Buying a commercial vehicle for private use.

Oafley Jones

So, I've the chance to buy a Discovery at a decent price but it's a commercial vehicle. I'd need to get it classed as private and insured as such. What would I need to do. Literally no idea how tax, ncT come into it and what I'd have to do. Any advise would be appreciated.

drunkmonkey

Just off the bat if you want a private one buy a private one.

You'll need to talk to the revenue as there may be some kind of Vrt owed as commercial rate would have been paid initially, you'll also need to convert it back to passenger, so may need seat belts fitter etc.
A commercial will always be cheaper than private so if your comparing the 2 it's not really like for like.
Best of luck getting the answers, I've s feeling you'll give up before you get them all. It's an unusual thing to do. The savings would probably be lost in the conversion and re-classifying process.

seamus

Are you buying it to use for ferrying stuff around, or do you see yourself converting it into a passenger vehicle?

If it's the former, then getting it reclassed and insured as private is pretty straightforward. Though you might have some convincing to do with your insurance company - why would you have a van if you're not going to use it to carry goods?

If it's the latter, then drunkmonkey is right. Unless someone is giving you a mint condition van for next to nothing, the cost of converting it to a passenger vehicle might not be economical.

Oafley Jones

seamus wrote: »

Are you buying it to use for ferrying stuff around, or do you see yourself converting it into a passenger vehicle?

If it's the former, then getting it reclassed and insured as private is pretty straightforward. Though you might have some convincing to do with your insurance company - why would you have a van if you're not going to use it to carry goods?

If it's the latter, then drunkmonkey is right. Unless someone is giving you a mint condition van for next to nothing, the cost of converting it to a passenger vehicle might not be economical.

It's a five seat Discovery, the third row was removed and welded etc. Don't need the 7 seats so I'm sure it's physically up to scratch. Thanks again. I'm clueless on paying the tax and VRT etc and Google wasn't helping much.

Also, if I do get it insured and taxed does that cause problems down the line in terms of selling it on for potential commercial buyers.

soc

Although an old post, this post poses the exact question I have.
I'm the look out to replace our 7 seater MPV with a larger 8 seat vehicle (secondhand) that can give kids a bit of room and carry decent amount of luggage in the boot in-comparison to MPV.

It seems the most secondhand vehicles that suit my needs (e.g Renault Trafic Passenger https://www.renault.ie/vehicles/new-vehicles/trafic/design.html) are found under the 'Commercial Vehicles' category on car sites. I don't intend using it as Commericial Vehicle, and I'm sure that the vehicles I'm looking at were probably used as mini-buses, so probably in a different motor tax category again. I intend on taxing PRIVATELY. So...will the (private) motor tax for vehicle be based on emissions of vehicle or does it revert to engine size simply because it wasn't a private vehicle from new?

R.O.R

soc wrote: »

Although an old post, this post poses the exact question I have.
I'm the look out to replace our 7 seater MPV with a larger 8 seat vehicle (secondhand) that can give kids a bit of room and carry decent amount of luggage in the boot in-comparison to MPV.

It seems the most secondhand vehicles that suit my needs (e.g Renault Trafic Passenger https://www.renault.ie/vehicles/new-vehicles/trafic/design.html) are found under the 'Commercial Vehicles' category on car sites. I don't intend using it as Commericial Vehicle, and I'm sure that the vehicles I'm looking at were probably used as mini-buses, so probably in a different motor tax category again. I intend on taxing PRIVATELY. So...will the (private) motor tax for vehicle be based on emissions of vehicle or does it revert to engine size simply because it wasn't a private vehicle from new?

9 seat vehicles or less are classified as private and taxed on engine size or co2 emissions depending on age.

To be taxed as anything but a private vehicle or taxi the vehicle has to have at least 9 passenger seats plus the driver, and that type of vehicle requires a D licence to drive.

soc

R.O.R wrote: »

9 seat vehicles or less are classified as private and taxed on engine size or co2 emissions depending on age.

To be taxed as anything but a private vehicle or taxi the vehicle has to have at least 9 passenger seats plus the driver, and that type of vehicle requires a D licence to drive.

Cars are 2013 onwards. So I will use emissions as a basis to calculate motor tax, when factoring in overall cost of car. Thanks

Gumbo

soc wrote: »

Cars are 2013 onwards. So I will use emissions as a basis to calculate motor tax, when factoring in overall cost of car. Thanks

No such thing as emissions based tax for commercial cars.

R.O.R

kceire wrote: »

No such thing as emissions based tax for commercial cars.

But an 8 seat minibus isn't a commercial, so is taxed on emissions.

soc

Got a reply back from Motor Tax office. Vehicle would be taxed on CO2 emissions. Thanks all for help.