Used automatic cars with low road tax
Take a look at some of the best used automatic cars with low road tax for 2024
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What used auto cars have cheap road tax?
Browsing the massive range of used automatic cars with low road tax on the market is a hefty job.
There are plenty of models that are cheap to tax, but which are actually worth buying?
If you’re on the market for an automatic car with cheap road tax, you’ll want to consider what other features are important to you.
Do you want a spacious SUV, compact city car, or something with a luxury edge?
To help you out, here’s a list of the best used automatic cars with low road tax to look at in 2024.
Best used auto cars with low road tax
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Factors Affecting Road Tax in Automatic Cars
Cars registered after April 2017 are placed in three different road tax bands depending on the vehicle’s CO2 emissions – standard, zero and premium.
For the first year, road tax is based on carbon dioxide emissions.
After that, road tax depends on the band a car is placed in. Petrol cars in the standard band will typically pay £190 per year, with a £10 discount for hybrids.
Cars that cost more than £40,000 will have to pay a premium car fee of £410 per year.
If your car was registered after March 2001 and before the 2017 cut-off, your car tax will be based on its fuel type CO2 emissions but will not be placed into the bands.
The best used automatic cars with low road tax
There’s a massive range of used automatic cars with low road tax to choose from, and you don’t just have to choose a city car.
Take a look at some of the best options on the market.
Ford Fiesta (2018 onwards)
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Annual road tax: £190
A used Ford Fiesta can be a perfect fit for a seriously wide range of motorists.
It’s comfortable, spacious, practical and easy to drive – so it’s no surprise it was the bestselling new car in the UK for many years.
The automatic gearbox makes it even easier to get around in, and EcoBoost engine options help you keep running costs low.
You can get up to 51.4mpg with the EcoBoost models. That’s if you can resist putting your foot down and enjoying the Fiesta’s famously fun driving dynamics.
Renault Zoe (2012 onwards)
 "Renault Zoe exterior")
Annual road tax: £0 until 2025
It doesn’t get much cheaper than zero, and that’s how much road tax you’ll pay until 2025 with the all-electric Renault Zoe.
Rivalling options like the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3, the Zoe is small, economical, and has an impressive 240-mile range.
Of course, being electric, you don’t have to worry about changing gear in the Zoe – plus it has plenty of get up and go.
Don’t stress about recharging, either. You can juice up from empty to full in just eight -hours with a 7kW charger.
Audi A3 (2020 onwards)
 "Audi A3 Saloon front three quarters")
Annual road tax: £190
Annual road tax (A3 TFSI e hybrid): £180
You’d be forgiven for thinking that premium cars like the Audi A3 would be expensive to tax, but they can actually be very reasonable.
The A3 has a loyal following thanks to its suave looks and smooth drive, and the automatic gearbox only adds to the refinement.
Road tax sits at the standard £190 and you won’t get stung by fuel costs, either. The 35 TFSI seven-speed S tronic automatic model is good for up to 49.6mpg.
Go for the hybrid model to ramp up the savings further. The A3 TFSI e boasts fuel economy as high as 282.5mpg combined and gets the £10 road tax discount.
Fiat 500 (2018 onwards)
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Annual road tax (models after 2017 cut-off): £190
Annual road tax (Fiat 500e): £0 until 2025
We challenge you to make it two minutes around a town centre without spotting a Fiat 500 – and there’s good reason why they’re so popular.
These cute little city cars will only cost you the standard rate road tax, or you can get it free with the electric model.
500s are also seriously frugal – up to 60.1mpg with the 1.0-litre petrol engine and 199-mile range with the 500e.
It’s an ideal daily driver with plenty of charm, but automatic models can be harder to find as they’re in demand.
Nissan Qashqai (2021 onwards)
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Annual road tax: £190
Annual road tax (hybrid): £180
King of the SUVs, the Nissan Qashqai is an automatic car with low road tax that has plenty of appeal for families and those that need extra space.
Not only is it reliable and safe, with a full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, it’s great value for money and cheap to run.
If you really want to be impressed with the efficiency, opt for the Qashqai E-Power. It’s easy and comfortable to drive and saves you a nice bit of fuel, claiming up to 53.3mpg.
A Qashqai will usually land between insurance groups 11 and 26, so it shouldn’t be too expensive in that sense either.
Toyota Aygo (2017 onwards)
 "Toyota Aygo driving")
Annual road tax: £190
The Toyota Aygo is a used automatic car with low road tax that will do right by you. It has the famous Toyota reliability and it’s cheap to run.
For city commuters who want a stress-free and cost-effective daily drive, the Aygo offers up to 54.3mpg from the automatic models.
With a 168-litre boot – growing to 754 litres with the seats folded – it’s also more practical than you might think
Mercedes GLA (2020 onwards)
 "Mercedes GLA driving")
Annual road tax (models under £40,000 list price): £190
Mercedes just knows how to get an SUV right every time, and the GLA sticks to that theme.
You’d be surprised to know just how cheap they can be to tax, but watch that you choose a model that costs less than £40,000 from brand-new to dodge the premium car tax.
That might mean fewer flashy extras, but you’ll still have a premium car and it’ll be more affordable.
Pick the automatic to make a style-conscious family SUV even more luxurious.
Honda Civic e:HEV (2022 onwards)
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Annual road tax: £180
The Civic e:HEV is an automatic car with low road tax that shows Honda’s infamous hatchback can do it all.
You can get all the driving enjoyment you need, but without the higher running costs of the performance model.
With up to 56.5mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, the 11th generation Civic is frugal but still plenty of fun.
In fact, you can get from 0-62mph in just 7.8 seconds and its handling keeps some of the character from the performance version.
Thanks to its reliable reputation the Civic e:HEV is ideal for daily life when you want something great to drive that can still be dependable.
Other ways to save
Choosing a used automatic car with low road tax is a great first step towards making savings on running costs.
You might also be tempted to choose a used car with impressive fuel economy – these are usually smaller petrol engines or diesel models.
Electric cars and hybrid models can be a bit more expensive to buy, but you’ll save money on fuel, and road tax will be lower.
Don’t forget to check the insurance group your car falls into as well. They range from one to 50, with the lower groups being cheaper to insure.
Car insurance is based on individual factors as well, like where the car is stored and your annual mileage, but insurance groups are a good indicator of how expensive it’s likely to be.
Keeping costs low on your car doesn’t have to be a faff if you consider these factors. It’s easy to find a model that suits your needs but doesn’t blow your budget.
Take a look at our full range of used automatic cars to find more options.