New van as private use only

bikedude

Have searched around but can’t find a definitive answer.

Is it possible to own a Van as a private car? With insurance/Tax and NCT?

Cady/Opel Combo/ or a Peugeot Expert size wise would be what I would be looking for.

Don’t have a business and don’t plan to use it for business at any point, just want a Van as it is easier to carry bikes.

Thanks

TrailerBob

You can tax it privately by reclassification with Shannon, just a matter of filling in the form and sending it off. Insurance is a different matter. Insurers will insist on a commercial policy on a commercial vehicle, regardless of it's tax class.. some insurers are not willing to touch a driver with van with a non commercial occupation. Others will, and their policies will even specify cover for Social, Domestic and Pleasure use. My liberty commercial policy states this on the cert. It's a matter of ringing around or using a broker.

Testing will be done by a CVRT centre either way as it's still a commercial vehicle, NCT won't touch it.

bikedude

TrailerBob wrote: »

You can tax it privately by reclassification with Shannon, just a matter of filling in the form and sending it off. Insurance is a different matter. Insurers will insist on a commercial policy on a commercial vehicle, regardless of it's tax class.. some insurers are not willing to touch a driver with van with a non commercial occupation. Others will, and their policies will even specify cover for Social, Domestic and Pleasure use. My liberty commercial policy states this on the cert. It's a matter of ringing around or using a broker.

Testing will be done by a CVRT centre either way as it's still a commercial vehicle, NCT won't touch it.

Thanks! Will ring around a few insurers and see how much they will ask.

colm_mcm

Just get something like a Berlingo Multispace/Partner Tepee etc which is taxed and insured as a car.

doctorchopper

if you are taxing it privately it will be on the old "engine size" system so may be expensive

Peter T

doctorchopper wrote: »

if you are taxing it privately it will be on the old "engine size" system so may be expensive

Correct. There's no charge to reclassify as a private vehicle but you're taxed on the old cc system so a 1.6 diesel will be 514 to 544 to tax per year. Only around 200 extra a year to tax compared to commercial but will save you any potential hassle at checkpoints.

emeldc

bikedude wrote: »

Have searched around but can’t find a definitive answer.

Is it possible to own a Van as a private car? With insurance/Tax and NCT?

Cady/Opel Combo/ or a Peugeot Expert size wise would be what I would be looking for.

Don’t have a business and don’t plan to use it for business at any point, just want a Van as it is easier to carry bikes.

Thanks

I would have thought there are loads of leisure activities such as yours that might require the use of a van over a car. There must be somebody doing it. I'd say use a broker to fight your corner.

Padre_Pio

emeldc wrote: »

I would have thought there are loads of leisure activities such as yours that might require the use of a van over a car. There must be somebody doing it. I'd say use a broker to fight your corner.

Insuremyvan.ie

Got my cheapest quote with them, cheaper than going through the actual insurer.

I had to take out a second insurance policy. Liberty wouldn't quote me, even though I have car insurance with them.

Mickeroo

Drove a van as my private vehicle for years (mainly because it was handy for surfboards, camping etc), I basically had to lie and say I was a tradesman to even get an insurance quote of the time.

Padre_Pio

Mickeroo wrote: »

Drove a van as my private vehicle for years (mainly because it was handy for surfboards, camping etc), I basically had to lie and say I was a tradesman to even get an insurance quote of the time.

I've heard stories where they just need a profession to out on the application.

"You need a van for your dogs, oh you must be a dog walker so".

Isambard

lie and a claim would be declined if found out.

BrianD3

Sounds like the Berlingo Multispace etc. suggestion from colm_mcm s the way to go. Can seats be removed entirely, I'd say they can.

I had some thoughts recently that my next car might be a Peugeot Rifter, available in various lengths and wheelbases, massive inside and maybe an electric version on the cards.

But it's typical of the "computer says no" mentality in this country that it is a hassle using a van for private use while keeping everything correct.

At the same time, there is widespread abuse of the commercial tax. E.g civil service employee (who doesn't have a side business or farm etc.) driving a commercially taxed crewcab, claiming that they need it for work and claiming travel expenses. First of all, they don't need a commercial vehicle for work, secondly is it not the case that an employee shouldn't be taxing a vehicle commercially or am I wrong about that?

Peter T

I've been keeping an eye on the mpv models which are basically people carrier version of vans, Caddy life ticks all the boxes but they dont hang around long if they're any bit decent. Most are converted for wheelchair use too. Fiat doblo is a van that if converted to private tax would be nearly the same price as commercial.

Eggs For Dinner

Padre_Pio wrote: »

I've heard stories where they just need a profession to out on the application.

"You need a van for your dogs, oh you must be a dog walker so".

You're correct, they're just stories. No insurance professional would lead a client to make a serious misrepresentation

tabby aspreme

Take a look at the Axa online insurance quote system, they have an option for insuring a van for social and domestic use only.

emeldc

Eggs For Dinner wrote: »

You're correct, they're just stories. No insurance professional would lead a client to make a serious misrepresentation

Of course they wouldn't. But there are plenty that will pull a few strings and act on a bit of a nudge and a wink. Sometimes that's all you need.