The recoding of the car can save road tax!

Thomas Wachsmuth 1 May 2021 Tips, products, information & Co.

Reading time 8 Min.

Save vehicle tax through a "Recoding“From the car? In some cases it works. In the 90s, there was a change in the way vehicles are equipped Catalysts. Models of the same series only met that Emission standard 1, but their successors of the same model have already reached the Emission standard 2. Often these two variants have the same key number. This is because the manufacturer has not specified a technical difference between the master model and the modification. If a vehicle that meets the higher emissions standard is placed in the corresponding category recodedone waves Tax reduction.

Older vehicles that are in good condition are loyal companions and are therefore reluctant to be exchanged. Many vehicle owners are nostalgic and love their vehicle so much that they don't want to give it up. In many cases, the owner also has a new acquisition not possible and the old darling is allowed to continue doing its job. The disadvantage of the matter is that the car causes horrific car taxes due to the bad pollutant classification. This is how a vehicle costs the Emission standard 1 for example approx. 15 euros per 100 ccm. This corresponds to a tax burden of over 375 Euros annually if it is a 2,5 liter model, for example. Annoying when the neighbor with the massive SUV and consumption beyond good and bad clearly have to pay less.

However, it is not absolutely necessary to replace the mobile stand. In some cases there is the option of the type code number to let change - so the Recoding. A corresponding adjustment of the key number in the vehicle registration document can lead to savings in vehicle tax.

Concrete effects of the recoding on the vehicle tax

The key number in the vehicle registration document is decisive for determining the vehicle tax. The tax office can use this key number to extract the Emission standard derive. This is very important for determining the vehicle tax rate. In the case of models from the 90s, there may be classifications that do not correspond to the actual facts. This is due to historical reasons. Although the manufacturers have gradually improved the equipment with emission control systems from models without catalytic converters to models with unregulated to vehicles with regulated catalytic converters, the code numbers have remained at times unchanged. This was due to the fact that the same models had only been further developed. As a result, vehicles that use the Emission standard 2 meet this not documented in the type code number, as the original code number has been retained.

In order to remedy this situation, the authorized dealers or even the manufacturer can be contacted directly. In the relevant case, the holder will receive corresponding written evidence of the actual emissions standard. With this document, the owner of the vehicle can now go to the tax office to apply for the code.

Tax savings are also possible retrospectively under certain circumstances

If the requested conversion is legal, this may mean not only a relief in the future. The longer the car in question is registered with the owner, the more reimbursement can be made be asserted retrospectively, sometimes even up to the day of first registration. However, this is subject to a respective one Examination on a case-by-case basis. Since the amount of the vehicle tax depends largely on the engine size, this also applies to the tax reduction to be achieved. The rule of thumb is: a reclassification of Euro 1 to Euro 2 reduces the tax burden by about half. So the bigger the engine, the greater the tax savings.

Who can re-code their car?

Possible affected models mostly come from the 90s. It has to be regulated catalyst short G-Cat be built in to the Emission standard 2 to meet. Vehicles too without cat or only with unregulated can be partially re-classified for tax purposes. In this case, of course, is one retrofitting required. The costs arising here are offset by an expected tax relief. The calculation is particularly effective if the vehicle is to be used for a longer period of time.