NCT/DOE fallen through the gaps

djk1000

I have a Fiat Punto Commercial for the last 3 years. I know that it is exempt from NCT as it is a commercial vehicle. But I have never had to get a certificate of road worthiness or a DOE test. I have taxed the vehicle on time each year and I have never been asked to produce a DOE cert (which I believe commercial vehicles are supposed to produce before they can be taxed). I have checked my registration documents and it does say it is a commercial.

I seem to have fallen through the cracks, or maybe there is some loophole somewhere. The car is road worthy and I don't mind getting it tested if I need to, but as is human nature, I don't want the expense of inconvenience unless it's necessary.

I had a private car before this and I was used to receiving an NCT notice and just turning up for the test when requested, I assumed it would be similar with the commercial, but a notice never materialised and to be honest, I completely forgot about it until now.

Is this some kind of loophole, or have I been breaking the law?

Gregor Samsa

djk1000 wrote: »

I had a private car before this and I was used to receiving an NCT notice and just turning up for the test when requested, I assumed it would be similar with the commercial, but a notice never materialised and to be honest, I completely forgot about it until now.

Is this some kind of loophole, or have I been breaking the law?

Not sure about the DOE test, but the NCT doesn't always send out notifications, and it's up to the owner to make sure that they book the car in for testing before the current cert has expired. So I wouldn't rely on the fact that they haven't notified you.

djk1000

Yes, but with the NCT you get a disc to put in the windscreen, Gardai look for them at checkpoints along with insurance and tax. DOE testing doesn't come with a disc for the windscreen, it is supposed to be a condition for taxing the vehicle that you produce your certificate of road worthiness, this has never happened to me.

ash_18x

boyfriend has a fiesta van commercial too and it has to be doe'd, apparently its up to you to remember to get it done, the last owner said you dont get reminders about the doe.
my brother has a corolla van which is commercial too, the doe had run out and he went to tax it and they said he would have to get it doe'd straight away and stamped commercial on his tax disc!

Steve

Mate of mine has a 306 van, they wouldn't tax it this year without the DOE cert (which he actually had but lost - muppet.)

ash_18x

stevec wrote: »

Mate of mine has a 306 van, they wouldn't tax it this year without the DOE cert (which he actually had but lost - muppet.)

well in that case maybe i am wrong about my brothers van, maybe they wouldnt tax it until he had it doe'd. I know there was something about it anyway.
I was only asking him about the whole commercial thing recently anyway as he works for the nct and he said you have to ring yourself and its up to you to get it doe'd. According to him and my uncle (mechanic) you have to have your cert with you as you could be asked to produce it if stopped by the gaurds. My uncle has to carry it in the work pick up to prove it has been tested and is asked for it regularly.

djk1000

I just had a look at the tax disc, it is taxed as "private". That may explain the mixup. Gardai see it is commercial, so they don't worry about the NCT, tax office sees it as private car, so they don't worry about the DOE.

Either way, it looks like I should get this sorted.

S.I.R

djk1000 wrote: »

I have a Fiat Punto Commercial for the last 3 years. I know that it is exempt from NCT as it is a commercial vehicle. But I have never had to get a certificate of road worthiness or a DOE test. I have taxed the vehicle on time each year and I have never been asked to produce a DOE cert (which I believe commercial vehicles are supposed to produce before they can be taxed). I have checked my registration documents and it does say it is a commercial.

I seem to have fallen through the cracks, or maybe there is some loophole somewhere. The car is road worthy and I don't mind getting it tested if I need to, but as is human nature, I don't want the expense of inconvenience unless it's necessary.

I had a private car before this and I was used to receiving an NCT notice and just turning up for the test when requested, I assumed it would be similar with the commercial, but a notice never materialised and to be honest, I completely forgot about it until now.

Is this some kind of loophole, or have I been breaking the law?

dont brag about your sucess !!!

makeorbrake

Looks like this 'loophole' has finally been plugged. For the first time, I've been told I can't tax my privately taxed van until I obtain a DOE cert for it.

M44B19

All Vans need a DOE. Came in about 2 years ago I think.
Fiesta/Corsa/Corolla/Punto vans etc need DOE whether private or commercial tax.

ljpg

djk1000 wrote: »

I just had a look at the tax disc, it is taxed as "private". That may explain the mixup. Gardai see it is commercial, so they don't worry about the NCT, tax office sees it as private car, so they don't worry about the DOE.

Either way, it looks like I should get this sorted.

i would if i was you,driving a commercial vehicle means it has to be doe'd,garda ask all the time for doe certs to be shown at garda stations,i remember having to do this a few of years ago for a company van i was driving at the time,failure to produce is 5 penalty points and a fine

TestTransmission

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