Commercial to private

TheRunner21

Hey,

A family friend has offered us a commercial Touereg for a good price. I’m having a bit of trouble getting my head around changing it over from commercial to private.

From my research it seems I’ll have to change it over to private from commercial for motor tax and it’ll need a yearly CVR test as it was previously a commercial. I’ve rang around a few insurance companies and some wont insure it as it’s currently taxed as a commercial and other have said they won’t insure it as it’s a “crew cab”. I’m not sure what this means as it seems to be a standard 5 door, 5 seats with no modifications. Does anyone know if I change it from commercial to private tax I’ll have an easier time or because it’s crew cab it’ll be a no go?

Thanks

bazz26

I think you may also be liable for some VRT if you reclassify it as a passenger vehicle as the rate may have been lower when it was originally registered as a commercial. Also I think the motor tax would be based on the engine size tax system rather than co2 based system.

If that is the case then there may be no savings in buying this one unless you are getting it for almost nothing.

colm_mcm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122196180#Comment_122196180

you’re right about the tax being cc based.
reregistering as private, as opposed to just taxing private, isn’t possible.

TheRunner21

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122196180#Comment_122196180

Thanks for the replies folks. We’re getting it for a very good price from a family member otherwise we wouldn’t even consider it with the tax being pre-2008 cc based. How would we know if there was VRT due?

Still can’t seem to get it insured privately though. Got a couple of ok commercial insurance quotes though, is this the best route to go as they include social and domestic use?

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122203782#Comment_122203782

Do you really think buying it is a good idea? How cheap are you getting the car? You’ll be spending €1,500 a year in motor tax alone. Thats €7,500 over the next 5 years. Alongside increased fuel consumption and maintenance costs if you’re not already driving a big SUV. And then you have the insurance, is your insurance even valid since your not going to be using it commercially?

TheRunner21

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122203849#Comment_122203849

We had been talking about getting a second car and this family member is “selling” this to us for a token amount compared to what it’s worth. They even suggested trying it out for a year and if it’s too expensive to run sell it on at a profit and get something more economical so we don’t have anything to lose if we can get the legalities sorted out.

From a bit more research today it seems like a commercial policy is the only way forward to insure it as it’s a commercial vehicle and we can’t change that.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122203886#Comment_122203886

You will need to have a registered business to continue using it as a commercial. There are a few ways round this such as been a registered farmer or forestor - but the options are extremely limited and insurance companies will be reluctant to take your word for it.

It used to be possible to register as a musician or an artist but this route has been mostly closed out unless you can demonstrate it's a genuine business.

TheRunner21

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122203961#Comment_122203961

I’m not looking to use it as a commercial. I’m just looking for a way to use it. I don’t mind changing the tax over to private and paying the correct rate and I also don’t mind paying higher insurance if insuring it as a commercial vehicle is the only way to insure it. I just want to make sure I’m doing everything above board.

The best quote I got for it I was honest about my occupation and got them to confirm it’s also covered for social and domestic use.

traco

I can't offer much but I'd start with the log book and the motortax office. I doubt you will get anywhere there and suspect that you will be directed to the VRT office for some sort of verification and check that it has five factory seats and wasn't ever a "van" style commercial. They may ask for an engineer to verify that but not sure to be honest.

In terms of VRT liability and it being pre 2008 I doubt the cost would be much as I dodn't think there was a massive difference in VRT on crew cabs compared to actual van / two seat commercials and teh main benefit being a business coudl claim vat back on them and also the low road tax.

The logic behind the above is based on what happens when you convert a van to a camper and get the log book changed. I can't see the process being vastly different to be honest.

Please report back on how you go as I would be interested to know. I have considered running a van as a private vehicle hence my interest.

User1998

Surely you just bring it to an engineer and have it certified as a passenger vehicle, the same way you’d bring a passenger vehicle to be certified as a crewcab.

Its then a matter of finding the insurance company who will insure it as a private vehicle - not a trivial challenge. Usually requires a specialist broker.

hoodie6029

Getting this Touareg sounds like an absolute pain in the face OP.

_Kaiser_

I'd have to agree - aside from the whole commercial to private tax, VRT and insurance problem (which is significant), a Touareg of that era will be a heavy thirsty and costly beast.

I had a 09 Q7 as a loaner for a week at one point (basically the same thing I believe). Lovely machine but you'd want a fuel tanker following you around - and I say that as someone who was in the process from changing from a 2005 3.0 TDI A6 on the old/high tax rate and doing 1300km a week at the time

If your mate/relative basically just wants rid of it and is willing to sell/give it to you for next to nothing and doesn't mind what you do with it, then he/you may be as well to just sell it on and use the money to get something more suitable.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122209897#Comment_122209897

That era Touareg was developed with the Porsche Cayenne, Q7 was a bit later, but yes they are definitely thirsty, 25-28 mpg would be good!

Virtually unstoppable off road or in snow, they spent a fortune developing the 4 wheel drive system, way better than later Touaregs.

Anyway I don't see the issue here, OP has got a commercial quote including social and domestic use so just tax it commercially and drive it on like the majority of 'crew cab' owners do.

If not I'd like first refusal please OP🙂

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122209897#Comment_122209897

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122209943#Comment_122209943

OP hasn’t even hinted at what year/era of Touareg they are buying. I think all commercials are taxed on the old pre 2008 rate of motor tax as a private vehicle so we have no idea what year/era the car is?

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122210007#Comment_122210007

Ah gotcha thought when OP referenced pre 08 they were referring to the model.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122209943#Comment_122209943

He has a commercial quote, but the private use part is supposed to supplementary and occassional to the commercial use - not exclusively private. You may get away with this like thousands of other people, but your potentially going to hit trouble if you make anything but a superficial claim.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122210122#Comment_122210122

People always say this, it's scare mongering. The chances of running into any issues are literally nil. How will the insurance ever prove how much is occasional and how much you have driven the car for social domestic and pleasure.

If this was the case every tip you see driving in Dublin in the morning would be contested as it's privately insured cars driving to their office car park so "for the purpose of work" and they were insured only for social, domestic and pleasure.

I was hit off my bike by a young one driving to her office a few years ago which she wouldn't have been covered for and I suffered multiple broken bones and surgery, insurance claim ran into several tens of thousands and her insurance didn't even hesitate to cover her liability.

Would she have declared to them she used it for commuting, I highly doubt it.

Commuting to and from work is coveredby private insurance - always has been.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122210359#Comment_122210359

One of the questions asked is “Do you use your car for commuting to work” I imagine if you say no then it is not covered. Your policy should be cheaper if you select no.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122210359#Comment_122210359

Some but not all policies, it's usually slightly more expensive if you tell them you commute.