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Hi Declan,

That’s right — the NOx tax will only apply to Category A vehicles, i.e. private passenger cars. Vans are in Category B and are exempt. 

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Hi Patrick,

We have indeed reviewed the A-Class Saloon and you can read our thoughts on the car here. As for whether it’s good value for money, it kind of depends on how you look at it. Compared to other similarly-priced cars — Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Superb, or Opel Insignia for example — it’s not good value as you’re paying the same or more for a smaller car, probably with less standard equipment. That three-pointed star on the bonnet costs a fair bit… On the other hand, viewing the A-Class Saloon as a slightly smaller (but not that much so) alternative to the C-Class saloon — an entirely valid point of view — it’s actually really good value. Models available range from the basic A 180 petrol and A 180 d diesel versions, through A 200 and A 200 d, all the way up to the slightly rabid 300hp A 35 AMG model. 

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Hi Aidan,

No, the new NOx tax is only applied to Category A vehicles — which means private passenger cars — from Jan 1st onwards. 

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Hi Paul,

Basically, rocking up to an inspection with a Lamborghini is a licence for Revenue to charge you whatever it fancies… I wouldn’t be surprised to see a VRT bill of more than €30-40,000 for this one. 

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Hi Jacob,

There is nothing specifically mentioning the glow plugs or the warning light for them in the NCT testing manual, but it's worth getting them done in any case.

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Hi Ben,

Ambition is the Skoda Fabia’s mid-level trim, one up from a basic Active. Prices for the cheapest Fabia Ambition start at €17,000 and standard equipment includes 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, leather multi-function steering wheel, front and rear electric windows, a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connection, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, front and rear reading lights and an umbrella stashed under the front passenger seat.

A €19,900 Style upgrades all that with extra toys such as 16-inch alloy wheels, manual air conditioning, rear parking sensors, keyless ignition and entry, automatic headlights, a front centre armrest and height adjustable seats. 

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Hi Eleanor,

I think, in general, you’re being given a decent trade-in against your Passat, assuming that the cars you’re looking at have a new price tag of around €35,000. I think of the cars you’ve mentioned, the Skoda looks like the best deal (surprise, surprise) as it’s basically identical to the Tiguan underneath, and just as good to drive. Just as well-made, too. Obviously, going for a demo Tiguan makes a lot of sense too, but just remember that it’ll technically be a two-owner car once it comes to resale time. One final wrinkle is that the new Passat (not entirely new but with some significant updates) is just arriving in dealerships now, so would be worth checking out to see if you prefer that to an SUV.

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Hi John,

Possibly? But equally possibly they could fail you because now you don’t have the correct windscreens wipers and your screen is not being fully wiped. Or maybe just get rid of the sun strip...

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Hi John,

Yes, you should be able to apply for a repayment of VRT and VAT on a new car, or the residual VRT on a used car, if you are the named driver of someone who qualifies under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme. I’d start by looking at the Citizens’ Information page on this, and then contacting your local motor tax office when you’re ready to. You may also qualify for free annual motor tax. As for the allowance on a €40,000 car, that will depend on the particular model as the VRT is calculated on emissions, not price. 

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Hi Janos,

It doesn’t. At least not normally. A conventional, passenger X5 has motor tax of €570 a year (assuming it's the xDrive30d model with CO₂ emissions of 158g/km). If it has tax of €333 according to a seller, then that means it’s been converted to a commercial vehicle, and can only be used as such. X5s can be converted to five-seat commercials (under the older, pre-July 2019 tax regulations), but in many cases a €333 tax figure may mean that it’s only a two-seater. And, legally, it cannot be used for personal or family use if it’s taxed as a commercial.