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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

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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Hi Noel,

A Caddy van with a 2.0-litre engine is going to cost you €710 per year to tax as a private vehicle. As for taxing it as a commercial, a VAT number isn’t an absolute requirement in and of itself, but you may be asked to provide proof of trading or a letter from Revenue showing that you are registered for tax as a business. 

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Hi James,

Basically, yes, you can import the car without paying VRT because it meets the requirements of age, mileage and tax and MOT. You may have to provide some proof of employment, but in general, the new address should be sufficient. 

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Hi James,

The problem is, if you’re using the car for anything other than strictly business use, then you have to tax it as a private car, and on a 2.0-litre engine that means it’ll cost €710 per year. As for insurance, it shouldn’t be too bad, but as ever Irish insurance is an utter minefield, and the advice is — as ever — to shop around and perhaps get in touch with a good local broker before deciding. 

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HI Niall,

Yeah, that sounds wrong to us. The highest emissions figure we can find for a 2016 Kuga is 140g/km, which would result in tax of €280, and that would be for the range-topping 180hp version with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox. However, €710 is EXACTLY the motor tax you’d pay on a 2.0-litre engine if the car was previously registered as a commercial vehicle and then taxed as a private car. Maybe check and see if that’s the case?