Expert answer

Hi Rhys,

If you tax a commercial vehicle for private use then it reverts to the old by-engine-capacity system that was there pre-2008. You'll find the rates in our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature, and it might be worth your while reading Buying a commercial vehicle for private use as well.

Expert answer

Hi Stuart,

No, you don’t need to re-register it, you simply need to call up your local motor tax office and tell them that you want to tax it as a private car. They’ll then put you on the old by-engine-capacity tax system, and the job’s done. The tricky part is insurance — we’ve been hearing that many people are struggling to find insurers who’ll cover a commercial as a private car, so have a good, careful shop around for cover first.

Expert answer

Hi Ronan,

You will have to tax the van as a private car if you’re going to use it for social, domestic or pleasure purposes. That’s relatively easy to do — you just need to ring up you local motor tax office and ask them to make the switch for you. Annual motor tax will cost you €413 a year for the 1.5-litre engine (taxing a commercial as a private car means you go back to the old engine capacity based system).

Insurance is the trickier aspect, and we’ve heard from a lot of readers that they struggle to find cover for commercials as private vehicles. We always advise to try and track down a good, reputable, broker and get cover sorted before you make any decisions.

Take a read of Buying a commercial vehicle for private use for more information.

Expert answer

Hi Stephen,

As a private car, you’ll have to tax that according to the engine capacity, so that means a €1,494 annual bill I’m afraid.

Read Buying a commercial vehicle for private use for more

Expert answer

Hi Renato,

Yes, absolutely — you can register a Hilux for personal use, but just remember that you’ll have to tax it as a private vehicle, which means you’ll be taxing it on the engine capacity, not the CO₂ emissions. If it’s a 3.0-litre Hilux, that’s going to be pricey. Insurance can be an issue too, so get hold of a good broker to help you find the right policy.

Classic insurance is a non-runner, sadly. In Ireland, a car has to be more than 30 years old to qualify for classic status. 

Expert answer

Hi David,

The actual process of changing the tax status on a van from commercial to private use is relatively straightforward — you simply ring up your local motor tax office (you’ll find your nearest one here: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/1fc151-find-your-local-motor-tax-office/) and tell them what you want to do. They’ll then shift you onto the old engine capacity-based tax system (you’ll pay €710 a year for a 2.0-litre engine) and the job’s done.

Except it isn’t, quite. You will need proof of insurance first, and insurers are — for some reason — reluctant to switch policies over. It’s worth finding a good local broker to help you get the insurance sorted out first of all. 

Read Buying a commercial vehicle for private use for more info.

Expert answer

Hi Frank,

The process of taxing it is relatively straightforward — just ring up your local motor tax office (list here: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/1fc151-find-your-local-motor-tax-office/) and ask them to switch you over. The problem is twofold — with a 3.0-litre Range Rover Sport, you’re going to be paying the second-highest rate of motor tax (€1,494 per year) because a commercial re-registered for private use is taxed on the old engine capacity-based tax system. Insurance can also be a major issue — it shouldn’t be, but it is, so get hold of a good local broker to help you navigate those waters before you take the leap. 

Read Buying a commercial vehicle for private use for more information.

Expert answer

Hi Daniel,

The VRT bit of importing a motorbike works the same as before in that you’re charged €2 for each cubic centimetre of engine capacity up to 350cc, and €1 for each cc above that. That charge is then discounted by ten per cent for bikes between three months and one year old, 20 per cent for one-to-two years, 40 per cent for two-to-three years, 50 per cent for three-to-four years, 60 per cent for four-to-five years, 70 per cent for five-to-seven years, 80 per cent for seven-to-ten years, 90 per cent for ten-to-30 years, and is totally waived once the bike is 30 years old or older.

The new charges are, of course, import duty and VAT. VAT will be charged at 21 per cent, regardless of age, and there will be a ten per cent import duty (based on the price you paid and the cost of transport and delivery) unless more than 55 per cent of the original value of the parts used to build the bike originated in the UK.

Expert answer

Hi Luke,

Yes, it is possible — you just need to ring up your local motor tax office and get them to switch you to the private car system. The downside is that, yes, you will be taxed on the engine capacity at that point, which, with a 3.2-litre Ranger is going to be top-whack — €1,809. You might be better off looking for a newer Ranger with the 2.2-litre engine, or the older Volkswagen Amarok, which had a 2.0-litre.

Take a read of our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature.

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.