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Hi Eileen,

The Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi hatchback emits 95g/km, putting it in Band A3 for tax, which currently costs €190 per annum.

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Hi Sean,

Because they're on two different taxation systems. The Micra is on the old, pre-2008 system, which applies tax based on engine size. The Yaris is on the post-2008 system, which is based on CO₂ emissions, and the Yaris' emissions place it in Band B1, which is a cost of €270 per year.

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Hi Philip,

There are some very good options here actually. Both the Land Rover Discovery Business and the Mitsubishi Pajero Executive have full five-seat, leather-and-everything cabins, but their boots are big enough to qualify for commercial VRT and motor tax (assuming you can demonstrate that your business needs a commercial vehicle). The Land Rover Defender can be had in similar layout but if you want something really rugged then go for the Volkswagen Amarok pickup, which matches comfort with utility. There's also the Toyota Hilux crew-cab and Mitsubishi is about to launch a new L200 pickup later this summer.

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Hi Pat,

The RX 400h has CO₂ emissions of 192g/km so that puts it in Band F, which means annual road tax of €1,200. You might be better off trying to get a current-shape RX 450h, which is in Band B2 in front-wheel drive form. 

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Hi Sean,

We are driving the new European-spec Ford Mustang next month so keep an eye on our reviews page for the full lowdown. 

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Hi Cathal,

The Q3 is nice and all but the Q5 is definitely superior so perhaps think of going for a nearly-new Q5 instead of a brand new Q3? There is no official scrappage programme at the moment, but some car makers are offering self-funded scrappage deals - Opel, Nissan, Toyota and Ford among them. Audi isn’t though, so you may need to re-think your brand if you fancy a trade-in leg-up. That said, even with the tax, a Lexus is still a Lexus so you should get a decent trade-in offer.

Read our Audi Q3 review here

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Hi Paul,

If you mean the current model X-Trail, then you're looking at Band B1 (€270 per annum) or Band B2 (€280 per annum) depending on the spec of the car.

Have you read our review of the Nissan X-Trail?

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Hi David,

I would reckon you'd be better off going for the 1.3-litre Opel. If it's pre-08 it'll have cheaper road tax and given your age I would think keeping the engine capacity down as far as possible would be good from an insurance point of view.

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Hi Jerome,

If the car is taxed according to engine size (pre July 2008), then the annual tax cost for a 1,801- to 1,900cc car is €673. For 1,901- to 2,000cc it's €710.

However, later models are taxed according to CO₂ emissions and we can't guess that from the engine size so come back to us if you need more help, with more information.

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Hi Patrick,

Ah, you mean the old days of cars rolling home with 'For Reg' scrawled front and rear with marker pen? 1993 was the last year this was allowed and after that the Vehicle Registration Act was introduced and, as the wording of the act goes, "An authorised person shall not deliver, send out or otherwise make available for use a vehicle which, but for compliance with this subsection, would be unregistered, to a person who is not an authorised person without first - (a) declaring the prescribed details of the vehicle to the Commissioners in accordance with section 131, and (aa) ensuring that the identification mark assigned to it under section 131(5) is displayed on the vehicle in the prescribed manner, and (b) paying vehicle registration tax in respect of the registration of the vehicle."