Cars with no road tax

Two things get a car to £0 UK road tax in the 2026-27 tax year: being a historic vehicle, or being registered under the disability exemption. Electric cars used to be a third route to £0 but that ended in April 2025 - see electric car road tax for what EVs pay now.

A car qualifies as historic if it was built before 1 January 1986. The cutoff rolls forward by one year every April, so any car built before the same date next year will qualify in 2027-28. Owners still have to apply for the historic tax class each year using their V5C, even though the rate is zero. The full rules are on gov.uk/historic-vehicles.

The disability exemption works differently: it is not about the car, it is claimed by a disabled person receiving certain benefits, or by an organisation transporting disabled people, and it can only be used on one vehicle at a time. It has to be applied for when the vehicle is taxed. Full eligibility and how to apply is on gov.uk.