Expert answer

Hi Owen,

In terms of taxing a vehicle as a private car, there are no particular restrictions. All you have to do to tax a commercial vehicle as a private car is to let your local motor tax office know, and they’ll shift your tax to the old engine capacity system, instead of the flat-rate €333 annual commercial tax.

What makes a vehicle a ‘commercial’ is its original homologation (whether it’s classified as an N1 commercial vehicle, or an M1 passenger vehicle), but it’s entirely legitimate to tax an N1 commercial as a private car. However, even if you do so, it will still need to be tested, annually, under the Light Commercial Vehicle test, not the passenger car NCT. There’s no VAT issue in that you’ll pay the normal VAT rate when buying a commercial vehicle, but you won’t be able to claim back the VAT unless you’re using the vehicle for commercial purposes.

Expert answer

Hi Ken,

It depends on what exactly we’re talking about here. If it’s a two-seat Land Cruiser with a cargo bay in the back, then Revenue should treat it as a purely commercial vehicle for VRT purposes, even  if you later go on to tax it as a private vehicle. If, though, it’s a four-seat model that has been categorised as an N1 in the UK, Revenue won’t accept it as a van here anymore, and it’ll be charged at the full passenger car VRT rate. 

Expert answer

Hi Jerry,

Assuming that it’s running on the 18-inch wheels, the 2016 C 250 d Coupe has CO₂ emissions of 112g/km and so will cost €200 a year to tax.

Expert answer

Hi Joanne,

If it’s just the one car you want, then I think your best bet would be a Ford S-Max or Galaxy, or possibly a SEAT Alhambra. All three cars do all the important family hauling work really well, and the two Fords will tow a maximum 2,000kg load, while the Alhambra can haul as much as 2,400kg.

If you want to go down the two-car route, then maybe go for a Mercedes E-Class Estate, with the fold-down seats in the boot, as the family machine and a Volkswagen Amarok pickup (the early model with the 2.0-litre turbo engine so as to keep the tax costs down) as the tow-car. It can haul a whopping 3,500kg, but is also comfy and refined enough to be a daily driver.

Read our Ford S-Max reviews

Read our Ford Galaxy reviews

Read our Mercedes E-Class reviews

Read our SEAT Alhambra reviews

Read our Volkswagen Amarok reviews

Expert answer

Hi James,

OK, at 25,000km per year, you’re just about over the line for diesel to make good sense for you. Both the Passat and the Avensis are rugged, reliable cars so they’re both good choices. The Passat has the nicer interior and is more comfortable overall, and that 1.6-litre diesel is remarkably economical (we once drove from Galway to Glasgow, via Belfast, and back on one tank…).

However, the Avensis would have an edge on overall reliability, which, when dealing with cars of this sort of mileage and age, could be significant. I’d say, on balance, go for one of the Avensis, but carefully check over the history and condition of each car, and go for the one that’s the best in those regards, rather than mileage or price. Oh, and as with any four-door saloon with high mileage, check to make sure that neither has been previously used as a taxi. We recommend Cartell.ie for a full history check.

Read our Toyota Avensis reviews

Read our Volkswagen Passat reviews

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Hi Janice,

It depends when you bought it. If you bought it at least six months ago, and can show that it’s been taxed and insured for that period, plus you can show proof of transfer of residence, then there’s no import duty (Vehicle Registration Tax) to pay. When it comes to paying road tax, it depends on the model. If it’s a commercial vehicle, and used as a commercial vehicle, then it will cost €333 a year to tax. If it’s a commercial vehicle but used as a private car, then it will be €1,034 per year. If it’s a passenger model Defender, then with CO₂ emissions of more than 225g/km, it’ll cost you €2,350 per year in motor tax.

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Hi Brian,

Well, in the first instance, it would probably be a good idea to ring the company back and ask to see their permits. If you don’t fancy doing that, then I would send your registration document off pretty quickly, as otherwise you may still be liable if the car is illegally dumped or some other such nefarious activity takes place. Send the form off, and then contact the local motor tax office, or possibly the Gardaí, and talk through your concerns with them.

Expert answer

Hi Patrick,

Assuming it’s the model of Navara with a 2.3-litre engine, then it’ll cost you €994 a year to tax — that’s because when taxing a commercial as a private car, you revert to the old by-engine-capacity tax system.

Expert answer

Hi Anne,

It will depend on the make, model and year. Motor tax is calculated based on the car’s CO₂ emissions, and that’s specific to each individual model. Unless of course it’s a pre-2008 car, in which case tax for a 1.2-litre engine is €330 per year.

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Hi John,

Do you mean acrappage trade-in on an old off-roader? Or scrappage trade-in when buying a new off-roader? Yes, is the answer in both cases — most brands currently have some sort of scrappage offer in play, and it really doesn’t matter what vehicle you’re trading in — you’re going to get some kind of discount.

Or, did you mean can you get scrappage on a car that’s registered as being off-the-road? That’s trickier. Really, the car that you’re trading in generally has to get to the garage under its own steam, and show current tax and insurance to qualify. It’s worth having a word with the dealer you’re buying from, though, as there may be some wiggle room on that score.