Passenger to Commercial Conversion

St.Senan

I am thinking of buying a well-minded mid-sized jeep/suv and converting it to commercial.

The RSA describe the process involved ... http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/VS_Information_Notes/Vehicle_Modifications/FAQs%20on%20Converting%20a%20vehicle%20from%20Private%20to%20Commercial.pdf

I rang a company today who specialize in vehicle conversion. They quoted me 950 + VAT. They take out the seats, generate the engineers report, put in a carpeted flat floor, block the back windows and do the motor tax office change. They return the vehicle ready for DOE. It is more expensive than I expected.

Has anyone been through the process?

alps

St.Senan wrote: »

I am thinking of buying a well-minded mid-sized jeep/suv and converting it to commercial.

The RSA describe the process involved ... http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/VS_Information_Notes/Vehicle_Modifications/FAQs%20on%20Converting%20a%20vehicle%20from%20Private%20to%20Commercial.pdf

I rang a company today who specialize in vehicle conversion. They quoted me 950 + VAT. They take out the seats, generate the engineers report, put in a carpeted flat floor, block the back windows and do the motor tax office change. They return the vehicle ready for DOE. It is more expensive than I expected.

Has anyone been through the process?

A company in Cork with a CVRT centre in Cork did it for me for 350 plus vat. You would have to ring them before you buy as not all manufacturers supply the necessary documentation that the vehicle can be converted to commercial..

That price included certification and new CVRT..

They explained what work was necessary beforehand and it was really very little...removal of seat belts and anchors, removal of seats and refill holes. We used a metal compound for this job...

Our job was a crew cab so we didn't have to put in a floor, but I can't imagine that's a big job..

PM me if you want a number..

_Brian

I thought the ability to convert the mid size jeeps is now closed??

Friend brought a 2010 swb pajero commercial in from England recently and couldn’t get commercial import on it. He ended paying €1300 vrt, he was very sore over it. This is within last 4-6 weeks

Bass Reeves

I am not sure if this is a good option with most smaller Jeep's. While pre 2008 the tax on 2l or larger SUV's was fairly expensive post 2008 there is a good selection with fairy cheap car tax. Pre 2008 RAV'sand CRV were near 1k after. 2008 they were 750 and after 2019 RAV's are 570 or 390 for 2.2L diesel. Kuga and Sportage's are 570 while Tiguans are down near Commerrcial tax rates as well.n

A Cvrt costs about 110 euro and a recheck up near 50 compared to 55 and 30 approx for an NCT. Even costing a conversion in the 5-600 hundred euro mark it is 3+ years before you get you money back on most commercial conversions post 2008. On pre 2008 conversions it is only on RAV's and CRV's that you recoup your money fast. When you factor in the cost of the conversion and the extra test costs the money spend on a conversion will get you to a 2008 SUV or newer in most cases.
OP what type of small Jeep were you going to convert

alps

Bass Reeves wrote: »

I am not sure if this is a good option with most smaller Jeep's. While pre 2008 the tax on 2l or larger SUV's was fairly expensive post 2008 there is a good selection with fairy cheap car tax. Pre 2008 RAV'sand CRV were near 1k after. 2008 they were 750 and after 2019 RAV's are 570 or 390 for 2.2L diesel. Kuga and Sportage's are 570 while Tiguans are down near Commerrcial tax rates as well.n

A Cvrt costs about 110 euro and a recheck up near 50 compared to 55 and 30 approx for an NCT. Even costing a conversion in the 5-600 hundred euro mark it is 3+ years before you get you money back on most commercial conversions post 2008. On pre 2008 conversions it is only on RAV's and CRV's that you recoup your money fast. When you factor in the cost of the conversion and the extra test costs the money spend on a conversion will get you to a 2008 SUV or newer in most cases.
OP what type of small Jeep were you going to convert

There may be tax benefits being able to claim the running costs in full on a commercial as well as partial costs on a car..

Bass Reeves

alps wrote: »

There may be tax benefits being able to claim the running costs in full on a commercial as well as partial costs on a car..

On that age of car it would be very little. In general my accountant treated all running costs on my Van and Car together and allowed them at the car rate. However even if you did allowing for 50/week on fuel (2600 on a full year) and running costs of 1400/year give you 4K the 33% extra you are allowed is worth about 700/year on tax, Saving on capital costs over 8 years on an 8K K jeep works out at 160/year of a tax saving. However the resale value would be impacted especially on jeep with cheaper tax on them

While the running costs would make it viable if you can claim them the Van Jeep cannot carry passengers and there seems to be more and more hassle with insurance companies over social and domestic use. It is harder to get the driving of other car on a commercial tax policy and the policy cannot be transferred onto a car that easy. All in all the economics of it is skewed in favour of letting most of these smaller jeeps as cars

St.Senan

@Bass Reeves :

- I have in mind a 2008 to 2010 Kia Sorento (tax 1080) or Suzuki Grand Vitara (tax 673).

