Am I paying the correct tax on my Audi?

Hi,

I own a 2009 Audi A3 petrol and wondered if I'm paying too much road tax as many seem to think so including staff of car tax office, due to the year as the new regulations were brought in 2008. Was advised to go to NCT by staff at tax office, however NCT says it only deals with imported cars. How can I get the assessment on CO₂ rechecked?

S. Farrell

Dec 2018 Filed under: taxation

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Expert answer

Hi there,

By 2009 all cars on sale will have been on the current CO₂-based tax system, so if you think you’re paying too much, then you need to go back and check up the figures for the model you own. The A3, in 2009, came with a choice of four petrol engines — 1.4, 1.8 and 2.0-litre turbos - and an older naturally-aspirated 1.6 petrol. There’s quite a bit of difference between the engines when it comes to CO₂ figures. The 1.4 turbo has rated CO₂ emissions of 139g/km, which would mean motor tax of €280 a year, which I guess isn’t too bad. The older 1.6 engine, in spite of having 20hp less, has CO₂ emissions of 162g/km, putting it in Band D, with an annual tax bill of €570. The 1.8 160hp engine has 155g/km emissions, which just scrapes into Band C, with €390 a year tax, while the 2.0-litre turbo, with its 200hp engine, is in the same boat as the 102hp 1.6 engine, with 166g/km and tax of €570.

If you let us know the precise spec and engine of your car, we might be able to help out more. 

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe