Curated list

12 classics you can tax for €56 a year

Every car on this list is old enough to be taxed in Ireland's vintage class, a flat €56 a year whatever the engine size. On a 2.0-litre that's a saving of over €650 a year compared with standard motor tax, and the NCT drops to every two years.

We picked 12 that were sold new in Ireland, with a range of budgets: from a Fiat Panda 4x4 to the cars that were bedroom posters in the 1990s.

01 · The hot hatch done right

Volkswagen Golf Mk2 GTI 16v 1986–1992

The 16-valve Mk2 GTI took the formula from the first Golf GTI and made it faster and better built. It's easy to own: parts are everywhere, it's simple to work on, and it's quick enough to keep up with modern traffic.

Motor tax now: €56 vintage
Standard tax: €636 a year (engine size)
You save: €580 a year
Engine: 1,781 cc, 139 bhp, 0–62 8.3 s
Guide price: €9,000–€25,000 (our estimate)

Watch for: Rust, KR head cracks and cam wear, originality (big bumper and wheels), accident damage.

Motor tax by year and full specs → For sale on DoneDeal ↗

02 · The legend

Peugeot 205 Phase 2 GTI 1.9 1987–1994

Light, agile and famous for lifting a rear wheel through corners, the 205 GTI 1.9 is the hot hatch many people rate as the best ever. Original, unmodified cars now sell for serious money.

Motor tax now: €56 vintage
Standard tax: €710 a year (engine size)
You save: €654 a year
Engine: 1,905 cc, 130 bhp, 0–62 7.8 s
Guide price: €10,000–€30,000 (our estimate)

Watch for: Rear axle bearings, rust, crash damage, clones built from lesser 205s.

Compare every 205 in the filter → For sale on DoneDeal ↗

03 · The roadster that saved roadsters

Mazda MX-5 NA 1.6 1990–1994

Inspired by the British sports cars of the 1960s but built to Japanese standards of reliability, the first MX-5 brought the cheap two-seater back to life. Pop-up headlights, a rev-happy 1.6 and a gearchange that's a joy to use. Rust is the enemy, so check the sills.

Motor tax now: €56 vintage
Standard tax: €514 a year (engine size)
You save: €458 a year
Engine: 1,597 cc, 114 bhp, 0–62 8.8 s
Guide price: €6,000–€15,000 (our estimate)

Watch for: Sills and rear arches rust badly, blocked hood drains, crank pulley wobble on early 1.6s.

Compare every MX-5 in the filter → For sale on DoneDeal ↗

04 · The cult choice

Fiat Panda Mk1 (FIRE facelift) 4x4 1.1 1986–1999

A Giugiaro-designed box with part-time four-wheel drive engineered by Steyr-Puch. The Panda 4x4 goes places SUVs won't, weighs next to nothing and has a big following. It's the cheapest €56 classic on this list to run.

Motor tax now: €56 vintage (cars built up to 1996)
Standard tax: €330 a year (engine size)
You save: €274 a year
Engine: 1,108 cc, 50 bhp
Guide price: €5,000–€12,000 (our estimate)

Watch for: Rust everywhere, transfer case and rear axle wear, worn dog-clutch 4WD engagement.

Compare every Panda in the filter → For sale on DoneDeal ↗

05 · Small, light, turbo

Renault 5 Mk2 (Supercinq) GT Turbo 1987–1991

Under 900 kg with a turbocharged 1.4, the GT Turbo was a giant-killer in its day. Many were modified or crashed, so a straight, original one is a find.

Motor tax now: €56 vintage
Standard tax: €385 a year (engine size)
You save: €329 a year
Engine: 1,397 cc, 120 bhp, 0–62 7.5 s
Guide price: €9,000–€25,000 (our estimate)

Watch for: Rust, turbo and cooling (water-cooled turbo), crash damage, modified cars, fragile interior trim.

Compare every 5 in the filter → For sale on DoneDeal ↗

06 · The four-door Cosworth

Ford Sierra Mk2 Sapphire RS Cosworth 1988–1990

The Sapphire RS Cosworth hid the famous YB turbo engine in a discreet four-door Sierra. With 204 PS and rear-wheel drive it was a Q-car in 1988, and good ones are now firmly collector territory.

Motor tax now: €56 vintage
Standard tax: €710 a year (engine size)
You save: €654 a year
Engine: 1,993 cc, 204 bhp, 0–62 6.1 s
Guide price: €30,000–€60,000 (our estimate)

Watch for: Theft/rebuild history, YB head gasket and turbo, rust in arches and sills, originality.

Compare every Sierra in the filter → For sale on DoneDeal ↗

07 · The whale tail

Ford Escort RS Cosworth 2.0 Turbo (T35 big turbo) 1992–1994

Built to homologate Ford's World Rally Championship car, the Escort Cosworth used Sierra Cosworth four-wheel-drive mechanicals under an Escort-shaped body with a huge rear wing. The early 'big turbo' cars are the most sought after.

Motor tax now: €56 vintage
Standard tax: €710 a year (engine size)
You save: €654 a year
Engine: 1,993 cc, 227 bhp, 0–62 6.2 s
Guide price: €45,000–€95,000 (our estimate)

Watch for: Check provenance, theft/rebuild history, YB engine health, 4x4 transmission and rust around arches.

