Why do people drive unnecessarily large cars?

The need of a commercial vehicle relates to its design/performance and features etc. It's not all about 'cheap tax'. The cost of private tax would be passed on to business customers; we all end up paying more.

I and others would require a second/third car, otherwise you'd have me up for committing tax fraud for stopping at the shop. It would be so impractical that commercial tax would become unviable for all; why have it then for any vehicle - make it the same across the board.

You're also ignoring the classic cars, but are they somehow 'better'?

did you think it was not possible to do so?

I've literally stated a few posts ago that some do tax them as private. I specifically mentioned the justification requirements to avail of this and the alternate being private.

did you think it was not possible to do so? you buy the vehicle you need for your business, and then if you intend to use it privately too, tax it privately.

This just dodges what I wrote though. Dual use is acknowledged and catered for by insurance companies knowing full well they are primarily used for the users business/trade/profession. Going by your wishes, I'd be up for tax fraud for stopping at the shop on my way home in a commercially taxed vehicle. The practicalities and enforcement are laughable really.

I'll repeat myself in saying this is not a 'tax' issue. It's curtain twitching judgement.

This is one of a number of silly arguments going on here.

Say you have a van on which you pay commercial tax rates. 99% of your use of the van is indeed for commercial purposes connected to your trade or business, but you very occasionally use it for a trip to the shop or for some other private/domestic need. Should you be paying the private motor tax rate on it instead, for the sake of this 1% of use?

If "yes", then that would be a pretty extreme view.

If "no, just occasional use like that would be tolerable, albeit not strictly legal", then please tell at what percentage you'd draw the limit for personal use.

Some are, others aren't. It's not always about passengers either.

It still does nothing to answer the realistic practicalities. The result would be to do away with commercial tax altogether, who would pay the costs of businesses having additional costs - the consumer.

I am glad no one supporting the "just pay the private tax" to justify the minimal private use ever conduct personal business during work time….

Of course commercial vehicle drivers can't avail of the same private tax rates as car drivers.

The private tax rates for commercial vehicles are still based on the old engine capacity rates.

I think you may be misunderstanding my position.

I think the rules need to be changed to make life easier for businesses and self employed.

Just accept that the vehicles will be used to some extent for private purposes.

A Rav4 is around 200 to tax privately. Or 333 to tax commercially. How on gods green earth are you gaining an advantage by taxing it commercially?

Yes the advantages can be overstated.

I haven't seen any of the current model RAV4 commercialed or the previous model for that matter.

Even if you did one you'd also be looking at annual CVRT at €131.41 not to mention only having two seats.

Well, there you go, then.

Correct that strictly speaking and according to the law, a vehicle that's taxed according to commercial rates must be used solely and wholly for commercial purposes. If the owner uses it even only occasionally for domestic/personal purposes, they obviously don't comply with this.

But If you're not going to sweat it over a "commerical" vehicle being used for occasional domestic/personal purposes, then you're not sticking to your guns on this one. You're instead accepting the Irish solution to the Irish problem: "ah sure, if it's only the odd time, then what's the harm?"

This shows why it was one of the silly arguments here in the first place.

If I had the energy, I'd tackle another one, involving dear old Andy, who has yet again misinterpreted, misunderstood, or chosen to ignore something that's actually been written, and who's instead continuing to portray it as what he thinks has been written.

Ah I think you're father was told a tall tale

Nowadays when you buy a second hand van you can drive on until the tax runs out.

When you go to renew you need to prove business use and fill out form rf 111a to declare you will only use it for commercial.

After that renewals can be done online.

Surely this limitation would only apply on the public road!