Pick Up Truck Tax
Discussion
Hello,
I've got a few up and coming projects around the house/garden, and also a good source of logs I want to cut up and collect over the winter, so I'm thinking of buying a pick up truck I can use to haul stuff around and bounce down tracks/across fields. What isn't so clear is what is the road tax situation, as I don't really fancy paying £700+ out for an old nail.
I'm probably looking at a 4WD double cab, c.2010. From what I can tell if it's classed as a car and over 226 kg/km (which most seem to be) then it's £710, but if it's a light goods vehicle it's only £345 (or less for certain dates).
Does it depend on what they are first registered as? Or what they are sold as now? Or is there some other classification?
And are there other things that could reduce this? Eg. are cabs better? Or are there certain makes/models which are better?
I've got a few up and coming projects around the house/garden, and also a good source of logs I want to cut up and collect over the winter, so I'm thinking of buying a pick up truck I can use to haul stuff around and bounce down tracks/across fields. What isn't so clear is what is the road tax situation, as I don't really fancy paying £700+ out for an old nail.
I'm probably looking at a 4WD double cab, c.2010. From what I can tell if it's classed as a car and over 226 kg/km (which most seem to be) then it's £710, but if it's a light goods vehicle it's only £345 (or less for certain dates).
Does it depend on what they are first registered as? Or what they are sold as now? Or is there some other classification?
And are there other things that could reduce this? Eg. are cabs better? Or are there certain makes/models which are better?
One other thing to watch out for is access to refuse sites if you are doing projects and have waste to dispose of - I have a friend who bought one and then sold it as he wasn't allowed into some tips and others wanted to charge him as a commercial vehicle.
A plain estate car/SUV doesn't have these issues.
A plain estate car/SUV doesn't have these issues.
Usual suspects are Hilux/L200/Ranger and the older Isuzu all of which can rust quite badly, they are rudimentary vehicles so don’t expect them to drive like a modern car but you probably knew that.
Trying to find one that’s not been abused can be a challenge as I found out last week, enquired about a Hilux for the same reasons as yourself and it looked immaculate but was rotten as a pear underneath.
Trying to find one that’s not been abused can be a challenge as I found out last week, enquired about a Hilux for the same reasons as yourself and it looked immaculate but was rotten as a pear underneath.
Just be aware that if you go down the route of buying one as a Commercial Vehicle is it effectively a 'van' for insurance purposes, so you cannot put if on your private car policy, you need a separate CV policy.
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/van-insurance/pic...
I'm not sure how things work now (30yrs since I worked for a local broker) but back in the 90s it was difficult to get underwriters to recognise your private car NCB on a CV policy and vice-versa. Check with a specialist broker if in doubt.
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/van-insurance/pic...
I'm not sure how things work now (30yrs since I worked for a local broker) but back in the 90s it was difficult to get underwriters to recognise your private car NCB on a CV policy and vice-versa. Check with a specialist broker if in doubt.
We have a 66 plate Hilux and I love it but unless need the offroad ability then a trailer is probably a far more sensible solution. I'd shop very carefully if I was looking at a cheap pickup - they're often abused and neglected and the body on frame construction can mean that they look reasonable up top but are actually rotten underneath once you dig deeper.
Our 2016 Hilux is taxed as a commercial vehicle - can't remember the specific amount but it isn't expensive.
Our 2016 Hilux is taxed as a commercial vehicle - can't remember the specific amount but it isn't expensive.
JuanCarlosFandango said:
Hello,
I've got a few up and coming projects around the house/garden, and also a good source of logs I want to cut up and collect over the winter, so I'm thinking of buying a pick up truck I can use to haul stuff around and bounce down tracks/across fields. What isn't so clear is what is the road tax situation, as I don't really fancy paying £700+ out for an old nail.
I'm probably looking at a 4WD double cab, c.2010. From what I can tell if it's classed as a car and over 226 kg/km (which most seem to be) then it's £710, but if it's a light goods vehicle it's only £345 (or less for certain dates).
Does it depend on what they are first registered as? Or what they are sold as now? Or is there some other classification?
