Taxing 2nd hand car

mark2912

I've just bought a second hand car, which I am hoping to collect some time next week.

However, its tax has been out since November - and I'm not sure how to renew it while owner is being changed at the same time.

One option I have is to pay the seller to tax it before the change of owner is recorded, however that would mean having to wait god knows how long for the disc to come out.

Does anybody know if there is a way to tax it and change owner details at the same time?

TIA
Mark

coylemj

The new owner is not liable for months when it was not taxed. Effectively, the slate is wiped clean.

Don't do the change of ownership until Feb 1st if you want to avoid paying to tax it for Jan.

Idbatterim

transfer ownership for early feb, you are not liable for the arrears... transfer it in January and you will be charged the tax for the entire month of jan. how much is the tax per year?

mark2912

coylemj wrote: »

The new owner is not liable for months when it was not taxed. Effectively, the slate is wiped clean.

Don't do the change of ownership until Feb 1st if you want to avoid paying to tax it for Jan.

Idbatterim wrote: »

transfer ownership for early feb, you are not liable for the arrears... transfer it in January and you will be charged the tax for the entire month of jan. how much is the tax per year?

Then if I got the car next week, would I be allowed to drive it home? As it would still be in sellers name and not taxed?

Also, when I do tax it and transfer ownership, can I drive around while waiting for tax disc to come? Providing I can show proof of payment if stopped by Garda

Idbatterim

mark2912 wrote: »

Then if I got the car next week, would I be allowed to drive it home? As it would still be in sellers name and not taxed?

Also, when I do tax it and transfer ownership, can I drive around while waiting for tax disc to come? Providing I can show proof of payment if stopped by Garda

are you driving it far from seller to yours? plenty of checkpoints in dublin at the moment. Yes you can drive it after you have transferred ownership and are waiting to physical tax disk to arrive, as the car is taxed...

mark2912

Idbatterim wrote: »

are you driving it far from seller to yours? plenty of checkpoints in dublin at the moment. Yes you can drive it after you have transferred ownership and are waiting to physical tax disk to arrive, as the car is taxed...

Yes actually, I live in Dublin and need to go to Meath for the car. I'd get a train out to Meath and then drive it back. I have a letter from work to say I'm an essential worker so going outside my 5km probably wouldn't be an issue as I can say I need the car to drive to work.

On that note, is there any way of taxing the car immediately? As I plan on sending off the change of ownership/registration cert on the way home

galwaytt

mark2912 wrote: »

Yes actually, I live in Dublin and need to go to Meath for the car. I'd get a train out to Meath and then drive it back. I have a letter from work to say I'm an essential worker so going outside my 5km probably wouldn't be an issue as I can say I need the car to drive to work.

On that note, is there any way of taxing the car immediately? As I plan on sending off the change of ownership/registration cert on the way home

You can tax it online and print the receipt and bring it with you. Probably need sellers details or last renewal notice to login.

bazz26

If the seller didn't tax it in 2 months then they would probably get stung for arrears if they taxed it now unless they had it declared off the road in that time. New owner cannot tax it until ownership changes as the new disc would automatically be posted to the previous owner's address.

mark2912

galwaytt wrote: »

You can tax it online and print the receipt and bring it with you. Probably need sellers details or last renewal notice to login.

Can I tax it online and pay for it in my name despite it being officially registered in the sellers name at the time?

bazz26 wrote: »

If the seller didn't tax it in 2 months then they would probably get stung for arrears if they taxed it now unless they had it declared off the road in that time. New owner cannot tax it until ownership changes as the new disc would automatically be posted to the previous owner's address.

The tax expired on 30/11/20, when I tax it myself when I get it in the next week or two will I need to pay the arrears? I'm confised about how the whole process works....

bazz26

No, the arrears disappear once ownership changes. New owner is only liable for motor tax from the beginning of the month that ownership transfers into your name.

Vikings

mark2912 wrote: »

Can I tax it online and pay for it in my name despite it being officially registered in the sellers name at the time?



The tax expired on 30/11/20, when I tax it myself when I get it in the next week or two will I need to pay the arrears? I'm confised about how the whole process works....

Don't worry about the tax. Take a photo of the completed & dated log book before it is posted off. Have the name and details of the person selling the car to hand. If you get stopped this will be sufficient proof you've just bought it. Better again if you have an email from your insurance company to cover the change to the new car on the same day.

You can't tax the car until the log book arrives back in your name. You will need the last few digits of the log books serial number in order to log in and tax it for the first time. You will be taxing it from the date of transfer so whatever date was put on the log book. If it's a post 08 low tax band car I personally wouldn't be bothered waiting until February to save ~€15.

coylemj

mark2912 wrote: »

Yes actually, I live in Dublin and need to go to Meath for the car. I'd get a train out to Meath and then drive it back. I have a letter from work to say I'm an essential worker so going outside my 5km probably wouldn't be an issue as I can say I need the car to drive to work.

On that note, is there any way of taxing the car immediately? As I plan on sending off the change of ownership/registration cert on the way home

You seem to be very concerned about the lack of a current tax disc but have you paid any attention to the situation regarding insurance?

If you're stopped at a checkpoint, will you have a disc and cert to show that you're insured to drive that car? Because once you pay the previous owner and he hands you the keys, you become the legal owner of the car (regardless of who is the registered owner) so you will not be covered by the 'driving other cars' clause in your policy. The tax disc might be the least of your worries.

mark2912

Vikings wrote: »

Don't worry about the tax. Take a photo of the completed & dated log book before it is posted off. Have the name and details of the person selling the car to hand. If you get stopped this will be sufficient proof you've just bought it. Better again if you have an email from your insurance company to cover the change to the new car on the same day.

You can't tax the car until the log book arrives back in your name. You will need the last few digits of the log books serial number in order to log in and tax it for the first time. You will be taxing it from the date of transfer so whatever date was put on the log book. If it's a post 08 low tax band car I personally wouldn't be bothered waiting until February to save ~€15.

Perfect, thanks. I'll do just that. But can I still drive it while I'm waiting for logbook to come, despite it not being taxed yet?

coylemj wrote: »

You seem to be very concerned about the lack of a current tax disc but have you paid any attention to the situation regarding insurance?

If you're stopped at a checkpoint, will you have a disc and cert to show that you're insured to drive that car? Because once you pay the previous owner and he hands you the keys, you become the legal owner of the car (regardless of who is the registered owner) so you will not be covered by the 'driving other cars' clause in your policy. The tax disc might be the least of your worries.

Oh yes, I have already gotten a quote for the new car and can easily change my policy over to it almost instantly. My insurance provider (AIG) also allows me to print my own disc and insurance certificate, so insurance-wise I should be fine.