Using a car seat in a van

calendarqueen · 31-03-2015 3:56pm #1

Does anyone know anything about using a baby's car seat in a commercial van.

The car seat is the rear-facing one for a small baby and we are hoping to use it in the middle seat of a van. The van does not have air bags, but only has a lap belt.

The instructions on the car seat say that it must be a 3-point harness, but I think I can get a belt adapter in Halfords to conver the lap-belt.

Has anyone any experience of this and whether it works or not?

pa990 · 31-03-2015 6:11pm

If the van is taxed commercially, then it can only be used for business use, not for ferrying children around .

But the loophole would be that you are exploiting child labour.

Other than that I don't know about child seats.

gutteruu · 31-03-2015 7:34pm

I asked in the cop station a few months ago. They said its fine as long as its fixed securely. I'd be very cagey about lap belt and adapter though.

CiniO · 31-03-2015 8:07pm

calendarqueen wrote: »

Does anyone know anything about using a baby's car seat in a commercial van.

The car seat is the rear-facing one for a small baby and we are hoping to use it in the middle seat of a van. The van does not have air bags, but only has a lap belt.

The instructions on the car seat say that it must be a 3-point harness, but I think I can get a belt adapter in Halfords to conver the lap-belt.

Has anyone any experience of this and whether it works or not?

Maybe try getting a child seat which can be fitted with lap belt only.
F.e. I have a Graco seat with a base, and base can be mounted with lap belt only I think.

pa990 wrote: »

If the van is taxed commercially, then it can only be used for business use, not for ferrying children around .

That's not true.
Fact that it's taxed commercially, doesn't mean that it can not be used for private purposes from time to time.

Kevin McCloud · 31-03-2015 8:10pm

CiniO wrote: »

That's not true.
Fact that it's taxed commercially, doesn't mean that it can not be used for private purposes from time to time.

That is not true, its a commercial vehicle. For commercial use only. One may have private insurance cover on their policy but this doesn't mean they can use it for private use.

CiniO · 31-03-2015 8:11pm

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

That is not true, its a commercial vehicle. For commercial use only. One may have private insurance cover on their policy but this doesn't mean they can use it for private use.

Well can you point me out to the law which says that commercially taxed vehicle can not be used for private purposes from time to time?

Kevin McCloud · 31-03-2015 8:14pm

CiniO wrote: »

Well can you point me out to the law which says that commercially taxed vehicle can not be used for private purposes from time to time?

You point out to me where it says you can, i have a wedding friday and be dead handy to use the crew cab jeep if this is the case.

moonshadow · 31-03-2015 8:17pm

Put the child seat in the passenger side put other adult in the belt strap seat.

CiniO · 31-03-2015 8:19pm

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

You point out to me where it says you can, i have a wedding friday and be dead handy to use the crew cab jeep if this is the case.

No, no, no...
You don't ask people to show them a law saying they can do something.
It's general principle in our law, that if something is not forbidden, it's allowed.

You don't need to have a law saying you can walk, talks and breathe the air, and you also don't need the law saying you can use commercially taxed vehicles for private use occasionally.
It's things which are prohibited, must be listed in the law.
And using commercially taxed vehicle for private use occasionally is not one of them.

pa990 · 31-03-2015 8:23pm

CiniO wrote: »

Well can you point me out to the law which says that commercially taxed vehicle can not be used for private purposes from time to time?

Start here..

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/thousands-now-facing-900-rise-in-motor-tax-26674579.html

Then pop into your local motortax office and seek clarification if so needed.

colm_mcm · 31-03-2015 8:24pm

http://kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/Forms/MotorTaxForms/LinktoFormName,11951,en.pdf

Kevin McCloud · 31-03-2015 8:27pm

The goods only declaration:

https://www.motortax.ie/OMT/pdf/RF111A_en.pdf

The piece in bold and underlined stating not be used at any time for social, domestic or pleasure purposes.

CiniO · 31-03-2015 8:35pm

pa990 wrote: »

Start here..

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/thousands-now-facing-900-rise-in-motor-tax-26674579.html

Then pop into your local motortax office and seek clarification if so needed.

colm_mcm wrote: »

http://kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/Forms/MotorTaxForms/LinktoFormName,11951,en.pdf

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

The goods only declaration:

https://www.motortax.ie/OMT/pdf/RF111A_en.pdf

The piece in bold and underlined stating not be used at any time for social, domestic or pleasure purposes.

