Best road tax exempt cars

The cost of motoring is constantly growing. Ever-increasing fuel and tax prices plus the introduction of urban congestion charges has priced-out many car drivers. Buying a car that produces less than 100g/km of CO2 however, means owners are exempt from paying Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) - also known as annual Road Tax.

There's good news for city dwellers too, as any car that is Road Tax exempt is also free from paying the London Congestion Charge, currently priced at £10 per day. For this top-ten, we've scoured our listings to help you choose specific variants that will save you money on your tax disc as well as at the petrol pump, without compromising on quality.

1

Ford Fiesta hatchback

Edge Econetic 1.6 TDCi095 DPF

£14,695

5.0 /5
The Ford Fiesta is a well-designed supermini that is both fun to drive and cheap to run. Now available across the range in ECOnetic form, Britain's most popular car just became more accessible. Capable of 76mpg in 1.6 Edge ECOnetic trim, it's clear to see why Ford's hatchback remains the class leader.
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2

Audi A1 hatchback

1.6 TDI SE 105PS

£14,480

5.0 /5
If you're looking for a high quality supermini that offers looks and running costs low enough to rival the MINI D then the excellent handling Audi A1 in either three or four-door Sportback form, could be ideal. Capable of 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds and 71mpg the A1 is both nippy and economical, plus it has a good size boot.
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3

KIA Rio hatchback

1.1 CRDI 1 EcoDynamics

£11,895

4.7 /5
The all-new Kia Rio is Britain's most fuel efficient new car on sale, plus it emits just 85g/km of CO2. More spacious than the Ford Fiesta, the Rio's interior feels well made and is comfortable over longer distances. The attractive styling and high level of standard equipment make the Rio an obvious choice for buyers looking for value for money.
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4

MINI MINI hatchback

MINI One D

£14,540

4.5 /5
Cute looks and sporty handling are not the only attractive features of the MINI D, it also has very low running costs. Producing just 99g/km of CO2 the 1.6-litre diesel-engined MINI is exempt from Road Tax and returns 74mpg. Whilst the rear seats are quite cramped, front passengers will love the stylish, well made interior.
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5

Hyundai i10 micro-car

1.0 Blue

£9,345

4.5 /5
City cars don't get much better than the Hyundai i10 Blue and with list prices starting at just over £8,000, few offer such good value. Look past the awkward exterior styling and enjoy the rewarding drive, well built cabin, and tiny running costs.
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6

Volkswagen Polo hatchback

BlueMotion 1.2 TDI 5spd

£15,615

4.5 /5
Volkswagen's Polo Bluemotion has a very high quality interior and is capable of returning up to 81mpg. Exempt from Road Tax, the Polo Bluemotion also has a range of nearly 800 miles from one tank of fuel. Fitted as standard with cruise control and air conditioning Volkswagen Polo buyers need not compromise on comfort to save money on running costs.
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7

SEAT Ibiza hatchback

SC 1.2 TDI CR 75PS Ecomotive S Copa

£13,700

4.3 /5
In stylish three-door form, the SEAT Ibiza looks as good as the Ford Fiesta, resembling more upmarket coupes like the Volkswagen Scirocco. The 1.2-litre diesel engine produces very little emissions and despite feeling slow at first there is more than enough power on offer for everyday driving in and around town. The Ecomotive version is also capable of an incredible 81mpg.
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8

Citroën DS3 hatchback

e-HDi 90 Airdream DStyle 95g

£14,800

4.5 /5
The Citroen DS3 was named CarBuyer's Best Hot Hatch Award for 2011. Brilliant exterior styling hides a luxurious interior and underpinnings from the Citroen C3. The DS3 is very different to its highly practical cousin however offering a much more exciting drive. The Airdream 95g model comes with air conditioning, cruise control and most importantly, CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km.
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9

Audi A3 hatchback

1.6 TDI

£18,890

4.1 /5
The Volvo C30 is a premium hatchback that comes with a great choice of engines and healthy dose of style. The 1.6 DRIVe model is very economical, features stop/start and falls inside the emissions limit for free Road Tax. It's also very safe as it has the obligatory five-star Euro NCAP rating.
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10

Volvo C30 hatchback

DRIVe (115 PS) ES Start/Stop

£18,745

3.9 /5
The Audi 1.6 TDI 3dr is a premium family hatchback that offers buyers a spacious, well made interior and excellent residual values. Well suited to motorway driving, it also makes very good sense as a comfortable city car thanks to its low emissions and 74mpg capability.
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