Buying a car - road tax out for 400+ days

Curious Geroge

Looking at a car at the moment and the motor check reports 473 days without tax - If I buy the car, am I responsible for paying the back tax ?

"Our records show that the Road Tax is not current for this vehicle. This means that the vehicle has either not been road legal for a total period of 473 days and may have been off the road for some or all of that period. We recommend determining whether or not there has been a bona-fide period of non-use and ensuring that all road tax arrears are fully addressed before completing a purchase."

mfergus

Curious Geroge wrote: »

Looking at a car at the moment and the motor check reports 473 days without tax - If I buy the car, am I responsible for paying the back tax ?

"Our records show that the Road Tax is not current for this vehicle. This means that the vehicle has either not been road legal for a total period of 473 days and may have been off the road for some or all of that period. We recommend determining whether or not there has been a bona-fide period of non-use and ensuring that all road tax arrears are fully addressed before completing a purchase."

No. When you buy it and go to tax it there's a part that you fill out for the period which the previous owner had it.

You will only have to pay from the month it is transferred into your name.

ABajaninCork

AFAIK, the new owner is not liable for the arrears. Check with the RSA though!

visual

Your only responsible for motor tax from the day of purchase. So it doesnt mater if the tax is out 1 day or 1000 days

JohnBoy26

no, you will only be liable for tax from date of purchase on. All back taxes will be written off.

Curious Geroge

Thanks for all the very quick responses guys. I got the motorcheck for the first time to check the mileage and its the only thing not available Looking at previous owners, how does this look to you

02/01/2013
Private (Consumer), 4th owner
Duration: 1 year, 2 months

01/05/2012
Private (Consumer), 3rd owner
Duration: 8 months, 1 day

06/12/2011
Private (Company), 2nd owner
Duration: 4 months, 25 days

21/03/2011
Dealer
Duration: 8 months, 15 days

26/01/2007
Private, 1st owner
Duration: 4 years, 1 month

comewatmay

Is the previous owner liable for the tax?

mfergus

Curious Geroge wrote: »

Thanks for all the very quick responses guys. I got the motorcheck for the first time to check the mileage and its the only thing not available Looking at previous owners, how does this look to you

02/01/2013
Private (Consumer), 4th owner
Duration: 1 year, 2 months

01/05/2012
Private (Consumer), 3rd owner
Duration: 8 months, 1 day

06/12/2011
Private (Company), 2nd owner
Duration: 4 months, 25 days

21/03/2011
Dealer
Duration: 8 months, 15 days

26/01/2007
Private, 1st owner
Duration: 4 years, 1 month

Don't know much about it but it appears everyone except the first owner didn't hold onto it too long.
And the dealer who had it found it hard to sell?

Edit: but obviously there could be genuine reasons.

CiniO

comewatmay wrote: »

Is the previous owner liable for the tax?

No.

Curious Geroge

The tax seems to suggest that the 3rd owner taxed the car for 6 months and then sold it to the 4th owner who never used it which is what the 4th owner ie: the seller is telling me. I wont deny, its a worry !! may need to have a mechanic check the car for peace of mind.

Truckermal

Curious Geroge wrote: »

The tax seems to suggest that the 3rd owner taxed the car for 6 months and then sold it to the 4th owner who never used it which is what the 4th owner ie: the seller is telling me. I wont deny, its a worry !! may need to have a mechanic check the car for peace of mind.

Plenty of folk don't bother taxing cars which sounds bad but may not have maintained it either.

slimjimmc

ABajaninCork wrote: »

AFAIK, the new owner is not liable for the arrears. Check with the RSA though!

Nothing to do with the RSA (Road Safety Authority), it's the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government who deals with Motor Tax issues.

http://www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/MotorTax/