Refunds

Refunds for motor tax discs are payable only in the following circumstances:

1. the vehicle has been scrapped or destroyed,
2. the vehicle has been permanently exported,
3. the vehicle has been stolen and has not been recovered by the owner,
4. 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,
5. the owner of the vehicle has ceased, because of illness, injury or other physical disability, to use the vehicle,
6. the owner of the vehicle has ceased, because of absence from the state for business or educational purposes, to use the vehicle,
7. the owner of the vehicle has ceased, because of service overseas with the Defence Forces, to use the vehicle.

In order to obtain a refund, there must also be a minimum of three months remaining on a disc at the time of surrender of the disc to the licensing authority.

Please note that an application for a refund does not guarantee that a refund will be paid.  All refund applications are assessed on their own individual circumstances and further information to support the application may be requested.

Applications for refunds should be made on Form RF120 - Application for a Refund of Motor Tax (PDF) - 69 kbs and the tax disc surrendered to the Motor Taxation Office as soon as possible after the removal of the vehicle from use.

Applications for refund for scrapped vehicles must be accompanied by a Certificate of Destruction.  For further information see section on Authorised Treatment Facilities. 

In the case of Number 1 above, the refund is calculated on the date of issue of the Certificate of Destruction.  A minimum of three months of tax must remain on the disc at the time of issue of the Certificate of Destruction to claim a refund on a scrapped/destroyed vehicle.

In all other cases, the refund is calculated by reference to the number of months unexpired at the time of surrender of the tax disc.