Expert answer

Hi Phil,

It depends on the specific vehicle. Some vans retain their N1 classification if converted to a crew-cab, so your best bet is to contact your local tax office to get the specific details for your van.

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Hi Trevor,

We’re not sure about the five per cent VRT BIK rate, as that will depend on your personal circumstances and how the vehicle is paid for and registered. Better to ask your company accountant that one. As for being OK to carry passengers for personal use, yes you can, but you’ll have to register it as a private car and tax it as such (which could be tricky if you’re trying to get the van rate BIK) and you’ll have to make sure that your insurance covers it for social/domestic/pleasure use as well as work.

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Hi Michael,

Yes, it will. Revenue has confirmed to us that, for any car imported or purchased after the 1st of Jan 2020, the NOx charge will be included in any VRT refund when and if the car is re-exported.

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Hi Gareth,

It won’t make a huge difference to be honest. Because Revenue take note of the month of registration as well as the year, the extra few weeks won’t really affect the VRT charge very much. And if it’s an older diesel, definitely get the VRT done before January as on the 1st, the new NOx tax comes in and that could add a significant amount extra to your bill.

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Hi Brian,

It’s pretty simple to tax a commercial vehicle as a private car, but it does mean reverting to the old by-engine-capacity tax system, so beware of going over 2.0 litres in engine capacity as the tax cost starts to become prohibitive after that point. 

Read our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature on the subject for more.

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Hi Martin,

It depends on the age of the X5 as to whether this works. As long as it was registered pre-July 2018, then yeah — it’s fine and legal, although rather more in the letter of the law than the spirit. As for a new Range Rover Sport, the answer is no — that tax loophole was a closed off last year, so no-go I’m afraid.

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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 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 Simon,

It depends on the engine, as to tax a Sprinter as a private vehicle, you’d have to go back on to the old engine capacity taxation system. So for a Sprinter with the 2.1-litre diesel, you’d have to pay €906 per year, and for one with the 3.0-litre V6 engine, you’d be looking at €1,494 per year.

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Hi Clare,

A Hilux has a 2.4-litre engine (well, the current one does, but remember that older versions had 3.0-litre units) so if you want to tax it as a private vehicle that’s going to be €1,034 per year for motor tax. I’m pretty sure you can’t register and tax a horse lorry for private use as it’s over the 3,500kg limit for private cars. The tax therefore would be the commercial rate of €333 per year. As for insurance, that’s probably more down to you and your own driving record than it is to the vehicle, but the good news is that there are specialist horse lorry insurers, such as Wexford Insurance, who would probably be able to give you a good quote.