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Hi Francis,

If it's a private vehicle then, technically, no - it's your car and you can do what you want with it, but it might be at least morally correct to let anyone who's being recorded know what's going on. And if you intend using the videos for any kind of commercial project then, yes, you must get written clearance from people before you're allowed to use their image in the public domain for profit. 

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Hi Naomi,

Pre-2008 cars are taxed according to their engine size, so that Polo, which is actually 1,422cc, falls into the 1,401 to 1,500cc band, at €413 a year, or €229 for six months and €116 for three months.

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Hi Sinead,

How about a Honda Civic? Your budget should get you into a 2007 model with the 1.4-litre V-TEC petrol engine. Frugal, reliable and spacious.

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Hi Denis,

Best to stick with a Toyota Verso (neé Corolla Verso) or a Volkswagen Touran so - both have space for seven, and big boots if you leave the rear seats folded down. Both should be endlessly reliable too. Honda's FR-V also worth a look if six seats (in two rows of three) would work for you.

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Hi Rose,

Yes, it's a good car. A little quirky to look at and a little bit noisy to drive, but really roomy (hence the name) and very well made and reliable.

But it's not high up off the ground. The front seats are mounted higher than those of a Fabia - 30mm higher in fact, but if it's height you want, for ride height for rough roads, you need to look at the Skoda Yeti.

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Hi Shane,

We enlisted the expert assistance of Conlan Crotty Murray & Co (Leopardstown, Dublin 18, 01 295 9090, www.conlancrottymurray.com) to answer this one for you. Here's the response:

"Generally speaking, leasing companies will only lease new cars.  On the basis that the individual decides to lease a new car then the rental payments under the lease agreement should be treated as an expense in the accounts of the self-employed individual.  As the lease period is usually three or four years this provides for a significantly accelerated write-off of cost for tax purposes as compared with the purchase of an owned vehicle where the tax write-off under the capital allowance regime is spread over eight years.  However, at the end of the lease period if the vehicle is traded in against a new vehicle the trade in allowance on the first leased car may trigger a claw-back of lease charges previously deducted for tax purposes. 

To the extent that the individual uses the car for private use in addition to business use then an appropriate restriction on the tax deductibility of the leasing charges should be applied. E.g. if the car is used 40 per cent for private use, then 40 per cent of the lease payments should be disallowed as an expense in computing income for tax purposes.  The benefit-in-kind provisions referred to by the reader do not apply to self-employed individuals.  The benefit-in-kind rules would apply to the extent that a leased car is provided by an employer to an employee in computing the employee's payroll tax liability.  There is no private use restriction on the tax deductibility of leasing expenses for a car where the car is supplied to an employee and that employee uses the car for private purposes.

Some of the annual lease rental expense may be clawed back in the computation of income for tax purposes if the car has a retail value at inception of the lease of more than €24,000 and the CO₂ emissions from the car do not exceed 155g/km.  If the car has CO₂ emissions of more than 155g/km, but not exceeding 190g/km, the value of the expense deduction for income tax purposes is restricted by reference to a reduced capital limit of €12,000.  Where the CO₂ emissions on a car exceed 190g/km, no deduction for leasing costs is permitted in calculating the individual's income tax liability for the year.

Therefore, for new leased cars costing no more than €24,000 with CO₂ emissions not exceeding 155g/km the lease payments may be written-off against income tax over the course of the lease period.  

We recommend that professional advice be sought before entering into any lease arrangement."

I hope that clears it all up for you Shane.

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Hi Jim,

Ford's terms and conditions for its 161-plate offers state that "This offer applies to trade-in vehicles aged up to 10 years which are taxed and insured at time of trade-in. Qualifying vehicles must also have a valid NCT certificate at time of trade in." So there's nothing that says you can't trade in a van. It will probably come down to the individual dealer. If one rebuffs you, try another.

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Hi James,

Well, the rule says that when a vehicle is imported it must be booked for an NCT inspection and VRT valuation within seven days of its arrival in the state. The process of registration and payment must then be completed within 30 days of arrival.

Now, it's just possible that there may be a a valid reason why this car hasn't been registered, or it may have been declared off the road at the time of entry. I think you need to get on to your local tax office and ask for help with this though as there could well be a fine in the offing, never mind a surcharge.

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Hi Louise,

Yup, the Outlander is a cracking car (although you'll have to accept that it's not as spacious as the Discovery) and Mitsubishi does indeed have PCP plans available. Your local dealer will have all the details.

Read our review of the Mitsubishi Outlander

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Hi James,

It depends on what you mean when you say 'classic.' If the car is more than 30 years old (taken from its first date of registration) then you'll only have to pay a nominal Vehicle Registration Tax fee (about €200) and motor tax will be €56 for a year. If it's younger than 30 years then you'll have to pay VRT at the full rate and depending on the car and its estimated value that could be quite expensive.