I want a van for private use. How do I do that?

I want a standard van, Renault Trafic for example. I want to use it to travel through France and Spain carrying two e-bikes, two rollators, two dogs, luggage and my wife - we are both retired. I want to put some carpet in the back and sometimes, when needed, sleep there. I do not intend to transport goods, provide services or camp everywhere. How can I make this happen?

Ronnie Koon (Frenchpark Co Roscommon )

Jun 2025 Filed under: commercial vehicle

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Expert answer

Hi Ronnie,

On the face of it, that's not difficult. You just buy a van you like the look of and inform your motor tax office that it will be used privately. The motor tax then changes to a rate defined by the van's engine size (regardless of how new it is).

Your bigger challenge could be finding insurance, and I urge you to check that out before committing to buying any vehicle.

Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Advisor