Expert answer

Hi John,

Citroen is currently reviewing options on potentially introducing the Ami to Ireland in the future. Initially the car was only to be produced in left-hand drive, but this is now being reconsidered due to high levels of interest in the car from the UK market. If the car was to be officially sold here it would be liable for the applicable VAT and VRT rates and would require motor tax and insurance, in the same way that the Renault Twizy does. These would also apply if you were to privately import one. 

Expert answer

Hi Emer,

A van taxed for private use is done so according to its engine size, so, if the Relay has the 2.0-litre engine, it will cost €710 per annum to tax. If it has the 2.2-litre engine, it'll be €951.

Full details in our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature.

Expert answer

Hi Gerard,

For VRT purposes, vans are charged at 13.3 per cent of the Irish market value. A 2017 Berlingo van is going to be worth in and around €10,000, so the relatively simple calculation is that it’ll cost you around €1,300 in VRT. 

Expert answer

Hi Colman,

Well, it depends. If it’s a van, then you’ll pay 13.3 per cent Vehicle Registration Tax, based on the vehicle’s Irish market value, which would be around €8-9,000. Which would mean in and around the €1,000 mark, depending on the model and spec. If it’s a Berlingo passenger version, then you’re looking at a VRT cost of around €4,500, including the NOx levy (and assuming a NOx figure of 158mg/km). 

Expert answer

Hi Sean,

There’s no reason that it wouldn’t be possible to import a Citroen Ami to Ireland. However, it is only being produced in left-hand drive with no plans currently in place for right-hand-drive models. It’s also worth noting that the Ami doesn’t have a very powerful electric motor and has a top speed of only 45km/h making it only useful in cities and urban areas. 

Expert answer

Hi Declan,

Because you go back onto the old by-engine-capacity tax when you tax a commercial vehicle privately, that’s going to cost you €514 a year to  tax.

Expert answer

Hi Ray,

In the initial launch countries for the Ami it will be permissible to be driven on a moped or quadricycle licence, which is from 14 years of age in France and 16 years in other European countries. A full car licence would also cover driving it. Currently there are no plans for this vehicle to be offered in Ireland, or in other right-hand-drive markets. 

Expert answer

Hi Aidan,

Insurance is a perennial bugbear and, unfortunately, we don’t have much of an answer for you. It could be that, when damaged, the C4 is more expensive to repair than the Almera, or simply that Irish insurers view anything that’s not a dull four-door saloon as ’sporty’ in some vague way. I’m afraid that the only thing to do is the old ’shop-around’ routine when it comes to renewal. I think it would also be worth having a word with your current insurer, find out exactly why your insurance went up (this might take a bit of drilling down through layers of ‘computer says no’) and make it very clear how dissatisfied you are, and that you’re planning to move your insurance at renewal time. 

Expert answer

Hi Donie,

Yes, you can and, by taxing it as a private vehicle, you will move back to the old by-engine-capacity tax system. Assuming that your Berlingo of choice has a 1.6-litre diesel engine, then it’s going to cost you €514 per year.

Expert answer

Hi Gino,

That Ford 1.6 TDCi diesel engine is one of the most common engines around, as it has also been used by Mazda, Volvo, Peugeot, Citroen and MINI. It has one major vulnerable spot and that is that sooty, gummy deposits can build up in areas that are supposed to be kept cool and lubricated by oil. If the deposits build up enough, they can block the oil passage and cause component failure — most commonly of the turbocharger. The best way to prevent that happening is with regular servicing (at least once a year depending on mileage) and making sure that you always use a high-quality grade of synthetic oil for the engine.

The 1.6 petrol engine, the 100hp version, is a much simpler unit and it’s pretty reliable, mostly because it’s a much older design. It won’t be as economical nor as punchy in its performance as the diesel, but if it’s reliability you’re looking for, it might be the better option.