And are there other things that could reduce this? Eg. are cabs better? Or are there certain makes/models which are better?
if you're a commercial pick-up aren't there restrictions on speed-limit (ie they're limited to 60)? Seem to recall some people fell foul of this a few years backI've got a few up and coming projects around the house/garden, and also a good source of logs I want to cut up and collect over the winter, so I'm thinking of buying a pick up truck I can use to haul stuff around and bounce down tracks/across fields. What isn't so clear is what is the road tax situation, as I don't really fancy paying £700+ out for an old nail.
I'm probably looking at a 4WD double cab, c.2010. From what I can tell if it's classed as a car and over 226 kg/km (which most seem to be) then it's £710, but if it's a light goods vehicle it's only £345 (or less for certain dates).
Does it depend on what they are first registered as? Or what they are sold as now? Or is there some other classification?
And are there other things that could reduce this? Eg. are cabs better? Or are there certain makes/models which are better?
Have had a pickup as an additional car for years, primarily because I do a lot of mountain biking and there's no easier way to move a group of people and bikes. It has the added benefit of meaning you have a vehicle you don't care about that is great in poor weather and useful for moving things and doing tip runs.
I've never had an issue with using the tip. I understand this varies from area to area but I've used numerous pickups and as long as it's a personal rather than commercial vehicle you're treated just like a car.
Do your homework before buying though, as mentioned, tax varies hugely and some vehicles are subject to commercial vehicle speed limits whereas others aren't.
Current pickup of choice is a Dodge Ram 5.7 Hemi double cab. The bed is a much more useful size than UK / Jap pickups, it has 6 seats, tax is £345 / year. It's subject to normal car speed limits and it's ULEZ compliant.
I've never had an issue with using the tip. I understand this varies from area to area but I've used numerous pickups and as long as it's a personal rather than commercial vehicle you're treated just like a car.
Do your homework before buying though, as mentioned, tax varies hugely and some vehicles are subject to commercial vehicle speed limits whereas others aren't.
Current pickup of choice is a Dodge Ram 5.7 Hemi double cab. The bed is a much more useful size than UK / Jap pickups, it has 6 seats, tax is £345 / year. It's subject to normal car speed limits and it's ULEZ compliant.
I'd have kept my previous Hilux as it was such a good truck but I had 2 issues with it. Bed on any UK / Jap pickup is actually quite small. You get a few tonne bags of garden waste in and they're full. The other, larger issues, was the DERV. Life's too short to have a diesel, even in a commercial vehicle.
DodgyGeezer said:
if you're a commercial pick-up aren't there restrictions on speed-limit (ie they're limited to 60)? Seem to recall some people fell foul of this a few years back
Only if unladen weight is over 2040kg. IIFC, Amaroks, newer Hiluxes and Rangers are affected, however L200s and D-Maxs are not.Mammasaid said:
Only if unladen weight is over 2040kg. IIFC, Amaroks, newer Hiluxes and Rangers are affected, however L200s and D-Maxs are not.
It's also a bit academic in the real world - I've put 130k all over the UK on my current Hilux and generally have the cruise set at car limits + 10% GPS speed without issue.Snow and Rocks said:
Mammasaid said:
Only if unladen weight is over 2040kg. IIFC, Amaroks, newer Hiluxes and Rangers are affected, however L200s and D-Maxs are not.
It's also a bit academic in the real world - I've put 130k all over the UK on my current Hilux and generally have the cruise set at car limits + 10% GPS speed without issue.I think the big yanks are going to be too big. Parking is quite tight, my wife would hate LHD and even though I'm no fan of diesel single digit MPG would get old quite quickly.
A trailer is a possibility but I hate towing them and the estate car wouldn't stand much farm track work, let alone a field.
A trailer is a possibility but I hate towing them and the estate car wouldn't stand much farm track work, let alone a field.
JuanCarlosFandango said:
I think the big yanks are going to be too big. Parking is quite tight, my wife would hate LHD and even though I'm no fan of diesel single digit MPG would get old quite quickly.
A trailer is a possibility but I hate towing them and the estate car wouldn't stand much farm track work, let alone a field.
they're not that big and can be a lot of fun...A trailer is a possibility but I hate towing them and the estate car wouldn't stand much farm track work, let alone a field.
I will grant you that low/mid-teens does get tedious - but the noise
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