Clearing motor tax

ConorCraigKMC

Hi Folks

Quick query regarding road tax, I’ll ring the MT office anyway but between being on hold and passed from office to office I thought I might get an answer here quick!

Short version of story - Partner bought car pre COVID as was going for a good price with plan to insure it once she passed her test. COVID hit and car was at her parents so couldn’t get to it (we live down the country) and with reduced income we never insured it as it was parked in a garage. Plan now is to sell it for parts as she is just going to get a new car instead and this car has developed electrical gremlins that will cost more than she bought it for to repair. However, there’s about a years outstanding tax on it as it was parked up but we’ve no plan to insure it as we getting rid so what is best way to clear that tax? Do you just have to ring the office directly? Any advice appreciated

delly

Under normal circumstances, the tax liability goes when sold. I'd imagine that the same applies when scrapped. You can't declare it off the road with clearing the current outstanding arrears.

Q16. I have an old vehicle in the garage that hasn't been used for years. Do I need to declare it off the road?


A16. If you think that, at any stage in the future, the car might be put back on the road then arrears will have accrued and continue to accrue on this vehicle. There is no option to declare it off the road retrospectively at this stage. If you are absolutely certain that the vehicle will never go back on the road, then you need to do nothing.

User1998

If your selling the car for parts or selling it as a whole, or just leaving the car there indefinitely, there is no reason or need to clear the outstanding tax. The only way to clear to outstanding tax is to sell the car. So if you really want to just transfer the car into your name and the tax will be cleared

Dempo1

ConorCraigKMC wrote: »

Hi Folks

Quick query regarding road tax, I’ll ring the MT office anyway but between being on hold and passed from office to office I thought I might get an answer here quick!

Short version of story - Partner bought car pre COVID as was going for a good price with plan to insure it once she passed her test. COVID hit and car was at her parents so couldn’t get to it (we live down the country) and with reduced income we never insured it as it was parked in a garage. Plan now is to sell it for parts as she is just going to get a new car instead and this car has developed electrical gremlins that will cost more than she bought it for to repair. However, there’s about a years outstanding tax on it as it was parked up but we’ve no plan to insure it as we getting rid so what is best way to clear that tax? Do you just have to ring the office directly? Any advice appreciated

If your selling car you won't need to worry about outstanding tax, shame you did not declare it not being used with motor tax department.

I would however caution you to insure if being sold for whatever reason, you complete change of ownership on vehicle registration cert and send it off with details and address of new owner. I've heard some horror stories of people selling cars for parts in good faith , not thinking to do a change of ownership and all sorts of trouble followed with summons, parking fines etc sent to (still) registered owner when car sold and re used on the road.

mgbgt1978

It sounds like you want to sell the car as a 'parts car', rather than actually sell the parts yourself.
Just make sure whoever buys it fills in the VLC , doesn't take the VLC away, and you post it to Shannon asap.
There will not be any arrears owed by your Partner once the Car changes ownership.


If anybody wants to buy the Car for parts, but doesn't want to fill out the change of ownership section (for any made-up reason) just explain that they have wasted their time and yours.

ConorCraigKMC

Ok thanks lads. Sounds like i can just transfer it to myself and that will clear the tax then sell for parts / have destroyed and we should be all good then without having to fork out for the outstanding

mgbgt1978

If you're doing that, then keep an eye on motortax.ie and check when the change of ownership goes through. You can then declare it SORD online. Just in case there's a hold up with the new VLC.