Commercial car van for private use

Whispered

I will hopefully buy a (very very cheap) car in the next few weeks.

At the moment, a commercial van would suit me better for what I would be using it for. We don't need back seats and could do with a large space in the back.

I'm confused about taxing and insuring a commercial vehicle privately. I've been told that tax would cost 800 a year! This can't be right is it? I would have assumed that it would cost the same as taxing a car of the same engine size.

Now if it's not going to cost me more to tax, would anybody like to recommend a good type of small commercial that I could pick up an older model of for less than 2k. No idea where to start or what to look for.

Thank you.

drunkmonkey

Your probably better off with an estate that the seats fold down in as you'll have to pay full tax if it's not going to be a commercial. Less work with the estate as you'll only have to Nct it every 2 years as opposed to doing a doe every year on the van.

CiniO

If you are not going to use your van for carriage of goods for business purposes at all, then you have to tax it privately.
Tax will be calculated depending on engine size, the same way as cars.
So. f.e. if you get 2.5 litre diesel, you will have to pay about 1 grand a year in motor tax.

Whispered

No the only reason for a commercial would be for room for the dogs and camping etc. So if I get a 1.4 something, I would only be paying the same as for any other 1.4? Great.

I like the idea of the estate actually. But I'd imagine these to be outside my budget at the moment.

CiniO

Whispered wrote: »

No the only reason for a commercial would be for room for the dogs and camping etc. So if I get a 1.4 something, I would only be paying the same as for any other 1.4? Great.

That's right.
For can 1.4 you will pay 333 euros a year.

drunkmonkey

Whispered wrote: »

I like the idea of the estate actually. But I'd imagine these to be outside my budget at the moment.

I'm sure you could stretch to one of these:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201111201638455

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201052200719347

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201106201159229

The Focus is probably the right choice, Personally i'd lump for the Laguna for the sports seats even though it's probably a bucket.

duffmagic

Hi,
I'm also in the market for a private van (and not an estate). Could anyone help me narrow down the options out there? I'd be aiming for 2008 models.

On top of tax question above, how is insurance on these relative to cars? I assume once they new you weren't transporting goods it'd be reasonable?

It must be a modern efficient diesel and hopefully in private tax band B at least (€156pa). I know little about vans but I've been driving a Focus - i'm not sure what van that translates into as I don't want a carvan. I need the load area to fit 2 mountain bikes and sports gear, so ideally > 1.9m load length and tall enough for a bike. Potentially I could get away with shorter if the diagonal could fit 2 bikes standing up.

Doing a little research I think the Peugot Partner is based on 308 but I've read it's 153g/km putting it into band C, €302 per year road tax. However, size wise it looks perfect. Comes in either 1.8m or 2.0m load length. The Renault Kangoo might be an option!?

Thanks in advance,
Conor