- As a matter of interest, are you suggesting that I would tax / insure as a passenger and take out the back seats? Would the modifications and the usage invalidate the insurance / tax?

148multi

Have converted my last three vehicles, different SQI have different criteria, the one I use needs floor level, seats and ancor points removed and filled, seat belts removed and ancor holes filled (I use chemical weld). No need for bulkhead or windows blacked out. The paper work is straightforward, nothing to be scared of. The SQI that I have used travels around the country, the last conversation cost less than 200 fees included.

dohc turbo2

Test 48 I think it’s called for the change of use test which costs 180-200, they require 4 tie down points in the rear now ,

Gorgeousgeorge

Did it last November on a hilux surf. Very simple job. Give d&m truck engineering a ring. They are kildare based

Took out seats and belts myself. Used liquid metal on the holes left behind. Brought it for its doe and engineers report. Got both. Filled out a change of particulars from, got a weight docket and a goods only declaration. Brought it all to the tax office and that was it.

Bass Reeves

St.Senan wrote: »

@Bass Reeves :

- I have in mind a 2008 to 2010 Kia Sorento (tax 1080) or Suzuki Grand Vitara (tax 673).

- As a matter of interest, are you suggesting that I would tax / insure as a passenger and take out the back seats? Would the modifications and the usage invalidate the insurance / tax?

You obiviosly need a van I had presumed you were only doing it to avail; of lower tax. Consider looking for a commercial one they are not that easy to buy but are available. If you are taking out the back seats while the tax is not an issue the insurance is.

As another poster said you can take out the seats yourself and put liquid metal in the holes. The area behind the back seat's is usually flat and you may only need to plywood the area the seats came from. Some lads do not bother to plywood this area.

Big catch with conversions now is they have to be signed off by a auto engineer it can cost from 150-250 euro. It should not be that hard to use plywwod to floor of the rear of it but it is not a requirement. After that it is just the hassle, you have to take it into the revenue commissioners to change its classification. Then you need to get a CVRT done on it. All in all it is much harder to do than 3-4 years ago.

I just left mine as a passenger jeep and drop the seats if I need to. Other than that I use a trailer to carry bits and pieces. If you use the Sorrento you need to change the tax but if you did not need a van type for farming it would not be economical to convert the Vitara.

Finally it is possible to buy some smaller jeeps that were van from new. There is a few Kuga's around that were commercial from new you will find them on DD in the car section and the commercial section. and you may find a Honda CRV. Here is a Kuga and CRV not sure how they are money wise regarding you budget.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2011-ford-kuga-commercial-4wd/22019534
https://www.donedeal.ie/commercials-for-sale/honda-crv/21918916

_Brian

_Brian wrote: »

I thought the ability to convert the mid size jeeps is now closed??

Friend brought a 2010 swb pajero commercial in from England recently and couldn’t get commercial import on it. He ended paying €1300 vrt, he was very sore over it. This is within last 4-6 weeks

The ability to have a 5 seat commercial is but nothing to stop a traditional commercial conversation which just has the two front seats. Your friend should have been able to clear that Pajero as a commercial as it would have been a two seater and just load space in the rear.

Bass Reeves

Brett Cold Sibling wrote: »

The ability to have a 5 seat commercial is but nothing to stop a traditional commercial conversation which just has the two front seats. Your friend should have been able to clear that Pajero as a commercial as it would have been a two seater and just load space in the rear.

On car derived commercials there is 13% VRT I think, I may be incorrect

Bass Reeves

Bass Reeves wrote: »

On car derived commercials there is 13% VRT I think, I may be incorrect

Yes that’s correct it’s not a flat rate of a few hundred that it is on proper vans etc.

It’s possible the 1300 euro was the commercial rate of vrt @ 13% but he expected the flat rate of 200 euro (or whatever it currently is).

mayota

Do they have N1 catagory in the UK? As in a 5 seat land cruiser?

_Brian

Brett Cold Sibling wrote: »

The ability to have a 5 seat commercial is but nothing to stop a traditional commercial conversation which just has the two front seats. Your friend should have been able to clear that Pajero as a commercial as it would have been a two seater and just load space in the rear.

Yep, it was a two seater with a bulkhead separating the load from passenger compartment.
He tried and tried but after two
Months he was afraid it would be lifted at the side of the road so buckled in and paid full vrt.

Lofidelity

_Brian wrote: »

Yep, it was a two seater with a bulkhead separating the load from passenger compartment.
He tried and tried but after two
Months he was afraid it would be lifted at the side of the road so buckled in and paid full vrt.

Have they tightened up the rules on load area? That would mean 2 seater commercials in lwb are still ok to convert. The new Discovery is available from factory as a commercial, even in the UK, so the format still exists.

Im considering getting something from the UK and converting it to 2 seater. Must do my homework first.

stackr

Hi, could I have the contact for that garage please ?

kevthegaff

What's the story with the tx band, see a 2012 x5 tax is 600 but a 08 is over 1200. When does it change and will the 2012 rise in 4 years iykwim

148multi

New'er one is based on emmissions, old one is based on engine size