Expert answer

Hi Terence,

It's not entirely clear as yet, as Audi has not published its new pricing, and doesn't appear to have changed its online pricing since the VAT reduction last month. 

Taking the Audi A6 40 TDI S line S tronic as an example: it's listed as €56,065 as of Jan 2020.

The NOx figure for that car is 41.9mg/km, so the NOx levy right now, within that price, is €5 x 41.9 = €209.

So, the price of the car including VAT and VRT, but without the NOx levy is €55,855.

Looking at our review of the Audi A6 40 TDI from 2018, the NEDC CO₂ rating appears to be 117g/km, which would mean 17 per cent VRT on the old system.

So, the VRT was €55,855 x 0.17 = €9,495, which makes the price of the car including VAT at €46,360.

Assuming that's at the 23 per cent VAT rate, it's €37,691 before VAT, or €45,606 at the current 21 per cent VAT rate.

So now we have the core cost of the car and can work on a 2021 price estimate.

We need the WLTP CO₂ rating. It varies according to equipment, so let's take the worst case of 158g/km. That places it in the new Band 18 for VRT (see our How Much VRT is Paid in Ireland? feature), at a rate of 26 per cent.

So the estimated cost of the car including VAT and VRT is €45,606 ÷ 0.74 = €61,630

The NOx levy calculation has changed a little as well. It works out as €238 for this car.

Hence, the estimated total retail cost of the car is €61,868 as of 2021.

With a CO₂ rating of 158g/km as used in these calculations, the annual motor tax (see our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature) will be €280.

If I used the minimum CO₂ rating for this model of 145g/km, incidentally, the retail cost comes out as €56,891 so the final price is highly sensitive to that, while the motor tax would drop just €10 per year to €270.

Disclaimer: All of these figures should be taken as estimates only. We have rounded off to Euros throughout and who knows how Audi will adjust its pricing to suit the market rather than just calculate the new tax?

Expert answer

Hi Maeve,

Assuming your car is taxed according to its engine size, then there will be no changes to its taxation from January 2021. If it's taxed according to its CO₂ emissions, it's possible that there will be a small increase, but nothing drastic. We don't have the full details of the new motor tax scheme as yet.

Expert answer

Hi Jack,

Motor tax for a 2008 Mitsubishi L200 is going to be chunky, because it is powered by a 2.5-litre engine and, when taxing a commercial as a private car, you have to revert to the old by-engine-capacity tax system, so it’s €1,080 a year.

As for getting it changed over, all you have to do is ring up your local motor tax office and tell them what you want to do, and they’ll guide you through the process.

As for insurance, as ever in Ireland it’s think of a number and double it, but there are some specialist van insurers out there (InsureMyVan for example) who might be able to work out a better quote. Shop around is our advice.

Expert answer

Hi James,

That car should be in Band E for motor tax (171-190g/km), which currently costs €750 per annum.

Expert answer

Hi Mark,

As far as VRT is concerned, pickup trucks generally fall into Category B for tax, which means you’ll pay 13.3 per cent of the Irish Open Market Selling Price, as defined by Revenue. A 2017 Hilux will generally run at about €23,000 on the Irish market, so you’ll be paying in and around €3,000 in VRT.

That €333 rate is the annual rate of motor tax for a commercial vehicle, though be aware that you cannot use the vehicle for any private reasons if you tax it as a commercial.

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

The engine size is 1,995cc, so it sits in the 1,901cc to 2,000cc band, currently costing €710 per annum.

Expert answer

Hi Dean,

Not specifically. Pre-2008 motor tax is calculated on engine capacity, so there’s no direct distinction between petrol or diesel engines. 

Expert answer

Hi Teresa,

Well, it’s a Ford of some kind, so I’m going assume, from that VRT amount, that it’s a Mondeo? That has CO₂ emissions of 107g/km so will cost you €190 per year to tax.

Expert answer

Hi Shane,

Yes you can. The tax part is pretty simple — you just call into or phone your local motor tax office and let them know that you want to convert the van to private tax. With a 1.9-litre engine, you’ll pay €710 per year in motor tax. Insurance, to judge from the responses we’ve had from some readers, is a little more tricky, but is possible. You’ll probably have to do a good bit of phoning around, or possibly get in touch with a good local broker.

Expert answer

Hi Tommy,

Sorry, but no. As far as Revenue and the motor tax system are concerned, a car will always be taxed on its original, homologated figure, whether that be the engine’s swept capacity or its CO₂ emissions.  An LPG conversion is considered an aftermarket modification and so isn’t taken into account for tax purposes.