Expert answer

Hi Tristan,

If you’re taxing a van or commercial vehicle as a private car, you go back to the old by-engine-capacity system, and for a 1.6-litre engine that’s €514 per year.

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Hi Mary,

That version of the Soul, with the automatic gearbox, has CO₂ emissions of 155g/km, so it’ll cost you €390 a year to tax. VRT on import shouldn’t be too steep — probably around the €1,800 mark depending on optional equipment, but bring it in quick — if you leave it until after January 1st you’ll have to pay the extra NOx tax, and that will add €1,975 to your import bill...

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Hi Mark,

That’s right, you’ll miss the NOx tax if you bring it in before the 1st of Jan. After that though...

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Hi Alan,

Yes, you can. Just contact your local motor tax office and inform them of the change. They’ll then switch you to the old by-engine-capacity tax system, and you’ll pay €358 per annum.

Yes, you can. Just contact your local motor tax office and inform them of the change. They’ll then switch you to the old by-engine-capacity tax system, and you’ll pay €358 per annum.

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Hi Steven,

Can you tell us which model your car is? That might be helpful. In the mean time, there’s a list of all the contact numbers for local Revenue offices at this link, so you could try getting in touch with the office for your area. 

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Hi Carole,

Assuming it has the 1.6 TDI diesel engine, then it’s going to cost €514 a year to tax it as a private car — that’s because when you tax a van as a car, you revert to the old by-engine-capacity taxation system. No, we don’t know why either.

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Hi Gerard,

If the car is on the CO₂ taxation system that came into force in 2008 then we'd need to know a lot more than just its engine size to help you. If it's on the old, by-engine-capacity, system, then it depends on the precise engine capacity: 1,501-1,600cc is €514 a year, while 1,601-1,700cc is €544 a year.

Read our Motor Road Tax Prices in Ireland Explained feature for full details.

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Hi Colin,

When you tax a commercial vehicle as a private car you revert to the old engine capacity tax system, so with a 1.6-litre engine that’ll be €514 per year.

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Hi Naomi,

Quick question — are you sure it’s a 2.0-litre? Only most Santa Fes since 2006 have had a 2.2-litre diesel engine. If it is indeed a 2.0-litre, then taxing it as a private vehicle will set you back €710. If it does turn out to have a 2.2 then that’s going to be €951.

Expert answer

Hi Martina,

When you say ‘changing’ do you mean trading-in, or having your existing van converted? If you’re trading in, then we’d have to know the make and model of the van you’re interested in buying to tell you the VRT charge. If you’re converting your existing van to a crew cab, then there’s no change unless you decide to tax it as a private vehicle. Keep it as a commercial and you’ll pay the same €333 in annual motor tax.

If you want to change it to private vehicle tax (so that you can use it for anything other than strictly work use) then, assuming it’s the 1.9 dCi engine, it’ll cost you €673 in annual motor tax. There’s no VRT charge if you already own the vehicle — that only applies to new purchases or to vehicles being imported for the first time.