How much will it cost?
Motoring in Ireland is very expensive.Taxation is very high,insurance is exhorbitant and financing is complex.The practicing vet has more demands than others.
This webpage will outline the salient points in car purchase and help you through the huge choice of vehicles that are on the Irish market.
But first you must get insurance,finance and a "handle" on car taxes. |
CARs v VANS:Which is better?
COST PRICE.Because of the lower VRT and recoverable VAT it is game set and match to the vans.
INSURANCE.Not much in it.Females may get better quotes for lady cover in a car than van.
INCOME TAX:Again vans better as you can claim for all repairs.With cars,you are restricted to the civil service rate,which may not be enough if the car is unreliable.
ROAD TAX.Flat rate for vans,dearer for most
cars.(see column on left)
SEATING.Cars seat 4/5,more if they are people carriers.Carvans,cubevans,jeepvans and normal pick ups strictly 2 seaters.Some panel vans seat three,while the crew cab pick up cater for 5.
BOOT SPACE.Advantage vans,though some small carvans and jeepvans are not that commodious.
SECURITY.Boot is best,cargo should be covered in vans.
COMFORT.A general term,but in general carvans can equal cars.Bigger vans can be cold in the winter and pick ups can be bouncy on back roads.
DOWN THE FIELD.Nothing to touch the jeeps or the pick ups for the spot of off roading.
NCT.Cars and vans every 2 years after 4 years.Vans over 1555kg (most jeeps),every 2 years.
DEPRECIATION.A big expense for both,car vans probably worse than cars.Jeeps were very good.
SOCIAL.Despite some stylish carvans,they are not cool.Jeeps have street cred,and the other vans are utilitarian.Advantage cars and jeeps
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Insurance
For a number of reasons motoring insurance is very expensive in Ireland.Particularly if you are young,male and a vet.Exhorbitant if you are on a provisional license.
The advice is to:
Shop around
Females try Lady Cover or its equivalent.They may not cover vans.
Farmers sons/daughters try FBD.
All try David Arrigo at 01-4910453
Because of high mileage country vets pay more than small animal practitioners.
For the former the premium is likely to be in the E1.000 to E3,000 range.
FINANCE
Shop Around.
Bank Loan/Credit union:you own the car.
Hire Purchase;You dont own the car,and may be repossed.
Leasing:Popular with vets buying jeeps,can claim the VAT on the lease.
Garageman MAY have a good finance deal.
Read the small print.
Consult your accountant as your decision may have income tax implications. Click on FINANCE on the side bar for further information.
VAT and VRT and ROAD TAX.
In most countries,the only tax on cars is VAT.That we have here too and it is levied on all vehicles at 21%.In addition Irish drivers pay VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax).Then there is Road tax which is expensive,based on engine size and not emmissions.
Either way it amounts to triple taxation,for Irish motorists.
VRT
There are no less than three different levels of VRT for passenger cars.
Up to 1.4 litre VRT is 22.5%,a FIat Punto costs E12K
Up to 1.9 litre VRT is 25%,a VW GolfTDi costs E25K
Over 1.9 litre VRT is 30%,a Mazda 6 costs E31K
There are two levels of VRT in commercials:
Cube vans,Panel vans,long wheel base jeeps and single cab pick ups are 0% rated (but there is a flat rate charge of E50.
Car vans,short wheelbase jeeps and crew cab pick ups are subject to a rate of 13.3%.
VAT.
If you are registered for VAT,the following are the fiscal advantages:
1.VAT is recoverable from diesel.This amounts to 3c/litre or E800 per annum.VAT not recoverable from petrol.
2.VAT is recoverable from commercials(all the vans) in the above column.
3.VAT is also recoverable from leasing.
Nearly all country vets are VAT registered,diesel is the favourite fuel and the vast majority drive commercials.
ROAD TAX
Vans E241 per annum
Cars 1400cc E278 per annum
2000cc E513 per annum.
BUYING SECOND HAND:
Be Careful.
Shop Around.
If you are confident and competent about cars,fine.
If not phone a friend who is.
Or employ the Automobile Association if in doubt.
Take the car for a test drive,preferably on a road you know.
Cars are advertised on papers,magazines such as Autotrader,Car buyers guide and Buy and sell.
Web sites:www.autotrader.ie,www.cbg.ie and buyandsell.ie are worth a visit.
Also the manufacturers own site e.g. www.alfaromeo.ie,www.audi.ie,www.bmw.ie etc
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Safety
The roads of the Republic are the most dangerous roads in N.Europe.
Double the mortality of UK
Middle of Euro league
The points system introduced last October has improved safety.Focussed on speed to date.
2 points per speeding offence,12 in a three year period leads to disqualification.
From June 1st 2003,2points will applied for not wearing a safety belt and not having insurance.
Drink,Drugs,and fatigue have a huge influence in the road slaughter.
Late night/early morning at weekend most dangerous time on Irish roads.
Border counties most dangerous geographically.
Young male drivers have the worst record demographically.
ABS,Airbags and Airconditioning are excellent safety devices.
Tyres should have 1.6 mm of tread to be legal.
austinshinnors@eircom.net |
