Can you privately own and drive a 'Commercial' car?

henryfool

Can a PAYE employee own and drive a commercial car or do you need to have your own business or be self-employed or something?

Can you choose to pay the private tax rate instead of commercial tax or does the vehicle need to be fully reclassified as private first? If so are the VRT, NoX charges etc through the roof?

Thanks

magicbastarder

any 'commercial' vehicle which is used even in part for private use should be taxed privately anyway.

macvin

Yes you can, if for space, a good estate car will be better but I do know people that do sports like fishing who prefer a small van than a car. Also many self employed tradespeople use commercial vehicles.

These days there's not much difference in tax rates - €333 a year for small commercial.

But there are other costs. Annual CVRT test (about €100), higher insurance as its commercial, higher toll charges (commercial vehicle, even if taxed. privately)

micah537

Yes you tax it privately but private insurance on a commercial can be difficult to get.

henryfool

Thanks folks - very helpful 👍

oinkely

As said above, i have private tax on a commercial vehicle. Its based on engine size as are all private tax on commercial vehicles. So €750 odd a year. To be fair, if it was based on emissions it would probably be a lot more!

Insurance can be a lot harder to sort out. As i have a crew cab its an extra layer of complexity. Basically I'm stuck with my current insurer as i can't get any alternative quotes. If they want to jack the rates way up I have no choice but to suck it up and pay out.

hoodie6029

Some camper van policies let you use it as a car full time too. You could drive something like at Transporter for €102 tax a year and car rates of tolls. Still need an annual CVRT though.

timple23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058245317/can-you-privately-own-and-drive-a-commercial-car

Yes you can, you will need a letter from your employer on headed paper stating it will only used for business purposes and a recent pay slip. RF111 form stamped at a Garda station, proof of commercial insurance policy, think that's it.

Wildly Boaring

It's a bit if a pain.

As above tax is straightforward. It's based on engine size, like the pre 2007 rates....

So something like a partner is reasonable and something like a 3.0 landcruiser is mental.

Insurance is painful

Someone like insuremyvan will do it.

But no driving of other cars (think you can drive other vans) and no guarantee you can take your no claims bonus with you if you want a car again

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119058698#Comment_119058698

In most cases you need to have another insurance policy on another vehicle. There's a load of caveats, head height, seating, cooking area etc... If it's a conversion the insurance company will need an engineers report.

Basically, it's near impossible to avail of the savings on tax & insurance a camper offers & use it as your daily driver.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119058720#Comment_119058720

It's best to check the Motor Tax section of your local authority website because there can be a difference in the documentation required from one local authority to another.

Once you provide the documentation correctly it should go smoothly.

You only have to do this the first time you tax the vehicle, renewals can be done online.