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The Top Cars with Zero Road Tax


Prior to the changes to road tax last year, many of us thought we’d worked out which cars to buy to save on road tax, but everything has changed and we’re now looking at a whole different set of criteria when it comes to deciding which cars are subject to road tax and which are not. It’s even tougher than before to escape the road tax charges, but it can be done as long as you’re not looking for a car registered after 1st April 2017 or you opt for a fully electric vehicle. Paying £140 a year extra on your road tax is no April Fool’s joke, but this is what many of us are now facing. Buy a brand new car and you’ll also have an extra fee to pay unless you go for an electric or hydrogen powered vehicle.

If you’re looking to avoid paying road tax a little longer, then there are still plenty of great cars out there for you. Let’s take a closer look at our top pick of your zero road tax options…

Skoda Citigo – Ideal for Urban Driving

If you’re looking for a small city car with zero road tax then the Skoda Citigo is worth checking out. The interior is actually deceptively spacious, so if you’ve written this one off as being just too small, have a sit inside one and you might be pleasantly surprised. It’s an economical vehicle that’s ideally suited to city life. It’s nippy to drive and easy to park and they’re not too expensive to buy either. Combine this with the low running costs and you’ve got a great car for anyone on a budget.

To avoid paying road tax, you need to opt for a model that comes with the GreenTech package, and of course it must have been registered prior to 1st April 2017.

Compare deals on the Skoda Citigo at Carwow

Nissan Leaf – A brand new car with no tax to pay

Since the changes, your choice of brand new cars with zero road tax is limited. You need to opt for an electric or hydrogen car and one such option well worth considering is the Nissan Leaf. It’s a big seller that’s ideal for city driving and you’ll get 155 miles from one charge, more than enough for your day-to-day driving requirements.

Visit Nissan to discover more about the Leaf

Hyundai Ioniq – An electric car with style

If you’re not keen on the looks of the Nissan Leaf, then another electric car that you can buy brand new today with zero road tax to pay is the Hyundai Ioniq. Choose the totally electric model to benefit from those road tax savings and you’ve got a very practical and good looking car. It certainly doesn’t have that ‘electric car look’ that can be off-putting to some. You’ll get a very decent 174 mile range from the Ioniq, perfect if you travel further than simply around your own town or city. There’s no compromise on power either with a 119bhp Sport Mode.

Read an in-depth review of the Hyundai Ioniq at What Car?

Renault Kadjar  - A great all-rounder

Want something with more space? Then how about the Renault Kadjar? It’s a spacious car with loads of room in the boot making this vehicle very practical. To buy, they’re a little cheaper than their rival the Nissan Qashqai, and you get that meaty SUV look. However, if you want a car with no road tax to pay, unfortunately you can’t opt for the Dynamique S Nav model with the gorgeous 19” alloys as those bigger wheels push up the C02 emissions and you’ll have to pay road tax.

Auto Express give the Kadjar a 4 star rating

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso – Perfect for larger families

If space is your priority then the C4 Grand Picasso is well worth a look. There’s seven seats as standard and loads of room in the boot. A large family can easily pack everything they need for a camping holiday, and a huge shopping trip is no problem with this car. To qualify for zero road tax, you’re looking at the 1.6l BlueHDi diesel, and of course it must have been registered before April 1st 2017. There are no options to upgrade this model from the most basic trim level, but you do get plenty of features with it such as parking sensors, air conditioning and DAB radio, so this may well not be an issue for you.

Find C4 Grand Picasso deals at Carwow

Mercedes B 250e – A touch of luxury

If you love to travel in style and want a car that simply oozes luxury then how about the Mercedes B 250e? As this is a fully electric car, you can buy one now, brand new, with no road tax to pay. Based on the standard B-Class Mercedes, there’s no compromise on looks just because you’re driving electric. On the inside, you get loads of high-tech features and leather upholstery. It’s everything you’d expect from the Mercedes brand.

Autotrader review the Mercedes B 250e

BMW 3 Series Hybrid eDrive – Fun to drive

For those who simply love to be behind the wheel, take a close look at the BMW 3 Series hybrid eDrive. You’ll need to buy a vehicle registered before 1st April 2017 for the zero road tax to apply. If you live in London there’s a double benefit as this car is also exempt from the Congestion Charge. In tests and reviews this car always scores well on just how enjoyable it is to drive.

