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Showing 351 - 360 results (out of a total of 897) found for "tax" in Ask Us Anything

How much to tax these pick-ups?

How much is it to tax the Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 privately? I could only find your comparison with a 3.0-litre. Does it go on the CO2 or the engine size? Same with Ford Ranger 2.2 please.

Darragh Murphy (Gorey )

Aug 2019 Filed under: taxation

Expert answer

Hi Darragh,

If you’re taxing a commercial vehicle for private use then, yes, you do revert to the old engine capacity tax system. We don’t know why either — it’s a quirk of the Irish motor tax system. For a 2.0-litre Amarok, that tax is going to be €710 per year, while for the 2.2 Ranger it’ll be €951.


Can I used the Disabled Passengers Scheme?

Hi there,

My Dad has recently stopped driving; he's 88 and his mobility has become an issue. Can I apply for a primary med cert and claim back VAT and VRT on a new car? I am an only child and his only means of transportation. Also, how much would the allowance be on a car worth €40,000, for example?

Thanks for your time, John

John Mulrooney (Dublin)

Aug 2019 Filed under: miscellaneous

Expert answer

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. 


Will my private van be given a CVT still?

Hi there,

I’ve just bought a van it’s described as a goods vehicle on my registration document. I’m taxing it for private use as I’m not farming anymore. Do I need to get goods changed to private on the registration document? And how much will DOE test cost and will it be still tested in centre for vans?

Regards Catherine

Bridie Kenny ( Galway)

Aug 2019 Filed under: commercial vehicle

Expert answer

Hi Bridie,

Yes, if you’re going to use a van or pick-up as a private vehicle, then you really ought to change the classification on the registration document. A trip to your local motor tax office will help in this regard. As for the test, yes, even though it’s now being used for private driving, it’ll still have to go through the Commercial Vehicle Test (CVT — the new name for the old DOE test) and that costs €94 for a van or 4x4 commercial.


How to change pick-up to private?

Hi,

I have a 2001 Iveco pick-up; how can I change it to private classification from commercial?

Thanks

Micheal Conneely (Galway )

Aug 2019 Filed under: pick-up

Expert answer

Hi Michael,

You’ll need to go and talk to your local motor tax office to get it re-registered, and you’ll almost certainly end up paying more motor tax, as you’ll be taxed on the capacity of the engine. You’ll still have to put it through the Commercial Vehicles Test (CVT) every year, and don’t forget to advise your insurer of the change of use.


Do I need a van AND a car?!

Hi there,

I am looking to get a van. I wish to use it for commercial purposes as I am a fitness instructor and need to transport gear around. Also for personal use. It seems that I can ONLY use the van for commercial purposes and am denied insurance if it is for personal use as well. It seems unnecessary, and is an unfeasible cost, getting a car for personal use and the van for work. I cannot fit the work gear in a car, hence the need for a van. Any advice would be great!

Thanks a mill!

Aime Perkins (Galway )

Aug 2019 Filed under: commercial vehicle

Expert answer

Hi Aime,

As ever, welcome to the wonderful world of Irish car insurance… You’re totally within your rights to be able to use a van as a private car, and actually you’re doing the right thing by registering it for private use, and informing your insurer. Many people just break the law by driving a commercial for private use without ever paying the extra tax or informing their insurer. If you’re struggling to find cover, I would track down a good local broker — they’re usually much more clued into the market than the call-centre staff of insurance firms, and can often find deals that we mere mortals can’t.


A Toyota a replace my Skoda Superb with?

Hi,

I currently have a Skoda Superb estate, which I find handy for the occasional bulky load. I was thinking of probably changing it for a similar model (having daydreamed of more exotic cars like a Ford Raptor - I'm just not willing to pay the annual road tax). However, there is a view out there that the most reliable cars are Toyotas. Is there a Toyota that would come close to to the Superb estate in terms of load capacity?

