Expert answer

Hi Tommy,

I’m afraid that is the case — when you tax a commercial vehicle as a private one you go back to the old engine capacity tax system, so for a big car like a  Touareg, with a big engine, that can often work out much more expensive. 

Expert answer

Hi Bill,

You can absolutely tax and insure a commercial vehicle for private use and, as it is more than 30 years old, it’ll be really cheap to import and to tax — the VRT will be a flat rate of €200 while the motor tax will be €56.

Insurance will, as ever, be the wrinkle — generally, if you want to put it on a classic scheme, most insurers will insist that you have another ’normal’ car for everyday use, and it might be tricky putting down your son as a named driver. I’d suggest getting in touch with a good local broker, who might be able to unearth a better deal for you than just searching around on the internet. 

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Hi John,

The only form you’ll need will be form RF100 (you can find that here: https://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/content/RoadsandTraffic/MotorTax/Documents/RF100_Car_GDPR.pdf) and I think a call to your local motor tax office would be a good idea as you’re taxing it privately. It shouldn’t be an issue — you just have to declare it — but they’ll be able to help you over any potential hurdles. 

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Hi Kevin,

Yes, I would definitely query that with the motor tax office — in theory, when you use a commercial vehicle for private use it reverts to the old by-engine-capacity tax system, so you should not be paying the CO₂ rate. Call and ask them to double-check that and you may be refunded the difference. 

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Hi Roger,

Yes, in theory, you can register any commercial vehicle for private use, once you let the local motor tax office know. There can be issues with getting private insurance on some models, so check that with your insurer or broker first, and with a Hilux you’ll probably end up paying quite a chunk in tax, as it’ll switch to the by-engine-capacity system. 

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Hi Eoin,

The only cost will be in the change of tax. There’s no cost to have a commercial vehicle re-registered as a private car (although you will have to satisfy the NCT that the conversion has been carried out to an adequate standard), but your tax costs will go up, as you’ll be put onto the by-engine-capacity tax system, which, depending on the engine in the Transporter (I’m presuming it’s a 2.0-litre), will be much more costly than the existing commercial tax of €333 per year. 

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Hi Timmy,

With a 2.0-litre engine, on the old by-engine-capacity tax system, you’re looking at €710 a year for tax.

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Hi Kenneth,

You can tax it privately, and all you need to do is to ring up your local motor tax office (you can look yours up here) and tell them that you want to tax a van as a private vehicle. You’ll be shifted on to the old by-engine-capacity tax system and so, with a 1.6-litre engine, you’ll have to pay €514 per year.

Expert answer

Hi Adrian,

Yes, you can. Or at least, you certainly should be able to. Simply ring up your local motor tax office and they should be able to just transfer you to the old engine-capacity tax system. On the insurance front, have you tried getting a good broker? They can often find deals that we orindary humans cannot. 

Expert answer

Hi Billy,

Assuming it’s the Caddy with the 1.6 TDI engine, then it’s €514 a year as a private vehicle.