Insurance on a small van - NOT Commercial!

You will have to do an annual test, 115 euro.

Insurance is not easy most won't touch you, they can't even give you a reason why, I've even had agents suggest I use it for commercial purposes and insure it that way, total shite.

I'll pm you the broker in wexford I use, decent quotes.

Tbh you won't have a lot of options.

Tax is expensive as well your looking at bout 800/900 between tax n Insurance.

Estate may be an option for you ?

Your 100% correct T-Maxx, options are v limited, guess what "insure my van"doesn't when its private !

Go on then, pick one of the OP's preferences and show us three quotes.

Private Motor Tax for vans is based on the cc pre 2008 system.

For example a 1.6 Partner will cost €514 pa.

Have you considered the car version of the Partner or Kangoo ?

Might be a simple solution.

That person obviously isn't you.

How are you getting on with the quotes?

Vans are great, OP. I'll never go back to owning a car. I use mine as my sole mode of transport. It's very convenient for dogs and lots of other everyday things.

The tax is very straightforward. Go into the motor tax office and tell them you've just bought a small commercial vehicle and now you'd like to tax it as a private vehicle. If you get talking to somebody inexperienced they'll ask you about VAT numbers but just keep saying that you need to tax it as a private vehicle. I've done this a few times and never had any problem.

I'm insured with Alliance, again with no difficulties.

I think when people tell you it's complicated to own a van they're thinking of pulling a fast one, availing of commercial tax rates, that sort of thing. If you're willing to do it all above board it's simple.

The only snag, and it's a very minor thing, is that I pay commercial prices at motorway tolls. I've tried arguing, showing them my documents that prove it's a private vehicle, but I've lost the fight more often than I've won it.

The principle problem with insuring a van as a private vehicle relates to the level of cover provided to passenger injury on a private policy compared to a commercial policy. It's complicated, but the concern is the exposure of injury to people being carried in the back without proper restraints

Regardless of whether it's legal or not, or if your policy only covers front seat passengers, the insurer will be obliged to pay compensation to anyone who is injured in a crash. That's why they shy away from offering cover.

you can't re class a commercial vehicle to private, so you will always need the cvrt, you can tax it privately but it's going to be expensive as its on the old engine cc scale.

Axa do a private van insurance for social, domestic,hobbies.

it comes up on their site when you click on van insurance and fill in your details.

you can transfer your private car ncb over no problem.

Nope wrong information again, my van is tested under the commercial regime CVRT and is taxed and insured privately.

I'm not at all sure what your point is, unless it's that van drivers are more likely to break the law. Which, I suppose, is a possibility.

Anyway, I hope the OP has been reassured that it is indeed very practical to own, tax and insure a van as a private vehicle. Vans are great.

insurance

My father bought a new Partner in 2022.

Taxed privately. As above based off pre 2008, engine size, no idea how that's still a thing but it is.

He did a lot of checking but ended up doing annual CVRT test, from 1 year old.

Insurance. Again he did a lot of ringing around. InsureMyVan.ie were only ones who would carry his car NCB, insure for private use and insure him to tow a trailer.

A small thing to watch for OP. You'll not be able to drive other cars on your third party extension and only named drivers can drive your van.

.also far as I remember you'll have to put commcial rated tyres on it.

Road tax will be based on engine size not emissions.

My van is 2016 and has electric windows and mirrors, aircon, bluetooth...

I have taken out the bulkhead so there's a little more road noise than usual but that doesn't bother me at all. I find it very comfortable and easy to drive. There's no rear window and I was a bit concerned about adjusting to that but it wasn't a problem at all. When I have passengers they always comment that the passenger seat is very comfy too.