Putting seats in the back of a car-van? (focus van)

DiarmaidGNR

Does anyone know if it is legal to put the rear seats back into a car-van?
Does it matter once you obtain domestic insurance (not commercial) for the vehicle?
Would you have to go to the lengths of getting the vehicle re-classed (tax wise) to a normal car?

The car I'm talking about can be seen here -
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1118385

colm_mcm

VRT is the issue here.

Personally I wouldn't buy a car from someone who was dodgy enough to pull a scam like this.

DiarmaidGNR

colm_mcm wrote: »

VRT is the issue here.

Personally I wouldn't buy a car from someone who was dodgy enough to pull a scam like this.

What do you mean? - The car is Irish reg.

colm_mcm

it's taxed and registered as a van no?

mullingar

There is no problem putting back seats into the car, BUT you will have 2 problems:

Firstly to qualify a car-van for commercial purposes the rear seats and their seatbelt holes should have been welded over - good luck in trying to unweld them!

Secondly you MUST re-classify the car as non-commercial, this involves paying the VRT man probably 18% of whay THEY think the car is worth as a car.

Then happy motoring!

EDIT: just seen the picture, therefore you must do my second point and put in some rear windows!

DiarmaidGNR

colm_mcm wrote: »

it's taxed and registered as a van no?

Ah right, so i'd have to pay full value vrt to get the thing re-registered, -otherwise my insurance would be void?

mullingar

DiarmaidGNR wrote: »

Ah right, so i'd have to pay full value vrt to get the thing re-registered, -otherwise my insurance would be void?

Hard to say if your insurance is void, but if its down as a car-van then I doubt the rear passengers are covered.

But, if its on the insurance policy that it is a 5 seater then I would say yes you are covered.

I would be fearful of a customs check-point. This would easily see you in court as its obvious that you are trying to avoid the VRT

Anan1

One other point is that the end result would be very hard to sell on.

colm_mcm

buying a Focus hatch from the UK and paying the VRT should work out cheaper than buying that, getting seats and belts, carpets, parcel shelf etc fitted and paying VRT.

unkel

Anan1 wrote: »

One other point is that the end result would be very hard to sell on.

Understatement of the month

Buford T Justice

Anan1 wrote: »

One other point is that the end result would be very hard to sell on.

+1. I had the same issues before when I considered doing it. My advise is forget it. Buy a car, it'll most likely be cheaper than buying that, paying the VRT and getting it re-classified.

The rear seat passengers will not be covered in that van, as it would have been declared to the insurance as a 2 seater vehicle

DiarmaidGNR

Either of these any good? -

http://www.usedcarsni.com/31370787?grtkey=1264256570_cd49cbc1a4a6d40844cb1b391499170d

http://www.usedcarsni.com/30508705?grtkey=1264256547_e00d31e1559e3d74949dde93c7d49c75

colm_mcm

just make sure you get the emissions figure from the V5 cert and calculate the VRT, as it's emissions based. don't rely on emissions figures from anywhere else

DiarmaidGNR

colm_mcm wrote: »

just make sure you get the emissions figure from the V5 cert and calculate the VRT, as it's emissions based. don't rely on emissions figures from anywhere else

It's calculated on a percentage of market value with pre 2008 cars, 2008 onwards is emissions based.

colm_mcm

look it isn't. I know how it works.

The emissions determines the % of the market value you pay.

You're confusing VRT with road tax.

DiarmaidGNR

colm_mcm wrote: »

look it isn't. I know how it works.

The emissions determines the % of the market value you pay.

You're confusing VRT with road tax.

So I am!!!!:o