Learn more about the BMW 3 Series eDrive

Are you inspired?

There’s a road tax free car for everyone if you’re clever and know what to look for! Your choices are more limited if you’re buying brand new, but there are some great electric cars on the market these days. Whether you’re looking for a compact city run around, or an SUV, you can still avoid paying road tax in 2018!

It’s worth bearing in mind though that even if your car is exempt from road tax, you’ll still, by law, need to have your VED renewed every year. Set a reminder so you’ll never forget at MOTRemind.co.uk

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Social Media Competition Terms and Conditions January 2018

  1. The promoter is: Code Tonic Scotland Ltd (company no. SC492176) trading as MoTRemind.co.uk.
  1. The competition is open to residents of the England, Scotland and Wales aged 17 years or over except employees of Code Tonic Scotland Ltd and their close relatives and anyone otherwise connected with the organisation or judging of the competition.

3.There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.

4.By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.

5.Route to entry for the competition and details of how to enter are via MotRemind’s facebook, Instagram and twitter posts clearly stated as “Competition” between the dates of the promotion given below.

6.Only one entry will be accepted per person. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified.

7.Closing date for entry will be Wednesday 28th February 2018. After this date no further entries to the competition will be permitted. The competition will commence on 7 th February 2018.

8.No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.

9.The rules of the competition and how to enter are as follows:

-Sign Up for a free reminder athttps://www.motremind.co.uk/dashboard/signup

-Add a vehicle, with a valid Registration Plate, for which you or a member of your household are responsible for obtaining a MOT Test certificate.

-Like/favourite the post on social media

-For an extra chance of winning, like/follow the social media account of MOTRemind on the given social media platform.

 

10. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.

11. The promoter is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition.

12. The prize is as follows:

- One initial MOT test booking per prize winner, at any of the following retailors. For Clarity, this is the cost of the MOT booking, and will not cover retest fees in the event of a MOT failure, or the cost of replacement parts/labour for the vehicle to pass certification.

 

Valid retailors:

https://www.kwik-fit.com/mot

https://www.national.co.uk/

https://www.f1autocentres.co.uk/

 

The prize is as stated and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.

 

Prizes should be redeemed within 12 Months of competition closure by contacting:[email protected]

 

For avoidance of doubt, the promotors of this competition will make the booking with the retailor on your behalf for a vehicle registration plate that was included on your MOTRemind Free 5 Vehicle account on the day of competition closing. No cash will be transferred to competition winners. We would remind entrants it is their legal responsibility to have a vehicle requiring MOT certification successfully pass an MOT test, MOTRemind, the promoter or retailer will take no responsibility for ensuring compliance with this legal requirement. 

 

13. Winners will be chosenat random by software, from all entries received and verified by Promoter and or its agents.

14. The winner will be notified by email and/or DM on Twitter/Facebook and/or letter within 28 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or do not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.

15. The promoter will notify the winner when and where the prize can be collected / is delivered.

16. The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

17. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.

18. The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by Scottish law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Scotland.

19. The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material, as well as their entry. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.

20. The winner’s name will be available 28 days after closing date by emailing the following address:[email protected]

21. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.

22. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or any other Social Network. You are providing your information to Code Tonic Scotland LTD trading as MOTRemind.co.uk and not to any other party. The information provided will be used in conjunction with the following Privacy Policy found athttps://www.motremind.co.uk/Home/PrivacyPolicy

 

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According to the DVSA/VOSA (what are they called this week?) around 40% of cars fail their MOT first time while 50% of MOT failures are down to simple maintenance tasks you can easily doat home yourself. This is our top tips to help you pass your MOT first time!

1). Lights & indicators

Around 30% of all MOT failures are down to minor faults with lights, mostly blown bulbs. Checking for blown bulbs really is something anyone can do. To make this easy grab a second person, one to operate the lights and the other to act as the spotter.  However, If you can't find someone to help, park up directly across from a shop window - this will allow you to check the operation of the brake lights in your rear view mirror.  Some cars have 20+ exterior bulbs now so remember to check them all, from mirror indicators, to side lights, main lights and full beam. The "headlights" are often 3 separate bulbs! 

