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Private to commercial

  • 26-02-2021 12:00pm
    #1
    LovelySpuds
    Registered Users Posts: 170 ✭✭


    Well, so I’m looking at setting up as a sole trader. Currently have a 2013 A6 saloon. Lovely car but unfortunately boot space lacks a bit for what I want it for. Have had my eyes on BMW X5s and VW Touaregs, ideally on the book as a ‘crew cab’ so I could use it as a private car occasionally if I needed to carry more than 2 people. Road tax for these privately is an eye watering €1200 per annum, compared to €333 for commercial.

    There’s a good few ‘crew cab’ jeeps like these on DoneDeal but how would it work if I bought one that’s a private one and wanted to convert it to crewcab? In the case of the X5 it would be removing the 2 seats in the boot. As far as I know the Touareg are 5 seaters anyway.

    Also, how would this work insurance wise? Would be swapping from a private to a commercial vehicle. I am currently insured with Liberty directly.


Comments

  • #2
    Whocare
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,170 ✭✭✭Whocare


    Depending on your local motor tax office you will need to fill in Crew Cab declaration form with 3 employees pps number. So cheaper tax is not that easily got depending on tax office


  • #3
    LovelySpuds
    Registered Users Posts: 170 ✭✭LovelySpuds


    Whocare wrote: »
    Depending on your local motor tax office you will need to fill in Crew Cab declaration form with 3 employees pps number. So cheaper tax is not that easily got depending on tax office

    Even if I buy one that’s already registered as a crewcab?


  • #4
    Whocare
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,170 ✭✭✭Whocare


    LovelySpuds wrote: »
    Even if I buy one that’s already registered as a crewcab?

    Yes what you're local tax office ? Go onto there website and see do you need crewcab declaration form for taxing it .


  • #5
    doctorchopper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 886 ✭✭✭doctorchopper


    I'm on my 5th crewcab and have never been asked for employee's pps numbers. Not saying that they can't or won't but you would be very unlucky if they did.


  • #6
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 14,344 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    As far as I know, the best workaround is to buy a second hand car, already crew-cabbed and make sure it's already taxed. Then you're just popping into the tax office (or online) to renew the tax and not drawing attention to yourself. It should be a simpler procedure in fairness.
    LovelySpuds wrote: »
    Also, how would this work insurance wise? Would be swapping from a private to a commercial vehicle. I am currently insured with Liberty directly.

    This is where you're really going to be nailed to the wall though. I'm in a position where I'm a sole trader, and would love to pick up a Ranger or something like that. Completely and totally impractical, but I think they look great. However, I have learned from my brother's past mistakes.

    This is going back over a decade, but I believe everything is still the same with insurance.

    He had a private car, and he set out as a sole trader. Sold the car and bought as big a van as he could. Drove it for 3-4 years and then the business went to the wall (he was pretty good at what he did in fairness, but the recession did a number on him).

    He sold the van, closed up the business and bought a private car again.


    When he sold his car in the first place and got the van, insurance hit him with a massive premium because he had never drove commercially, and effectively treated him like a brand new driver that had never set foot in a car.

    When he sold the van and bought a car again, they said 2 years have elapsed, so your 'no claims bonus' is gone and again treated him like a completely new driver that had never felt a steering wheel before.



    He was rode at every opportunity and had to build up his no claims bonus again from scratch. It's the most ridiculous system I have ever heard of.

    I'm currently insured with RSA via Bank of Ireland, and they give me fantastic premiums, however, they told me they won't insure any commercial vehicles.


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