That's all great.
But you pointed me out to articles, motortax office declarations and leaflets.

What I asked though was a law...

And don't bother looking - believe me - there is no law in this country saying that commercially taxed vehicle can not be used for private purposes from time to time.

thadg · 31-03-2015 8:35pm

thank the green party for that law being enforced. drive away your jeep to the wedding you will be grand.

if you are dropping a child off to a baby sitter on your way to work a garda could not do much about it.

Kevin McCloud · 31-03-2015 8:50pm

CiniO wrote: »

And don't bother looking - believe me - there is no law in this country saying that commercially taxed vehicle can not be used for private purposes from time to time.

What is your view on the goods only declaration RF111, does that not have any legal implications at all?

magentis · 31-03-2015 8:59pm

thadg wrote: »

thank the green party for that law being enforced. drive away your jeep to the wedding you will be grand.

if you are dropping a child off to a baby sitter on your way to work a garda could not do much about it.

You would be surprised.

Be involved in an accident and meet the wrong garda and you could end up in court.

Alot of people feel strongly about the issue.
Why should someone be able to tax a 2.5l motor and do what they want with it for a hell of a lot less?

magentis · 31-03-2015 9:02pm

CiniO wrote: »

That's all great.
But you pointed me out to articles, motortax office declarations and leaflets.

What I asked though was a law...

And don't bother looking - believe me - there is no law in this country saying that commercially taxed vehicle can not be used for private purposes from time to time.

Would you not be breaking the law by signing a declaration and then using it for non business use

pa990 · 31-03-2015 9:07pm

Freemen of the land have their own view of laws add well chino, ... that doesn't make it correct.

commercial motor tax is for vehicles used for commercial purposes.

Now. . Being realistic about it, is not policed by the relevant authorities,...

So just balance the risk of getting caught V paying the full rate.

CiniO · 31-03-2015 9:08pm

Kevin McCloud wrote: »

What is your view on the goods only declaration RF111, does that not have any legal implications at all?

If you signed such declaration, then surely it has legal implications.
But I don't see any legal ground for motortax offices to request you to sign such declaration when taxing commercial vehicle.

Guy:Incognito · 31-03-2015 9:08pm

CiniO wrote: »

And don't bother looking - believe me - there is no law in this country saying that commercially taxed vehicle can not be used for private purposes from time to time.

Is there a law of any type that refers to doing anything "from time to time"?

CiniO · 31-03-2015 9:09pm

magentis wrote: »

Would you not be breaking the law by signing a declaration and then using it for non business use

If you signed a declaration, then surely that would be against the law.

Kevin McCloud · 31-03-2015 9:20pm

CiniO wrote: »

But I don't see any legal ground for motortax offices to request you to sign such declaration when taxing commercial vehicle.

They will simply refuse to process the tax application if the RF111 is not filled out, are you of the thinking of counties if any that do not request the RF111?

calendarqueen · 31-03-2015 10:19pm

This thread is gone slightly off topic!

And FYI - we are accompanying my husband on a long distance work trip where I will be helping out and we will have to take our baby so we will no issue with regard to the tax issue mentioned.

Moonshadow - I was thinking about doing that but it will be very awkward with me sitting in the middle as we will be in and out of the van A LOT! So it would be much better if we could work it with the car seat in the middle - but I obviously don't want to do anything unsafe.

It's just for a few days so I don't plan on getting a new car seat. I currently have a maxi-cosi pebble.

CiniO · 31-03-2015 10:43pm

calendarqueen wrote: »

This thread is gone slightly off topic!

And FYI - we are accompanying my husband on a long distance work trip where I will be helping out and we will have to take our baby so we will no issue with regard to the tax issue mentioned.

Moonshadow - I was thinking about doing that but it will be very awkward with me sitting in the middle as we will be in and out of the van A LOT! So it would be much better if we could work it with the car seat in the middle - but I obviously don't want to do anything unsafe.

It's just for a few days so I don't plan on getting a new car seat. I currently have a maxi-cosi pebble.

What about moonshadow's idea of putting child seat on the left seat instead of middle seat? Left seat should have full 3 point seatbelt.

Using a car seat in a van

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