Will pre-2008 tax change in the Budget?

I'm interested in buying a Toyota RAV4, either a 2005 1.8 petrol or a 2006/2007 2.0 petrol. I'm hoding out for a few weeks to see if Budget 2016 helps drivers of pre-2008 cars because €710 motor tax is crazy. Any opinions on a possible change in pre-2008 motor tax? I work from home and only do 5,000km per year. My budget is €8,000. I don't like driving anything that takes half an hour to get from 0-60 but on my budget the motor tax on anything bigger than a 1.6 is just crazy. I've had new cars before but because I work from home and do very low mileage I just hated seeing my new car sitting in the driveway depreciating. At one stage I was thinking of getting a classic car and paying just €56 motor tax but I hate having to choose my car based on motor tax.

11.09.2015

Our answer:

Hi Clive,

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a reduction in the tax rate. It's been lobbied on more than once but it's far more likely that the government will actually concentrate on pushing up the rates for post-2008 cars to get everyone back to paying an average of €400 a year for motor tax - that's been the stated aim for quite some time.

As for an SUV with affordable tax, what about a Mk1 Nissan Qashqai? It's 1.5 diesel will only cost you €270 a year to tax.

Answered by Shane O'Donoghue
13.09.2015

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