NCT and Motor Tax thoughts

Xios

So I was thinking about the NCT and Motor Tax... Why are these two seperate fees? They are both legal requirements, so they have to be paid... They are both paid annually (new cars every 2 years). You are not allowed drive if you're missing either of them.

So why are they both seperate? Why is the NCT test charge not covered by the Motor Tax (excluding resit tests)

It just works as a strong dis-incentive for people to book their NCT tests, because it's seen as an extra charge, but I'd say a lot more people would book the tests if they didn't need to fork out the 80 euro, despite car tax going up by 40/80 euro a year depending on the car age, because they've already paid for the test up front.

galvo_clare

Because NCT only kicks in at 4 years old. They're not the same at all.

corktina

it's €55

ironclaw

If you are suggesting that the NCT should be subsidized by the motor tax, then yeah, its probably not a bad idea. However you would then have to realise that the NCT is a private contracted company, who is already on the gravy train as its a state contract and that motor tax as it stands is not ring fenced for 'motor' related expenses. So really, like a leaky ship, its best just to sink it and start again rather than try patch it up.

biko

Tax and car testing are two separate things

Cleveland Hot Pocket

But they are both essentially road licenses - in that you clan't drive without them unless your vehicle is exempt

corktina

someone is going to suggest adding them both to the price of petrol ,..I can feeling coming on....like deja vu

biko

Aye, but for instance NCT is valid for 2 or 1 years whereas tax can be 3, 6 or 12 months.
If NCT and tax both were only for 12 months I suppose they culd be bundled together.
Also if you take car off road the NCT doesn't change but the tax is no longer needed.

I understand OP's sentiment but in reality I don't think it can work.

bazz26

Motor tax and NCT are not deemed the same though. Motor tax is just that a tax which is under the control of Revenue. The NCT is technically not a tax, it's more a service licensed to a private operator so Revenue have no control/power to collect it. It's similar to how Revenue cannot collect water charges from you put can property tax.

filbert the fox

corktina wrote: »

someone is going to suggest adding them both to the price of petrol ,..I can feeling coming on....like deja vu

And why not?

It's the fairest way of ensuring that everyone is doing what they're supposed to do. Personally, I'd prefer to see a level playing field rather than the arbitrary nature of the current unwieldy system whereby the chances of actually being detected is small, the penalties are paltry and
car tax is evaded in various forms including displaying false discs.

corktina

filbert the fox wrote: »

And why not?

It's the fairest way of ensuring that everyone is doing what they're supposed to do. Personally, I'd prefer to see a level playing field rather than the arbitrary nature of the current unwieldy system whereby the chances of actually being detected is small, the penalties are paltry and
car tax is evaded in various forms including displaying false discs.

see! I told you...uncanny isn't it!

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Put the tax on fuel, they say!
Forgetting that of the 1.20 per litre, we pay approx 80 cpl of tax already.

BailMeOut

filbert the fox wrote: »

And why not?

It could only work if NI agrees to do same thing at same time.

filbert the fox

corktina wrote: »

see! I told you...uncanny isn't it!

you tempted me...... I can resist everything but temptation!

CiniO

Xios wrote: »

So I was thinking about the NCT and Motor Tax... Why are these two seperate fees? They are both legal requirements, so they have to be paid... They are both paid annually (new cars every 2 years). You are not allowed drive if you're missing either of them.

So why are they both seperate? Why is the NCT test charge not covered by the Motor Tax (excluding resit tests)

It just works as a strong dis-incentive for people to book their NCT tests, because it's seen as an extra charge, but I'd say a lot more people would book the tests if they didn't need to fork out the 80 euro, despite car tax going up by 40/80 euro a year depending on the car age, because they've already paid for the test up front.

First of all they are not the same thing...
You need motortax, if you are using your car in public place (that includes parking).
You need NCT if you are driving. You don't need it if car is parked.

So now - if someone had their car parked in public, he needs to have valid tax, but doesn't need valid NCT. What then?