Do I qualify for no VAT on import?
Hi,
I'm looking to import a vehicle from the UK, older than six months old and with more than 6,000km on the clock. I have a primary medical cert and will be modifying the car. My questions is relating to VAT-qualifying or non-qualifying, which should I be looking for?
Paddy
Pat Darby (Mullingar)May 2019 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Pat,
Well, generally speaking, it won’t matter, as, if a vehicle is older than six months or has more than 6,000km on the clock, it won’t be chargeable for VAT anyway. The benefit you will get is that you won’t have to pay VRT. Just fill out a form with Revenue to get a Letter of Authorisation with the car’s VIN number and you won’t be charged any VRT at all.
How much to tax a Fiat Scudo privately?
I brought a 2009 Fiat Scudo five-seat van from England. Roughly how much should this cost to tax as a private vehicle? Is it based on the emissions?
Catherine Healy (Cork)May 2019 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Catherine,
It’ll depend on the engine size. I’m guessing it uses the Fiat 1.9-litre M-Jet engine? If so, it’ll cost €673 a year to tax privately.
Can I tax a small van privately?
Hi,
Can I insure a small van (Ford Fiesta) commercially and tax it privately?
Thanks.
Trevor Byrne (Portlaoise)May 2019 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Trevor,
No, not really. If you’re insuring your car (or van) one way and driving it another, then technically you’re not being honest with your insurers and if you do need to make a claim, and they investigate the circumstances, you could be caught rotten and find yourself unable to get a payout. Just be honest, it’s always the best policy.
A work-home vehicle conundrum...
Hi,
I have a question in relation to insuring an SUV on a private policy and taxing it as commercial. The details of it are: I work as a sole trader and have a company registered etc so all the paper work is covered. However, I need a car for private use and for carrying equipment for work etc. The insurance company have told me the only way to have any private use of a commercial SUV would be to insure it privately with a clause for it to have work use also. I'm trying to find out if I insure it as private will I also have to tax it as private, even though it is a commercial vehicle and primarily used for business. My only other option is to run and insure two different vehicles, only able to use my no-claims discount on one, making it extremely expensive.
Paul Cuddihy (Drogheda)May 2019 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Paul,
I think in this case, tax is the more serious issue than insurance. From what you’ve explained, you’re planning to tax your SUV as a commercial vehicle, but still use it for private and domestic tasks, and that I’m afraid is a big no-no. It’s specifically prohibited to use a vehicle taxed as a commercial for private, domestic, or pleasure purposes, and that leaves you open to a pretty hefty fine. As for insurance, you can always shop around to find a policy that suits you better, but as always it’s best to be up front and honest with them to avoid any issues down the line if you need to make a claim. Different insurers will have different policies for commercial and private vehicle insurance, and you might be better off finding a good broker who specialises in such mixed-use policies.
Help me out with some import answers...
Hi,
I'm currently living in London. I've bought a passenger vehicle to beat the VRT when I return to Ireland. It's registered to me, but the wife will be taking it when we get back to Ireland. I plan to buy a Land Rover Discovery Commercial. Will I get away with €200 VRT (as it's an N1 category vehicle) when I return and re-register it, as I plan to use it as a private van? I don't really need the space but could do with a 4x4 for helping out on the farm at home, hence why I'm thinking a commercial would be cheaper.
Thanks a million.
#ConfusedPaddy
Rob Hoban (London)May 2019 Filed under: VRT
Expert answer
Hi Rob,
Yes, if you have registered the car to your London address, and can show proof of continuous tax and insurance for six months prior to your move, then you’ll be able to avoid VRT when you import it here. On the Discovery Commercial, you’ll be looking at rather more than €200 VRT to import it, I’m afraid. N1 and Cat B commercial vehicles don’t pay a flat rate any more, they pay 13.3 per cent of the Open Market Selling Price, or the Irish market price as defined by Revenue. The same will go for a crew-cab, and 13.3 per cent is the lowest possible rate of VRT.
How much tax on a Ford Connect, privately?
My nephew wants to buy a 2007 Ford Connect 1800 diesel for work and pleasure; how much road tax would he pay per year?
Alan Young (Dublin)May 2019 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Alan,
Because, for some bizarre reason, when you tax a commercial vehicle as a private one (which your nephew will have to do if he wants to use his van for both work and private use) you go back to the old engine capacity taxation system. With an 1,800cc engine, that means you’ll pay €636 in motor tax every year.
What's up with my Peugeot 5008?
Hi.
Could you please help on this? My Peugeot 5008 1.6's stop-start function is stopping the engine when stationary, but it would not start when I release the brake pedal. It gives sound of like the engine has jammed (goon goon goon). Then the ECO mode automatically gets deactivated and when I start the car manually, it starts perfectly.
Thank you.
Mirza IsmaiL (Manchester)Apr 2019 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Mirza,
That's a really unusual one and you're best getting the car along to a good garage to have it inspected. There's a known issue with the original Peugeot 5008 1.6 diesel where the earth connection to the starter fails causing all kinds of random engine and starting issues, so this could be related, but either way you'll need a mechanic to fix it.
Best of luck
Motor tax on the Great Wall Steed?
What is the Irish road tax for a Great Wall Steed 2.0?
Avril O Brien ( Co Roscommon )Apr 2019 Filed under: taxation
Expert answer
Hi Avril,
Being as the Steed is a commercial crew cab pickup truck, it’s on commercial tax so that’s €333 per year. You could tax it as a private vehicle if you need to, but that means reverting to the old engine capacity tax system so that would be €710 a year.
Read our Buying a commercial vehicle for private use feature for more details.
Can landlords use commercial vehicles?
Does a landlord qualify for buying a commercial vehicle?
Mark Moran (Dublin)Mar 2019 Filed under: commercial vehicle
Expert answer
Hi Mark,
Probably best to put that one to your accountant, but our opinion is that, if you're a 'professional' landlord with several properties or one large property and it's your main income or business, and you need a vehicle for the purposes of that, then you should be entitled to use a commercial vehicle. Just be aware that you cannot use the vehicle for any private use whatsoever.
Can I turn my stop-start system off?
I have a 2011 Audi A3 and the stop-start system throws up an amber light warning that it is not working. How do I switch the stop-start system off until I can get it fixed?
Dave Cusworth (Barnsley)Mar 2019 Filed under:
Expert answer
Hi Dave,
There is no recommended way to deactivate the stop-start system permanently. If you turn it off using the button in the car, it will always come back on next time you start the car.
Have you read our Why won't my car's stop-start system work? feature to try to get to the bottom of the issue?