Buying a Classic Car - Necessary to have Original Chassis for Tax Purposes?

jaygile

Hi all
I am looking into getting a classic car and availing of the cheaper road tax for such a vehicle.


I have just seen this on the Citizens Information website:
"A 'vintage' vehicle for motor taxation purposes is a vehicle that is 30 or more years old. In determining whether or not the vehicle qualifies for 'vintage' status - the chassis number of the vehicle and the vehicle registration book/vehicle registration certificate must clearly display the age of the vehicle. "

I have seen some cars of the particular type I am looking at which have had full chassis replacements and have had all sorts of work done to them. Can anyone guide me on whether the car needs to have all original under work, or is the registration certificate sufficient? Should I avoid these heavily restored cars as I won't get the cheap tax?

Rovi

As far as the Irish Vehicle Registration system is concerned, the chassis (in the case of older/separate chassis vehicle) or the bodyshell (in the case of monocoque vehicles) IS the vehicle.

All the other stuff attached to it (transmission, glass, bodywork, etc) are immaterial.

So, in the case of a vintage separate chassis vehicle:
Original complete chassis= genuine vintage vehicle
Complete new replacement chassis= new vehicle
Original chassis with repairs/replacement sections= grey area

aujopimur

If it's an Irish reg. vehicle, no problem, there's a lot more dodgy things going on in the classic car world.
If you're importing make sure the chassis no. if there is one, or VIN matches the paperwork.

Daved_XB

jaygile wrote: »

Hi all
I am looking into getting a classic car and availing of the cheaper road tax for such a vehicle.

Personally I don't think that just getting cheap tax is a great reason on it's own to but a classic... remember that you tend to not get the same level of just get in turn the key & drive effortlessness with a classic as you do a more modern car... classics can be temperamental

You offset the lower tax with potentially more maintenance issues, more breakdowns, harder to source parts & less mechanics willing to work on them

Also some classic are harder to live with from a comfort point of view when used daily on a long basis

& I personally think that as more & more people start to buy classics just for the cheap tax then the rules will be changed... I have two classics in storage in Australia & I have two choices when taxing them.. I can pay full tax as if they where any other car or I have a monitored logbook to ensure that I drive no more miles than the small allotment per year I'm allowed in order to qualify for the cheap tax

So be prepared to end up with a classic that you have to pay higher tax on in the future... if you only loved it for that reason then you may well be stuck with a car that you now feel has no endearing features at all

jaygile

thanks for all the replies!

I am most definitely not getting a classic car just for the cheap tax - however the whole endeavour will be a bit of a 'big spend' for me.
I am more so just considering what I should look out for to keep it as cost efficient as possible in the actual purchase of the car and the cheaper tax is appealing. I would say I am some-what aware of the problems that can come with purchasing a classic car, but I love them so damn much that I feel I will be more than willing to deal with those as they arise.

From some of the cars I have been looking at it seems I will be dealing with the 'grey' area as mentioned in a reply above as many seem to be 'frankenstein's' of old parts and new. I am most interested in Mini's, and there are many that were left to rust that have now been completely restored.

I guess the best thing to do will be to sourcing the exact car i'm into purchasing, and then taking it from there with regard to specific questions.

I presume those in this thread know a bit about classic cars - is there any specific type that is well known for being 'hardy', or anything that instantly comes to mind to avoid? Know of any particularly good sources online for finding sweet classics abroad that could be imported?

I think I sound way in over my head but I am definitely interested and this is something I would love to figure out and do.

Thanks in advance

Daved_XB

Your probably in the wrong forum TBH... There is a Classic car forum that would have a much better audiance for your questions.

As for which classic to buy that really can only be answered by you, personally I own big V8 muscle cars & I've always found them pretty bullet proof... But they are a million miles away from Mini's.

Classic merc's also seem to have a great rep for being well built & reliable... Whilst most old French & Italian cars tend to get a bad rep.... But then I think that rep comes mostly from people who have never owned one... I say this as anyone I've ever met who owns one has always told me that they are not that bad really.

Once you work out a shot list of cars then I'd suggest looking up a car club for that marque & meeting up with them, they can give you all the in's & outs of what to look for & may even have some cars for sale in the club that they can vouch for... Also a club will be able to help you once you are also an owner with an issues or advice you need

Alanstrainor

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