Thanks

Philip

Philip Donegan (Ballina)

Aug 2019 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Philip,

Well, you’re right about Toyotas being reliable. In fact, if reliability is your ultimate goal, then Toyota, Honda and Subaru are usually your safest bets. That said, Skoda is rarely that far behind the big Japanese names in reliability terms, and often is the best-performing European marque in that regard. In terms of load capacity, the answer is almost, but not quite. The roomiest boot in the in the Toyota range right now belongs to the Corolla Touring Sports estate. Now, this is one of our favourite cars right now — good looking, good to drive and with a seriously frugal and future-proofed hybrid engine, but with a 598-litre boot, it’s some 62 litres short of the Superb Combi. Still worth considering though, as, if you can live without the extra litres in the back, then it’s a more cost-effective purchase than the Skoda.

Another alternative is the new RAV4 Hybrid. Again, this is smaller than the Superb in the back — 580 litres when loaded up to the windows — but the boot is big and square, and again the hybrid engine is frugal and it’s got reliability on its side. 

Worth remembering though that Skoda is refreshing the Superb this year (order books are open now for delivery later in the year) and there will be a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid in fact, this time around, so it might be worth waiting for that before making a final decision.

Relevant reviews:

Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid Touring Sports estate (2019) review

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD-i (2019) review

Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI Evo Combi (2020) review


How much to tax a motorbike?

So... how is motorcycle tax worked out in 2019?

NEIL ATKINSON (FOXFORD)

Aug 2019 Filed under: taxation

Expert answer

Hi Neil,

Bikes are taxed according to their engine capaciity. The current rates go like this: €49 for 0-75cc; €67 for 76-200cc; and €88 for 201-9,999cc. I really want to find the person who’s taxing a 9,999cc bike… Electric bikes are taxed on a flat rate of €35 a year. 


Economical auto and reliable for €6,000?

Hi there,

Could you recommend something for us around €6k that's economical, cheap to tax and reliable? We don't have a clue what to buy; it just needs reasonable room for two plus a child. Just to make things more challenging it needs to be automatic. Any directions you could point us in would be much appreciated!

John Smith (FOXFORD)

Aug 2019 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi John,

OK, that’s a slightly tough set of criteria, but I think we’ve found some winners. How about a Honda Insight Hybrid? Ultra-low CO2 means ultra-low tax, it’s auto, Hondas run for ever, it’ll do 50mpg easy and there’s just about enough space for a family of three. Your budget gets you a 2010 model.

If you need something smaller, there are automatic Nissan Micras around for that sort of money, but you might find them a bit small for the wee one. Fancy something posh? You could try a 2010 Mercedes C 180 Estate, which we found, but the tax on that will be a bit higher. Something newer? A Skoda Fabia Combi estate from 2012? Reliable and tonnes of space in the boot. Cracking car.


Motor tax on 2008 Mazda6?

Please advise on cost of motor tax for an 08 Mazda6 petrol 1.8?

Noreen Tiernan (FOXFORD)

Aug 2019 Filed under: taxation

Expert answer

Hi Noreen,

If it’s taxed on the old engine capacity system, then it’ll cost you €636 a year. Theoretically, though, you could apply to have it taxed under the CO2-based system, and with emissions of 162g/km, it’ll actually be a little cheaper, at €570 a year.


Can I buy a commercial for private use?

I want to buy a 3.0-litre Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi L200 vehicle, for the purpose of transporting horse and ponies by horsebox. I have a herd number as I am the owner of several equines and have my premises registered. Can I buy the above models, as commercial vehicles, but get private motor tax and insurance on them, as I do not have a business or trade and am using the vehicle for recreational use? I can't seem to get any answers or details from tax office.

Thanks.

Jane, Co. Galway

Jacinta MCarthy (Galway)

Aug 2019 Filed under: commercial vehicle

Expert answer

Hi Jacinta,

Yes, you can. Anyone can buy a commercial vehicle and take advantage of the lower rates of VRT — that’s fine. The only tricky part comes, as you rightly point out, when it comes to taxing them. Then you have to tax the vehicle as a private car, and that means (for some bizarre reason) reverting to the old  by-engine-capacity tax, which obviously is going to be a bit pricey for a 3.0 Hilux. Maybe consider a 2.0-litre turbo VW Amarok, as that will bring down your annual motor tax bill considerably. 

Read this for more: Buying a commercial vehicle for private use


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