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.
How to change tax status of a Land Rover?
Hi,
I'm considering buying a secondhand Land Rover within Ireland that has been classed as commercial for tax purposes by the current owner. However, I'd like to use and tax it for private use, which I think can be done by paying the higher rate of tax after purchase. However, I'm a bit stumped as to how to do it! The Revenue forms to change the class of taxation say I should have insurance in order to request a change in the tax class. However I am unable to get insurance for a commercial vehicle in my name. It seems without the insurance I can't change the tax class but I am unable to get insurance based on the current tax class the car is registered in.
Seems a bit of a catch-22, can you help?
Thanks!
Sheila Hopkins (Lifford)Dec 2020 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Sheila,
Well, in theory the only thing you need to do to change the tax status of a car is to call your local motor tax office and tell them that’s what you want to do. As far as insurance is concerned, I think it would be a good idea to have a chat will a well-connected broker, who might be better placed to help you out. You might be able to find a policy that will allow you to insure the Land Rover as a private car even before it has been officially switched over, or possibly one that starts as a commercial policy but changes over once you’ve got the conversion.
Can I buy a VW Transporter in 2021?
I would like to buy a Volkswagen Transporter in 2021. I do not have business or VAT numbers. I know I can insure it privately, but can I tax it privately and if so for roughly what money?
Fiona Moran (DUBLIN)Nov 2020 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Fiona,
It's easy to tax it privately, as well. You just need to inform your local Motor Tax Office of the change of category. The price is then based on the engine size. Assuming it has a 1,968cc engine, then that'll set you back €710 per annum. Read Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained for more.
Tax rules for declaring a vehicle off the road?
What are the rules on declaring a car off road for motor tax purposes?
Gerald Walsh (Cork)Nov 2020 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Gerald,
The declaration can be made online, but it has to be done before the existing tax expires. You need to fill out form RF150 (which you can find here) and return it to your local motor tax office. You don’t need to have it witnessed at a Garda station any more.
Private motor tax on 2012 Peugeot Partner?
Please advise cost of motor tax for a 2012 Peugeot Partner 1.6 diesel (private tax).
Thank you
Aileen Daly (Dublin)Nov 2020 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Aileen,
If you tax a commercial vehicle privately, it goes by its engine size, regardless of its age, so in this case the annual motor tax will be €514.
Full details in our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature.
How much to tax a 2016 Citroen Relay?
Private motor tax on a Citroen Relay (2016)? Want to convert to a campervan but until that's done I will need to make a few trips to the DIY shops in the van.
Emer Garry (Drogheda)Oct 2020 Filed under: taxation
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.
How much VRT to import a van from NI?
Hi,
We are hoping to import a van from NI and I understand that we have to pay VRT, but how is it calculated? Also is it more expensive to import a van that has more than three seats? The official websites are very confusing.
Brenda Coney (Drogheda)Oct 2020 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Brenda,
It depends on the van, and the configuration of those seats. According to Revenue "Car derived and jeep derived vans” will be charged 13.3 per cent of their OMSP (Open Market Selling Price, basically what Revenue thinks the car would be worth were it on sale in Ireland), but "Other vehicles such as tractors, large vans, lorries, vintage cars (over 30 years old), minibuses (minimum 12 passenger seats)” will be charged a flat rate of €200. The easiest way to find out is to get the VIN number and description of the vehicle you’re looking at and give your local motor tax office a ring and ask.
They’re usually very helpful people.
Any extra tax costs to convert to a crew cab?
If I wanted to convert a Ford Custom commerical van to a crew cab for private use, will I have to pay on top of the conversion cost and tax off the engine?
Thanks
Joe Murphy (Drogheda)Oct 2020 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Joe,
No, there’s no cost in terms of switching between one tax system and another, other than the payment for the tax disc itself. You don’t need to pay backdated VRT or anything like that. Just pay for the conversion, then call your local motor tax office and ask them to switch you to private car usage, and pay the subsequent year’s motor tax.
What tax rate applies to an imported car?
The tax on cars registered after Jan 2021 is €420 per annum for 161-170g/km. So is this the rate that applies if I import a 2016 from the UK in 2021?
Paul McCarthy (Dundalk)Oct 2020 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Paul,
Yes, that's correct, but you need to watch out for the fact that Revenue will be 'uplifting' the CO2 figures of imports. So, if a 2016 car you're looking at now has CO2 emissions of, say, 165g/km, and it's a diesel, Revenue will uplift that to 201g/km, and that's the number that will determine your VRT and motor tax going forward.
Full details of the uplift formulas etc. can be found in our Guide to Importing Cars from the UK.
Will older cars benefit from 2021 tax changes?
My understanding was that cars registered in the past couple of years had their emissions tested under the new WLTP system. Let's say a car registered in 2019 would be taxed at a higher rate than the exact same make that was registered in 2016. Will the cars registered in 2019 or 2020 benefit from the motor tax changes in the recent budget?
Thanks,
Noel
Noel O'Callaghan (Cork)Oct 2020 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Noel,
You're right that cars have been WLTP-tested for a while now, but the WLTP CO2 figure was not in use. Instead, an-NEDC-equivalent value was used and quoted in all official documentation. That was a legal requirement, incidentally, not an attempt by the car makers to mislead.
Cars already registered will not benefit from the tax changes coming in 2021. We've covered this in detail in our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature.