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Hi Eoin,

Well, to tax a 2.2 Transit as a private car will cost you €950 a year, but the good news is that you don’t need a VAT number to be able to tax a van as a commercial. You simply have to fill out a Goods Only Declaration form (find it here: http://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/content//Documents/Application_Forms/Roads_and_Traffic/Motor Tax/RF111A_ENG.pdf) and for that you only need your income tax registration number and get it witnessed at your local Garda station. 

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Hi Rosalind,

You've not given us the model year, so let's take 2011-2015 as an example. The 1.6 TDCi diesel engine's belt should be replaced at least every 180,000 kilometres or 10 years, whichever comes first. Apparently, for cars  built up to July 2011, the interval is 140,000km or 10 years.

And yes, it's advisable to change the water pump at the same time.

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Hi Seamus,

If it’s a crew cab with a separate cargo area then that should (emphasis on the 'should') count as a van and will therefore qualify for 13.3 per cent commercial VRT. 

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Hi Trevor,

We’re not sure about the five per cent VRT BIK rate, as that will depend on your personal circumstances and how the vehicle is paid for and registered. Better to ask your company accountant that one. As for being OK to carry passengers for personal use, yes you can, but you’ll have to register it as a private car and tax it as such (which could be tricky if you’re trying to get the van rate BIK) and you’ll have to make sure that your insurance covers it for social/domestic/pleasure use as well as work.

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Hi Brian,

To be honest, no — we haven’t heard of any major problems with the current-shape Fiesta, but perhaps the problem lies in the diesel engine and how it’s being used? If you’re only covering a relatively low mileage, you could be getting a clogged up exhaust particulate filter, which is a common issue with diesels that get driven for short hops, or stuck in traffic a lot. Beyond that, if the car has caused you to stop three times in succession, to the point of having to call out roadside assistance, then clearly there is an issue and, if it’s not the particulate filter problem, then it could be something more serious. As a 181, you’re still well within warranty, so I would demand of your Ford dealer that they do something, as there must be a problem somewhere. 

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Hi Martin,

It depends on the age of the X5 as to whether this works. As long as it was registered pre-July 2018, then yeah — it’s fine and legal, although rather more in the letter of the law than the spirit. As for a new Range Rover Sport, the answer is no — that tax loophole was a closed off last year, so no-go I’m afraid.

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Hi Clare,

A Hilux has a 2.4-litre engine (well, the current one does, but remember that older versions had 3.0-litre units) so if you want to tax it as a private vehicle that’s going to be €1,034 per year for motor tax. I’m pretty sure you can’t register and tax a horse lorry for private use as it’s over the 3,500kg limit for private cars. The tax therefore would be the commercial rate of €333 per year. As for insurance, that’s probably more down to you and your own driving record than it is to the vehicle, but the good news is that there are specialist horse lorry insurers, such as Wexford Insurance, who would probably be able to give you a good quote. 

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Hi Kieran,

Because you go back to the old engine capacity tax system when you tax a commercial vehicle as a private car (no, we don’t know why either) it’s going to be €413 a year to tax a Courier with a 1.5-litre engine.

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Hi Gerry,

Yes, you can absolutely insure it as a private car, especially when you have taxed it as such. Just ring up your insurer and let them know of the change. There shouldn’t be any increase in cost, or at least only a small one.

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Hi Julian,

It should be changed at least every 200,000 kilometres or 10 years, whichever comes first.