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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.

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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. 

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Hi Nathan,

Generally the Ford 1.6-litre diesel (also used by Mazda, Peugeot, Citroen, Volvo and MINI down the years) is a rugged and reliable unit, but there are a few things to bear in mind. First off, this is an engine that needs a regular diet of high-grade synthetic engine oil, otherwise a nasty sludge can build up in various parts of the engine, choking performance. Make sure you check the service history to ensure that a good quality oil has always been used. The stop-start system can occasionally cause starter motor issues, especially if the car has mostly been driven in town. If it has been mostly driven in town, or has very low mileage, be wary of potential issues with the diesel particulate filter, too.

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Hi Brian,

Different versions of the same car can have different equipment levels, which can affect the weight of the vehicle and therefore its emissions. Equally, different model years can have different engine specifications (even if the basic bones of the engine are the same), which can affect the CO₂ rating. Or, of course, one could have a manual gearbox and one an automatic, which can have a major effect on the CO₂ levels.

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Hi Ed,

That is an answer that will vary massively depending on which model of car you’re talking about. There are some Hyundai i30s and Kia Ceeds from around that era that came with a 1.4 diesel engine that would be hugely economical. You might be able to track down some Peugeot or Citroen models (a 2008 would be a good choice) with a 1.4 HDi diesel engine that’s good on juice, too. There’s also the Toyota Corolla or Auris D-4D, or if you don’t fancy diesel, the same cars with the 1.33-litre VVTi petrol engine, which was not too thirsty.

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Hi Cathy,

Many cars develop similar problems, usually because of battery condition or load. Our feature on the subject, Why won't my car's stop-start system work? may help you further.

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Hi Christine,

Well, the new Duster is a pretty good piece of kit and, if you like your current car, then it could be the best bet all round. A Dacia dealer is likely to give you a better trade-in for your current car than would a rival brand, which will help with the finances. The updated Vitara is a very decent car, but it’s noticeably more expensive than the Duster, and that goes ditto for the C3 Aircross. 

Dacia Duster reviews

Suzuki Vitara reviews

Citroen C3 Aircross reviews

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Hi Sasa,

I'm afraid it is not possible to transfer your NCT to another car and there is no mechanism for obtaining a refund when a car with an NCT it taken off the road.

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Hi John,

It’s a bizarre situation, but when you tax a commercial vehicle as a private car, you revert to the old, pre-2008 by-engine-capacity taxation system. No-one can give us a good reason as to why this is, but it’s the system that’s in place. It’ll cost you €514 a year to tax a 1.6-litre engine. 

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Hi Patricia,

If you access the menu for the central digital display (you should be able to get to this by using the button on the end of the windscreen wiper stalk), there should be an option to Change Units, which should allow you to switch between miles and kilometres. If you get stuck, have a look at the owner's handbook. That’s always a help.