Car margin or VAT car: what do you pay attention to when buying a used car?

Imagine: you're looking for a used car. You're scrolling through ads and suddenly see terms like “margin car” and “VAT car”. Maybe you're thinking: what's the difference?

Imagine: you're looking for a used car. You're scrolling through ads and suddenly see terms like “margin car” and “VAT car”. Maybe you're thinking: what's the difference? And what does that mean for my wallet? It's actually quite simple, but it's important to understand it before making a choice.

The margin car: simple and organized

A margin car is a used car that was previously owned by a private person. That sounds simple, but it has a big advantage: there is no VAT on the sales price that you can still claim back. For the seller, this means that he was unable to deduct the VAT when purchasing the car, so he cannot charge it separately to you as a buyer.

The result? The price you see is the price you pay. No fine print, no complicated calculations. This is ideal for private individuals. You don't have to worry about red tape or tax benefits.

For example, let's say you see a margin car for €15,000. That's just the price you pay, including all taxes. For an individual, it is a clear and safe choice.

A margin car can also be interesting as an entrepreneur, but only if you want to use the car privately. This is because you cannot recover the VAT, so the tax advantage you do have with a VAT car will be lost.

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The VAT car: attractive for entrepreneurs

A VAT car works exactly the other way around. This is a car that has previously been used for business purposes, for example by a company or a leasing company. Because the seller was able to deduct the VAT on the purchase of the car, this VAT will be charged to you when sold.

For an entrepreneur, this can be a big advantage: you can claim the VAT back from the tax authorities. That could just save thousands of euros. Suppose you buy a car for €24,200 including 21% VAT and 0 euro BPM for convenience. As an entrepreneur, you can then claim a refund of €4,200 in VAT, so that the car only costs you €20,000 net. That is quite a difference, especially with more expensive cars.

For individuals, a VAT car is not necessarily cheaper, because they cannot claim that VAT back. The advantage of a VAT car therefore lies mainly in business use.

What should you pay attention to when choosing?

So the most important difference between a margin car and a VAT car lies in the origin of the car and the way in which VAT is treated.

  • Margin car: from an individual, price including all taxes, no VAT refundable, especially interesting for private individuals or private use by entrepreneurs.
  • VAT car: from a business owner, price excluding or including VAT depending on how it is listed, VAT deductible for entrepreneurs, especially interesting for business use.

Do you have doubts? Always ask the seller explicitly, or, of course, a Carvendo advisor. It's often mentioned in the ad or on the invoice, but it doesn't hurt to double-check. This way, you can be sure that you will not be faced with any surprises.

FAQs

  • Can I buy a VAT car as an individual?

Yes, you can. But you won't benefit from the VAT, because you can't claim it back.

  • Can I drive a margin car for business?

Yes, that's allowed. But you can't reclaim VAT, so a VAT car is often cheaper for business use.

  • Are margin cars cheaper?

Not automatically. The price depends mainly on the brand, year of manufacture, mileage and condition of the car, not just on the margin or VAT status.

Conclusion

A margin car is simple, well-organized and especially suitable for private individuals. You can see what you pay immediately and don't have to worry about VAT. A VAT car is advantageous for entrepreneurs who want to use the car for business, because they can claim the VAT back. But it can also be purchased by an individual.

It may all sound complicated, but it really comes down to one question: are you going to use the car privately or for business? The answer to that determines which car suits you best. Do you have doubts? Then get advice from the seller or your accountant. This way, you can be sure you're making a smart choice and not paying too much.

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