. It comes with a lot of standard features, especially in the N-Tec and N-Connecta specification levels.
CITROËN C4 RANGE
Citroën have produced a fantastic choice of BlueHDi diesel engines that are able to achieve up to 80mpg in fuel economy. These frugal engines are available in the C4 range which includes the C4 Cactus, C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso.
Whether you like the quirky design of the Cactus, the practicality of the Picasso or the seven seats in the Grand Picasso, there is a Citroën C4 that will meet your needs.
All of these cars are built to help with a hectic family lifestyle. They have impressive boot capacities, excellent safety features and optional Kids Packs.
VAUXHALL INSIGNIA
Another family car to make this list, but this time not a Crossover. The more Executive looking Insignia still has a large boot, spacious cabin and practical features to contest with its more pumped up rivals.
The 140PS 2.0-litre CDTi engine just scrapes into tax band A with 99g/km CO2 emissions which is capable of achieving up to 76mpg. It might not provide the most entertaining drive in the world, but it is comfortable on the motorway and around town.
The Insignia line-up has been refreshed by Vauxhall and while the new design looks more stylish, it will cost a lot more in VED thanks to the rate changes.
PEUGEOT 308
Peugeot and Citroën share a lot of the same technology, which is why it's no surprise to learn that the 308 also uses the excellent BlueHDi diesel engines found in the C4 range.
Spacious enough to transport the family, the 308 is also rather pleasurable to drive. It offers decent value for money, especially in its class, and there is a marked improvement in terms of quality and refinement.
The large 470-litre boot definitely comes in handy to transport family baggage. It also comes with good levels of specification, even if the instrument and steering wheel arrangement is unusual.
FORD FIESTA
The Fiesta is one of the most popular cars in the UK and has been for years. It's sharp style and compact dimensions appeals to a wide range of people from first time drivers and young families to the older generation wanting a car to just get them around.
It's one of our favourite small cars because it effortlessly blends a spacious and practical interior with agile handling, a composed drive and a range of technology.
The 1.5 TDCI diesel engine has a claimed fuel economy of 76mpg making it an efficient and fun small hatchback to suit anyone.
FIAT 500
If it's style you're after then look no further than the Fiat 500 - the iconic and fashionable Italian small car. The 500 has always had great looks since it was brought back to market in 2007.
Alongside these good looks is a choice of two engine options with CO2 emissions less than 100g/km. They are the TwinAir and 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel. They might not have the best fuel economy figures compared to some engines on this list, but it is fun to drive and easy to forget it's just 900ccs.
As a small city car, it's not really practical for a family, but it makes an exceptionally good first car for new drivers, or a great runaround getting people from A to B.
DACIA SANDERO
Currently the cheapest new car available in the UK, the Sandero and the Dacia brand generally is gaining more and more admirers and customers every year. While it may not be the most stylish or exciting car, it will certainly help to reduce your motoring costs.
In order to make it into tax band A, you'll need to spend a little more than the most basic model to get the 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine. As you might expect, it offers fantastic value with a claimed 74mpg fuel economy.
It's spacious interior and boot is large enough to handle the rigours of family life while not breaking the bank. Although it doesn't come with a lot a features, the top of the range Lauréate trim does provide air conditioning and cruise control.
AUDI A3
That's right, the Audi A3 is available with £0 road tax when you choose the 1.6-litre 110PS diesel engine. It has a claimed fuel economy of 74mpg which should help stretch the time in between your visits to the fuel pump.
The A3 is one of the UK's favourite hatchback models because it comes well-equipped as standard and has a top quality cabin to match.
It may be more expensive than most of the cars on this list, but you're getting a premium badge and a classy image on the road. It provides you with composed handling and an excellent driving experience, especially at motorway speeds.
DS 3
Originally the DS brand started as the premium arm for Citroën; it has since branched out to become a brand in its own right. The most recognisable and popular model is still the DS 3 and it's not hard to see why.
Just like the Fiat 500, the DS 3 is fashionable. It comes in a range of bright and exciting colours and is heavily customisable to suit your individual personality.
In order to achieve tax band A, you will need to find a model with the 1.6-litre diesel engine. You have the choice of the classic hatchback or the cabriolet to make your summer even more enjoyable.
PEUGEOT 108 / CITROË​N C1 / TOYOTA AYGO
If you're looking for a small city car with style and personality you might not need to look any further than the Peugeot 108, Citroën C1 or Toyota Aygo. These cars all come with the same engine range, so the only decision to make is which brand you want to buy.
They come in both 3- and 5-door versions although there isn't the greatest amount of room for passengers travelling in the back and only has 196-litres of boot space. While it's obviously not the most practical choice if you're planning to ferry people around constantly, it will be cheap to run.
There is a choice between the 68PS or 82PS versions of the three-cylinder engine. The major plus points for these cars are that they're frugal and will help to keep the pounds in your pocket.
VAUXHALL CORSA
The Corsa has been one of the most popular cars in Britain for decades. Similar to the Fiesta is boasts a great combination of style, space and practicality that is perfect for a range of driver needs.
Available in both 3- and 5-door versions, there are also a wide range of trim levels and engine options to choose from. In order to qualify for £0 road tax you're looking for the 1.3-litre CDTi diesel or the new 1.0-litre three cylinder engine.
You can pick anything from the most basic Corsa to keep your costs down to the most sophisticated with high tech features including a touchscreen infotainment system.
FORD FOCUS
Just like the Fiesta, the Ford Focus is another popular model in this country. As it's larger than the Fiesta, the Focus is even more practical for families.
Choosing the Econetic diesel will mean that you have a car with CO2 emissions below 100g/km. This engine provides a good driving performance and is cheap to run.
If you need even more space, the Focus Estate is available with the same engine. It comes with the added advantages or more interior space as well as a larger and better shaped boot so that you can transport even more of your family life.
FIAT PANDA
The Fiat Panda is two things - practical and full of character. It doesn't come with the greatest level of standard equipment, but it does provide excellent interior space and a decent sized boot for a car of its size.
The character mainly shines through the 'squircle' design that is found throughout the cabin, on the dashboard and the gear knob.
By choosing the TwinAir engine, you will have a car that fits into tax band A. However, if you can afford to move up a couple of tax brackets, you could have a wider choice of engines and even experience the Panda 4x4 model.
