Taxing Commercial Vehicles Online

Question 406: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has considered extending the facility to tax motor vehicles online to commercial vehicles; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10302/11]

Response from Minister Leo Varadkar (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport): 10th May 2011

The national vehicle fleet comprises over 2.4 million vehicles and the online motor tax service can currently be availed of by a very significant 85% of owners. Arrangements being made by my Department, which are now at an advanced stage, will enable commercial vehicles (some 327,000 units) to avail of the online motor tax service in instances where they are covered by a current roadworthiness certificate. This new service will be introduced in the coming weeks.

The Road Safety Authority is currently engaged in the implementation of a wide-ranging commercial vehicle roadworthiness reform programme. As part of this, it is envisaged that new arrangements which will involve electronic data transfer as well as more streamlined administrative arrangements will also encourage a greater volume of commercial vehicle owners to tax online.

Text via KildareStreet.com