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Motor Tax

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Questions (702, 740)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

702. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if persons told to cocoon will have their car tax extended in view of the fact they were unable to leave their home due to the Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12321/20]

View answer

Gary Gannon

Question:

740. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider providing all car owners over 70 years of age three months credit or a three-month free period on their next car tax renewal to reflect the fact that they were unable to use their cars during the period they were cocooning. [12648/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 702 and 740 together.

There is presently a facility in place for refunds of motor tax in certain limited circumstances where:

- a vehicle has been scrapped or destroyed;

- a vehicle has been permanently exported;

- a vehicle has been stolen and has not been recovered by the owner;

- a vehicle in respect of which a tax disc has been taken out has not been used in a public place at any time since the issue of the disc;

- the owner of a vehicle has ceased, because of illness, injury or other physical disability, to use the vehicle;

- the owner of a vehicle has ceased, because of absence from the state for business or educational purposes, to use the vehicle; or

- the owner of a vehicle has ceased, because of service overseas with the Defence Forces, to use the vehicle.

There are no plans currently to amend the legislation to extend the grounds for the granting of a refund or to provide for an extension of motor tax.

The Deputy should also note that there is a facility in place to declare a vehicle off the road if a vehicle is not going to be in use. The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013, as amended, provides for a system of declaring vehicles off the road in advance for motor tax purposes. The declaration must be made in the last month of an existing motor tax disc or renewed in the last month of a previously made declaration of non-use. The declaration can be made online or in a motor tax office using the following form:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/4df54e-declaration-of-non-use-of-a-vehicle/.

The declaration can be made for any number of calendar months between 3 and 12 months i.e. it cannot be made for a period of 1 or 2 months. If a vehicle is subsequently required to be put back on the road, the declaration can be broken at any time simply by taxing the vehicle.

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