When Your Vehicle Or Car May Be Exempt From Tax

All cars and vehicles need to display a tax disc.  Sometime, you won’t have to pay for your tax disc – for example if your car has extremely low carbon emissions – but in other cases your vehicle may actually be exempt from road tax.

If your vehicle is exempt you will still have to display a tax disc and renew it every year.  Our guide looks at the vehicles that are exempt from vehicle tax.

Vehicles that are exempt from road tax

There are several types of vehicle that are exempt from road tax.  These include:

• Vehicles used by disabled drivers – if you are a disabled person then you may be exempt from vehicle tax if you receive certain benefits.  You could be able to tax your vehicle in the disabled tax class
• Steam powered vehicles – all steam powered vehicles should be taxed in the steam-propelled class
• Invalid carriages, powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters – these vehicles are normally exempt as long as they have a maximum speed of eight miles per hour on the road and four miles per hour on the footpath
• Electric vehicles – these vehicles should be taxed in the electric vehicle class.  The power must come from an electric storage battery or an external source
• ‘Historic vehicles’ – if your vehicle was built before 1 January 1973 it can be taxed in the ‘historic vehicle’ class
• Mowing machines – vehicles designed with the sole purpose of cutting grass should be taxed in the mowing machine class
• Forestry, agricultural and horticultural vehicles – if your vehicle is used for the sole purpose of forestry, horticulture or agriculture then it will be exempt from vehicle tax

How to tax your vehicle if it is exempt from road tax

If you visit your local Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) office then you can change to the exempt tax class.

If you are renewing your ‘free’ tax disc then the DVLA will send you a reminder every year.  The V11 form will be sent to you so you can renew your tax disc.