Expert answer

Hi Aodhan,

The €514 rate is for engine sizes 1,501-1,600cc, which applies when a commercial vehicle is taxed for private use. If you are using the Caddy exclusively for business purposes, and can prove that, bring your documentation into your local motor tax office to have the details changed so that you can pay the regular commercial rate of €333.

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Hi Frank,

If Ford won't play ball in giving you a CoC with all the details on it, then next step is perhaps to try to find the information on an officially recognised UK website, such as this one from the Vehicle Certification Agency. If you can find your exact car on there, that should be accepted, but we strongly urge you to talk to Revenue ahead of the NCTS inspection about the documentation you have to hand. 

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Hi Martin,

It goes by the engine size in that situation, so the annual motor tax would be €1,494 for engines of 2,901-3,000cc.

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Hi Karen,

You can add windows for ventilation, and it shouldn't affect your commercial tax class as long as the van stays a two-seat commercial. If in any doubt, ask Revenue beforehand. 

But you should tell your insurer, because any bodywork modification counts.

It's quick to do, and they'll almost certainly be fine with it.

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Hi Colin,

Adding a rear seat to a 2012 Defender is mechanically straightforward, but legally and financially complex. In most cases it triggers reclassification from commercial to passenger vehicle, leading to significant VRT liability, higher annual motor tax and insurance implications.

Unless the vehicle clearly meets Revenue's crew-cab criteria (which many Defenders do not), you should expect the change to be costly.

There are many older Defenders with aftermarket seats that have not been declared as converted, but we would not advocate going down that route.

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Hi Evan,

Thanks for your kind words, but we're not sure it warrants a full guide as vintage motor tax is quite simple - once the car is over 30 years old, it qualifies. 

Some insurers do specific classic car insurance as well, but that's quite a separate thing and each of them have their own terms and conditions when it comes to mileage and access to another car.

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Hi Mark,

The rate is then the same as it is for electric cars - i.e. €120 a year at present.

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Hi Harry,

While Revenue does not offer any specific advice to cover your situation, our understanding is that VRT – i.e. Vehicle Registration Tax – applies only to vehicles being registered in the State for the first time. If you never intend to register or use the vehicle in Ireland, then VRT should not be payable.

If you are in any doubt, you could of course remove the parts you need from the vehicle before importation and then have the rest of it disposed of without it leaving the UK.

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Hi Keith,

Neither I'm afraid. It will go by the engine size, as things for cars used to be before 2008. That's the case for privately taxing a commercial vehicle of any age, incidentally, aside from actual vintage commercials that is.

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Hi Carthach,

Frustrating as it is, the rules are quite clear from Revenue on this and, if the vehicle is not being used 100 per cent for the purposes of a business, then it must be taxed for private use. The herd number alone won't change that.

If you have a business related to towing horses, and that's the only thing the Hilux would be used for, then you would have a case for getting commercial tax, but if you use it for towing horses for leisure, then I'm afraid not.