If you find any blown bulbs Euro Car Parts, Halfords or your local garage should be able to help quite cheaply. One last tip; fitting bulbs wrongly and affecting the alignment can be an MOT failure in its own right. So if you are not confident consider sending as little as £19.99 purchasing a Haynes Manual or getting your local garage or Halfords to fit the bulbs you pre-purchased.

 Or for a simple but extensive guide to all things light bulb related, head over to our friends at Auto Bulbs Direct. They have a great guide available over at https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/blog/the-simple-car-bulb-guide-2019-edition

2). Tyre wear and pressure

Yeap that's right, running tyres significantly under pressure is also a MOT failure, not only that but it ruins your fuel economy and makes the tyres wear uneven across the surface. Pop down your local petrol station and check those pressures!

Not sure what pressure your tyres should be? Have a look behind the petrol flap or in the drivers door well. 

While your at that petrol station its a great opportunity to check the Tyre wear. Every tyre sold in the UK comes with 3 outer, middle and inner wear markers that show you how much a tyre has worn. See the pic below. If any of the wear markers are even with the tread the tyre is most likely needing replaced. 

What about the age of your tyres? Don't do many miles? Tread depth isn't the only way tyres age, UV and harsh weather conditions dry out the chemical compound causing cracking and potentially premature failure. Kwik-Fit have produced this guide showing you how to check the manufacture date of the tyre. Anything over 5-6 year old should be checked by a pro.

For further tips, have a watch at this DVSA video:


3). Drivers line of sight, windscreen, mirrors and window wipers.

You will want to check the windscreen has no unpaired chips, that window wipers function and there is a full tank of washer fluid. 8.5% of MOT failures are due to the driver not having an unobstructed line of sight, this includes mirrors being operational and use of the washer fluid leaving a streak free line of sight for the driver - if not get down to Halfords, Euro Car Part or your local garage and get a new set fitted. If you are confident doing it completely on your own, you might want to check out Amazon. The DVSA recommend fitting a new set yearly!

4). Brakes and brake fluid levels

Brakes are really one of those things you will want to check frequently! When it is safe to do so, and at low speed, press the foot brake and listen for ANY strange noise. At the same time assess whether the car is 'pulled' to one side, did you have to correct the steering? If anything appears out of the ordinary get a professional to check them out. Brake pads are often cheap to replace, and left unattended will prematurely age the brake disks - which are certainly not so cheap to replace. A little preventative maintenance can save you a fortune here!

While you are under the bonnet checking those window washer levels, you will also want to check the brake fluid levels. Make sure the levels are kept between the Max and Min warnings. Check your cars handbook for what fluid is required should the levels need topped up.  Again Halfords,Euro Car Part, or potentially even Amazonwill have everything you need here!

5). Check what the MOT tester said last year and signup for a reminder!

It is well worth reviewing last years MOT certificate to see any warnings or advisories left by the MOT assessor. have any of these got the potential to be failures this year?  If you have lost the MOT certificate from last year, you can easily do this online on the GOV.UK website here.
This is a feature we are also hoping to add ourselves in the near future, so if you have not already done so, now is as good a time as any to sign up for your automatically tracked free renewal reminder over here.



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Well, It has been just over 12 months since we first launched MOTRemind.co.uk and you guys have beensigning up thick and fast and numbers have been increasing at a steady pace. In the background we have been working away to improve the site and offer new features where we can. We are always open to feedback, so please drop us a line to[email protected].

Anyway, today marks the launch of this blog and the official re-launch of the site. We have been extensively testing the new site over the last few months and we are happy to remove that beta sticker. We are now able to support multiple vehicles per email address and we are happy to be able to keep the first 5 vehicles on your personal account completely FREE as before. We have added an optional upgrade to SMS at a cost of £1.50 per year that will cover all 5 vehicles on the account - this has been a much asked for feature and we hope you enjoy :-)

Today also marks the launch of our commercial offerings, allowing garage owners, small fleet and business owners the ability to remind customers of upcoming key vehicle dates by Email, SMS or indeed a traditional letter by snail mail. Plans start from as low as £19.99 per month for an unlimited number of vehicles.

Over the next few months we will be bringing this blog to life with handy hints and tips and industry news.

We would be glad to hear your feedback; but for now "drive on".

Bryan