Motor Tax Online

Motor Tax Online is a service introduced by the Department of the Environment, Heritage, & Local Government in early 2004 to enable members of the public to apply for (or renew) their motor tax disc over the Internet, instead of visiting the Motor Tax Office in person (or posting their application there).

Motor Tax Offices (MTOs) are not involved in any way; it is run entirely by the Department's Vehicle Registration Unit in Shannon, Co. Clare.

While the service will continue to be expanded over time, it is presently restricted to the following vehicle-types:

• Private cars
• Motorcycles
• Agricultural tractors
• Excavators/diggers
• Combine harvesters
• Hearses
• Vehicles adapted for use by disabled persons
• Motor caravans (renewal only; not for first taxing)
• Vintage/Veteran vehicles

Vehicles that can not use the service include:

• All commercially-taxed vehicles
• Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), such as taxis and hackneys.

The "Motor Tax Online" Website:

The Motor Tax Online website is located here. (Opens new window.)

Because payment information is involved, the website uses a secure encryption technology called "Secure Sockets Layer" (SSL). Initially developed for transmitting confidential documents via the Internet, SSL technology is now a worldwide standard for safely and securely transmitting credit or debit card information from your computer to a website like the Motor Tax Online service.

Motor Tax Online Requirements:

In order to use the Motor Tax Online service, you need the following information:

1. Your vehicle registration number.
2. Your insurance policy information: the name of your insurance company (the actual insurer; not your broker, if you use one), your policy number (which can be found on your insurance certificate), and the expiry date of your policy.
3. A suitable means of payment (e.g. VISA, MasterCard, LASER, etc.)
4. Your personal identification number (PIN). (See below)

Personal Identification Number (PIN):

If you are taxing a new or imported vehicle for the first time, the PIN is the last 6 characters of the vehicle's chassis number as printed on your RF100 form, which is obtained from your motor dealer (if they registered your vehicle) or the Revenue Commissioners (if you registered the vehicle yourself). For example, if your chassis number on your vehicle is MKDHU57PLXU499X72, then your PIN will be 499X72. This will only work the first time you tax the vehicle; the chassis number will not work if you are trying to renew an existing tax disc.

If you are trying to renew a tax disc using the Motor Tax Online service, the PIN is printed on the top right-hand-side of the RF100B tax renewal/reminder notice. However, if your RF100B form does not show any PIN, then your vehicle is not eligible to use the Motor Tax Online service.

Also, a new PIN is issued every time your tax is due for renewal. The same PIN will not work the next time.

Motor Tax Arrears:

You can pay up to 3 months of motor tax arrears using the Motor Tax Online system, though not in isolation (i.e. you must pay the renewal amount plus any arrears due).

After those 3 months, the PIN will become inactive, and you'll have to tax the vehicle at your local Motor Tax Office (MTO) instead. You will also be unable to use the Motor Tax Online service if you wish to declare non-use of the vehicle for any period for which motor tax is due. Such a declaration can only be made at a Garda Station, and will have to be submitted to your local MTO instead. In both instances, you should use your RF100 form if the vehicle is new or imported, or an RF100A form if you are renewing an existing tax disc.

Receiving Your Tax Disc:

Your tax disc is issued within 4 working-days and posted directly from the Vehicle Registration Unit in Shannon, Co. Clare. (In the case of a new or imported vehicle, the Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) is also issued within 4 working days, but is posted separately.)

Motor Tax Offices (MTOs) aren't involved in the process so, if it doesn't arrive within a reasonable time frame, you shouldn't call them: Instead, call the Motor Tax Online Helpdesk at 1890-411-412, quoting the transaction reference number shown on the payment confirmation page. (Although they are issued within 4 working days, you should allow 7 to 10 days for delivery, especially around Christmas time and early January).

Additional Information:

You cannot currently change the ownership of your vehicle using the Motor Tax Online service. You can, however, check if the ownership of you vehicle has been changed by entering the vehicle registration number at this webpage. (Opens new window.)