Can I tax this Hyundai commercial privately?
I am thinking of buying a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.0-litre SUV that is 'crew cabbed' and has annual tax of €333, though it has five seats. Do I need commercial insurance? Can I tax it without owning a commercial business?
Joseph Murphy (Clonygown, Tullamore, County Off)Jan 2021 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Joseph,
If you want to tax a commercial vehicle at commercial vehicle rates, then it has to be strictly used for work purposes, so yes you would need a commercial business to do that. It has to then be used strictly for work purposes — no dropping the kids to school or heading off for the weekend — and there are substantial fines for any breach of that rule. If you want to use it as personal or family transport, then it’ll have to be taxed as a private car.
Read our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature for more detail.
Motor tax on a private 2020 Hilux?
I'm considering buying a 2020 Land Cruiser commercial (currently €333 tax annually). It's the LWB GX Commercial Auto model. It's really for transporting two large dogs. The question I have is, as a PAYE worker, how much am I gonna get landed with for motor tax each year?
Kieran Kelly (Ballyshannon)Jan 2021 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Kieran,
To tax a commercial vehicle privately, it goes by the engine size. Assuming this is the 2.4 (with a 2,393cc engine), then that works out as €1,034 per annum.
Read our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature for more.
Looking at buying a van privately...
Hi,
I want to buy a commercial van to use for private use with a possibility of using as a business venture in the future - setting up my own property maintenance business. How do I get a VAT number to tax a van? Can I just apply for a TCC with Revenue?
Danielle Smith (Mullingar)Jan 2021 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Danielle,
Yes, you can fill out a TR1 or TR2 form with Revenue to apply for VAT (depending on whether you’re applying as an individual, a sole trader, or a limited company) and you can find full details on that here. If you’re using the van privately (ie for anything other than journeys solely connected to business), then you’ll have to tax it as a private car, which puts you onto the old by-engine-capacity tax system. You’ll need to notify your local motor tax office that you’re doing this, and your insurer too.
We’ve heard tales from some readers that getting private insurance for a van can be tricky, so shop around, and maybe get in touch with a good broker, first.
In the meantime, have a read of our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature.
Can I claim back VAT on this Passat?
Hi.
I saw a 2018 Volkswagen Passat GTE for sale in the UK. It is VAT-qualifying. Does this mean I can claim back the VAT on it, therefore cancelling out paying the new VAT applied after Brexit? If so I will just be paying VRT?
Eoin Burke (Mullingar)Jan 2021 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Eoin,
If you are, yourself, VAT registered, or if your company is and you’re buying the car through the company, then that may well be possible, but I would check with your accountant just to be certain before taking any leaps. Also, don't forget about the NOx levy and customs duty that will be due regardless. Read our Guide to Importing Cars from the UK feature for full details.
How old is classic for motor tax?
How old must my (any) car be to qualify for classic motor tax in Ireland?
Thank you.
Maurice Hyland (Dublin)Jan 2021 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Maurice,
A car has to be over 30 years old to qualify. See Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained for full details.
Will my BMW 220i's tax change in 2021?
Hi,
I'm considering buying a car in the UK. It is a BMW 220i and has a 1,998cc engine. I would hope to have it registered in Ireland before the end of Dec 2020. I understand that the motor tax on higher-emitting engines is going to change from 2021, but is it likely that the tax on this car would be increased greatly?
Thank you for your assistance.
Mary
Mary Newe (Dublin)Dec 2020 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Mary,
If you do manage to get it registered before the end of this month (if you've not already got a VRT appointment, I'm afraid to tell you that you are unlikely to now) then your car will be taxed on its NEDC CO2 rating, which I believe is 127g/km. That means €270 per annum now and no change for 2021. These guides might be of interest:
About to buy a Nissan X-Trail van...
Hi there,
I am about to purchase a Nissan X-Trail 1.6 two-seat diesel van for private use. What will the annual motor tax be and what mpg should I expect?
Eddie HOWLEY (KILKENNY)Dec 2020 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Eddie,
If you tax a commercial vehicle for private use then it goes by its engine size, regardless of how new it is. The X-Trail's engine is a 1,598cc unit so it costs €514 a year to tax privately. Read more in our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature.
As for the X-Trail's economy, it will depend more on how and where you drive it than anything else. The 1.6 diesel car, which is heavier than the van, officially returned about 56mpg. We'd expect you to match that at a 100km/h cruise and maybe average closer to 40mpg unladen for general use.
Can I tax a Ford Connect privately?
I have just bought a Ford Connect. I am a PAYE electrician. Can I tax the van privately or commercially and have my wife as a second driver?
Seamus Ó Sullivan (Killarney)Dec 2020 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Seamus,
If you're going to use the van for any private reason at all then it will have to be taxed privately. The rate then goes by the old engine size system, regardless of the age of the van.
Read our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature for more details.
How much is the VW Grand California?
Will the Grand California ever be available in California? How much do they go for?
Thanks!
Robert
Robert Young (Sonoma)Dec 2020 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Robert,
We don't believe there are any plans to officially sell the Grand California in the USA anywhere. Here in Ireland it costs from €79,920.
Need a wide-opening front door please...
I'm looking for a vehicle that has a wide opening front door so my daughter can get in in a wheelchair.
Betty Leuthauser (Dittmer,. Mo. )Dec 2020 Filed under: wheelchair
Expert answer
Hi Betty,
OK, it kind of depends on whether you’re looking at second hand or new, but either way your best bet could be to track down a good used Ford B-Max. That had a fairly wide-opening front door, but more importantly the rear side doors slide back, and there’s no pillar between the doors, so effectively the whole side of the car is open. That should make getting in and out a little easier for your daughter.
If that doesn’t suit, how about a Honda Jazz? Take your pick from pretty much any generation of Jazz — they’re all roomy and with big, wide-opening doors.