- What are the opening hours?
All Motor Tax office counters are open to the public from 9.15 am to 12.15pm and from 1.15pm to 3.00pm.
- How much is it to tax my vehicle?
Paying of Motor Tax on private vehicles is based on the cubic capacity of the engine. Paying of Motor tax on commercial/goods vehicle is based on the unladen weight of the vehicle. Paying of tax on buses is based on the seating capacity. You can tax for three or six months or for one year. Tax discs expires on the last day of the month.
Refer to rates of duty.
- Can I tax my vehicle over the phone?
There is no facility yet to tax over the phone.
- If my vehicle was only registered in the last week of the month why am I liable to pay tax for the whole month?
Tax discs issues from the first day of the current month that the vehicle was used in a public place. If the vehicle was not used on a public rood until the beginning of the following month then the tax application form must be completed by the registered owner and the declaration of non-use may be witnessed and stamped at a Garda station.
- Can I backdate the tax instead of paying arrears?
No all tax discs must issue from the first of the current month. Applicants have seven days of grace in the following month to tax a vehicle from the previous month. After the seven days have elapsed arrears are due.
- How are more than one month arrears calculated?
Arrears in excess of one month are calculated by multiplying the arrears rate for one month by the number of months involved and ignoring the cent in the result.
- Can I get a temporary disc until the vehicle is roadworthiness tested?
Temporary discs are no longer issued. Testing centres now carry out roadworthiness testing without the vehicle having a current tax disc displayed.
- If I sell my car & there is months left on the disc can I transfer the tax disc to my new car?
No the tax disc remains with the vehicle. Tax discs are non-transferrable.
- Where can I get a holder for the Tax/NCT/Insurance disc?
You may be able to get the holders from your insurance company or from the garage you purchased the vehicle from. Alternatively they can be purchased in any car accessory shop.
- What methods of payment are there?
Payment methods include cash (but not through the post), cheque (not third party), money order/postal order, bank draft or by credit card (laser cards require the customer to be present & therefore are not acceptable through the post).
All payments should be payable to Donegal County Council. Date – no more than 6 month old. Ensure cheques are signed & any changes made to the cheque initialled by the cheque owner.
- Why do I have to pay a further fee to the Motor Tax office for the road worthiness certificate after already paying for the vehicle to be tested?
To date the extra fee is payable to cover administration costs. Negotiations are ongoing between the Department of the Environment & Department of Transport to perhaps do away with the necessity of having to hand in the pass statement to the MTO & just use the pass statement, as both documents are quite similar.
- Do I have to submit my insurance certificate when taxing the car?
Since the introduction of Motor Tax online system, the necessity to produce your insurance certificate has been done away with. Applicants must enter the insurance details on the application form (insurance company name, policy number & expiry date) and the registered owner must fully complete and sign the form. Any tax applications received without the registered owner’s signature will be rejected.
Vehicle owners should of course ensure that the vehicle is adequately insured at all time & the insurance covers them for the purpose they are using the vehicle e.g. commercial/hire or reward etc
- When do I have to get a vehicle roadworthiness tested or get the NCT?
All commercial vehicles/Large PSV, ambulances must be roadworthiness tested once they are one year old. Roadworthiness certificates are valid for one year.
From 01/01/02 all cars over 4 years old and older require an NCT. The test will fall due on the anniversary of the date of first registration of the vehicle in Ireland or abroad whichever is earlier. When the vehicle passes the NCT the certificate is valid for two years. For further information contact NCT Service, Dublin 1890 412 413. Small vans being taxed as private do not require an NCT at present.
- Does my vehicle need to have a current NCT to get taxed?
At present Motor Tax Offices do not require sight of the NCT certificate prior to taxing a vehicle however all owners are required to have a current NCT once the vehicle is over 4 years old.