Compare every Escort in the filter → For sale on DoneDeal ↗

08 · The touring car legend

BMW 3 Series E30 M3 1986–1991

Built so BMW could race it, the E30 M3 has a high-revving four-cylinder, box-flared arches and a race record few cars can match. It's now one of the most valuable BMWs of its era.

Motor tax now: €56 vintage
Standard tax: €1,034 a year (engine size)
You save: €978 a year
Engine: 2,302 cc, 195 bhp, 0–62 6.9 s
Guide price: €60,000–€120,000 (our estimate)

Watch for: Rust in bespoke box-arch panels, S14 top-end wear, fakes and rebuilt shells - check VIN and history carefully.

Motor tax by year and full specs → For sale on DoneDeal ↗

09 · The thinking driver's Porsche

Porsche 944 Turbo 1985–1991

The 944 Turbo had near 50:50 weight distribution and 250 PS from a turbocharged 2.5-litre four, and it was a match for the 911 of its day. Running costs are high, but the €56 tax and two-yearly NCT help.

Motor tax now: €56 vintage
Standard tax: €1,080 a year (engine size)
You save: €1,024 a year
Engine: 2,479 cc, 250 bhp, 0–62 5.9 s
Guide price: €25,000–€50,000 (our estimate)

Watch for: Cam and balance belts, turbo, clutch, modified cars.

Compare every 944 in the filter → For sale on DoneDeal ↗

10 · The rotary

Mazda RX-7 FD 13B-REW Twin Turbo 1992–1996

A sequential twin-turbo rotary engine in one of the most beautiful shapes Japan ever built. The FD RX-7 needs knowledgeable care, as rotary engines hate neglect, but nothing else drives like it. The last UK-market cars from 1996 are only now turning 30.

Motor tax now: €56 vintage
Standard tax: €385 a year (engine size)
You save: €329 a year
Engine: 1,308 cc, 236 bhp, 0–62 5.3 s
Guide price: €35,000–€60,000 (our estimate)

Watch for: Apex seals and compression test essential, sequential turbo vacuum lines, heat damage, poor modifications.

Compare every RX-7 in the filter → For sale on DoneDeal ↗

11 · The 2JZ

Toyota Supra Mk4 3.0 Twin Turbo 1993–1996

The twin-turbo 3.0 2JZ engine became famous for taking huge power increases without breaking. Prices for the Mk4 Supra have gone through the roof, but official European cars sold new are the rarest. The last ones reach 30 at the end of 2026.

Motor tax now: €56 vintage
Standard tax: €1,494 a year (engine size)
You save: €1,438 a year
Engine: 2,997 cc, 326 bhp, 0–62 5.1 s
Guide price: €65,000–€120,000 (our estimate)

Watch for: Heavily modified cars, sequential turbo faults, rust at rear arches, crash damage, fake UK-spec.

Compare every Supra in the filter → For sale on DoneDeal ↗

12 · Where it all started

Audi quattro Ur-quattro 20v 1980–1991

The Audi quattro brought four-wheel drive to rallying and road cars. The final 20-valve version from 1989 to 1991 is the most refined, with 220 PS from its five-cylinder and the warble that goes with it.

Motor tax now: €56 vintage
Standard tax: €994 a year (engine size)
You save: €938 a year
Engine: 2,226 cc, 220 bhp, 0–62 6.3 s
Guide price: €45,000–€95,000 (our estimate)

Watch for: Rust (floors, sills, arches), 20v head and turbo, interior trim scarcity, provenance.

Compare every quattro in the filter → For sale on DoneDeal ↗

How to switch to vintage tax

It isn't automatic. Send form RF111 (Change of Particulars, with 'Vintage' in section 4) to your Motor Tax Office with the registration certificate and payment, or an RF150 off-road declaration. After that you can renew online. Vintage tax is for 12 months only. Age counts from the date of manufacture, shown by the chassis number and registration certificate.

NCT and insurance

Cars 30 to 39 years old need an NCT every two years if not used commercially, and cars 40+ are exempt. Classic insurance usually needs the car to be 20 or 25 years old, with a limited annual mileage and a separate car for everyday use. Ask your insurer for agreed-value cover.

Importing one

A car more than 30 years old when it's registered in Ireland pays a flat €200 VRT. Cars from Great Britain may also face customs duty and import VAT. Original-condition cars 30+ years old may qualify as historic vehicles at a reduced VAT rate.

Guide prices and 'watch for' notes are our own estimates and haven't been independently checked. Motor tax figures are worked out from Department of Transport rates; check the exact figure for a specific car at motortax.ie.

More lists

Motor tax rates: Department of Transport schedule (unchanged in Budgets 2025 and 2026), checked 2026-09. CO2: official UK type-approval figures from the Vehicle Certification Agency; Irish-market versions can differ slightly. Your car's exact CO2 and band are on its registration certificate, and motortax.ie shows the rate for a given registration. Pre-July 2008 cars are taxed on engine size; July 2008–2020 on NEDC CO2; 2021 on, on WLTP CO2.