Showroom Tax Rates 2012
Showroom Tax was introduced into the UK on 1st April 2010. Showroom Tax is effectively the Road Tax Price you will pay in the first year of ownership of a brand new car. The question of whether the new Showroom Tax will be friend or foe depends on the emissions of the new car you buy. Showroom Tax penalises high emission cars and encourages ownership of low emission Road Tax Band A to Band D cars (for a full list of these cars read Free Showroom Tax) which, under the new legislation, will be FREE to drive in the UK for the first year in terms of Road Tax. You can read more on Showroom Tax and see how different models of the same car can vary here - Showroom Tax Explained.
We’ve summarised Showroom Tax key details for Band A to Band D below - these are the FREE Showroom Tax cars - plus highlighted our Road Tax star cars in each band. So whether you are in the market for a Supermini or Family sized MPV, we’ve got it covered. Please note: 2011/12 standard road tax prices are effective from 1st April 2011.
| Supermini | Small Family | Family | |
| Band A |
 |
 |
 |
| Ford Fiesta ECOnetic | VW Golf Bluemotion S/S | Toyota Prius | |
| CO2 | 2011-12 Showroom Tax | 2011-12 Road Tax | |
| Band A | Upto 100 g/km | Free | £0 |
| Supermini | Small Family | Compact Exec | |
| Band B |
 |
 |
 |
| Peugeot 107 | Audi A3 1.6TDI | BMW 320d ED | |
| CO2 | 2011-12 Showroom Tax | 2011-12 Road Tax | |
| Band B | 101 - 110 g/km | Free | £20 |
| Supermini | Small MPV | Family | |
| Band C |
 |
 |
 |
| Fiat 500 1.2i | Nissan Note 1.5dCI | VW Passat Bluemotion S/S | |
| CO2 | 2011-12 Showroom Tax | 2011-12 Road Tax | |
| Band C | 111 - 120 g/km | Free | £30 |
| MPV | Crossover | Compact Exec | |
| Band D |
 |
 |
 |
| Citroen C3 Picasso 1.6HDi | Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi | Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI | |
| CO2 | 2011-12 Showroom Tax | 2011-12 Road Tax | |
| Band D | 121 - 130 g/km | Free | £105 |
Showroom Tax 2011 - New Car Road Tax
However for high polluting cars like Sports, Executive and 4x4s, the Showroom Tax increase could run into hundreds of pounds. For example, a new Band M car registered after 1st April 2012 will be hit with a first year rate of £1,065. The remaining Showroom Tax price bands are below:
| CO2 | 2012/13 Showroom Tax | 2012/13 standard road Tax | |
| Band E | 131 - 140 g/km | £125 | £125 |
| Band F | 141 - 150 g/km | £140 | £140 |
| Band G | 151 - 165 g/km | £175 | £175 |
| Band H | 166 - 175 g/km | £285 | £200 |
| Band I | 176 - 185 g/km | £335 | £220 |
| Band J | 186 - 200 g/km | £475 | £260 |
| Band K | 201 - 225 g/km | £620 | £280 |
| Band L | 226 - 255 g/km | £840 | £475 |
| Band M | Above 256 g/km | £1,065 | £490 |