Paul Jolly: £20 Road Tax and up to 85 mpg possible with the Mini Cooper D

In addition to my vehicle search consultancy role, I am also asked to conduct valuations and this can be for probate or insurance reasons or indeed any purpose such as determining what a car might sell for and the various means to achieve the desired outcome.

This little Mini Cooper D Hatchback only came about due to the recent passing of its local elderly lady owner who had cared for it beautifully during her 12-year tenure with annual servicing and a money-no-object approach to repairs as required. After valuing it, I recognised it was far too special an example to simply pass on to webuyanycar.com but the family had no space or need for it.

I therefore paid them a higher price and bought it myself, then recommissioned it removing old Mot advisory points together with fresh tyres, brakes and correcting various sensor faults. The finished result was instantly taken up by a young lady driver looking for a low cost easy to maintain and funky little car for the years ahead.

One of the appeals of this particular car is the remarkably low £20 per annum road tax and up to 85mpg due to the BMW derived 1.6 diesel engine. When you have the opportunity to save such substantial annual running costs each and every year, simply by choosing the right car, then why wouldn’t you? It is just a case of being aware of what cars are out there with very low emissions which then places them in the lowest taxation bracket. 

For example, there are similar aged and priced Vauxhall Corsa’s on the market also with a 1.6 engine but with £315 road tax each year and every year remember, and then with just 48mpg at best, so it is important to do your research or get someone to do it for you. Motoring is costly enough without needlessly paying an extra £295 road tax annually. That amount could buy a whole year’s worth of fuel potentially.

Road tax levies also changed dramatically upwards from April 2017 so bear this first registration date in mind when searching.