Looking for Advice Please

[Yes dear]

Hi everyone
We've bought a year 2000 Iveco Laika Eco VIP 4001 2.8 Diesel Twin Axle.
Log book says Motor Caravan Private Light Goods (PLG)
Currently Sorn whilst we sort a few things out. Road Tax is around £300 a year we believe.
Is there ANY way of reducing this amount & if so, how?
We'd appreciate any help & guidance for this please? Many thanks

 

[Jez1966]

Google: How to change vehicle tax class: https://www.gov.uk/change-vehicle-tax-class
Basically changes that affect your vehicle include:

• the engine size (cc)
• the fuel type
• the weight (goods vehicles only)
• the number of seats (buses only)
• what you use the vehicle for, for example using a minibus for profit

You will not have to pay vehicle tax or will pay a lower rate if it’s being used by:

• a disabled person
• an organisation providing transport for disabled people

If automatic you only need one leg.

 

[funflair]

If you can have it uprated to over 3500kg and therefore Private Heavy Goods it should be £165 I believe.

 

[Wh05apk]

If it's over 3500kg, it should be "private hgv" then the tax should be £165 (unless it has gone up?

 

[Figaro]

If it's over 3500kg, it should be "private hgv" then the tax should be £165 (unless it has gone up?

No, it's not gone up in last 7 years at least

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[Jez1966]

2000 Iveco Laika Ecovip is a A Class is it not, google says it is.
Guessing to get reclassified to just "Private Light Goods" VAN, it not an HGV from "Motor Caravan Private Light Goods (PLG)",
would it not require everything it an A-Class "Motor Caravan" removing?
Not sure how you would manage that, petrol?

 

[Yes dear]

If you can have it uprated to over 3500kg and therefore Private Heavy Goods it should be £165 I believe.

Thanks for the constructive advice, exactly what were looking for. We looked at this & thought it was currently in the wrong tax bracket?? Can I change the springs for example & uprate it that way then take it somewhere for verification & make the change on log book & taxation class? Thanks again for replying & so quickly

 

[Yes dear]

2000 Iveco Laika Ecovip is a A Class is it not, google says it is.
Guessing to get reclassified to just "Private Light Goods" VAN, it not an HGV from "Motor Caravan Private Light Goods (PLG)",
would it not require everything it an A-Class "Motor Caravan" removing?
Not sure how you would manage that, petrol?

Yes its an A class diesel

 

[lorger]

I

Thanks for the constructive advice, exactly what were looking for. We looked at this & thought it was currently in the wrong tax bracket?? Can I change the springs for example & uprate it that way then take it somewhere for verification & make the change on log book & taxation class? Thanks again for replying & so quickly

It might just be a paper exercise, it’s certainly worth doing if not for tax but for payload. Two companies that I’m aware of can info it for you svtech and the other one escapes me just now but I believe they are a lot cheaper and highly recommended, think it’s something like van tech, I’m sure someone will be along to confirm.

If you haven’t paid to join fun yet then this thread is an example of how useful it is and the money saved will easily pay you fee

 

[Spriddler]

If you can have it uprated to over 3500kg and therefore Private Heavy Goods it should be £165 I believe.

You'll need category C1 on your licence.

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[Simon Meadwell]

Use Van Weight Engineering for uplating much cheaper than SVTech and very good service.

 

[enark]

Try http://www.svtech.co.uk/vehicles/motorhomes/

they were excellent.

 

[lunarman]

The van was originally offerd as either 3500kg or 4200kg what is the weight shown on the vin plate?

 

[Yes dear]

I

It might just be a paper exercise, it’s certainly worth doing if not for tax but for payload. Two companies that I’m aware of can info it for you svtech and the other one escapes me just now but I believe they are a lot cheaper and highly recommended, think it’s something like van tech, I’m sure someone will be along to confirm.

If you haven’t paid to join fun yet then this thread is an example of how useful it is and the money saved will easily pay you fee

Thank you & yes we joined a while ago. We found it very interesting & helpful. We've been motorhoming for many years now having dabbled with trailer tents & caravans first. This is the best life

 

[Yes dear]

The van was originally offerd as either 3500kg or 4200kg what is the weight shown on the vin plate?

I'm trying to work the plate out cos there's so much on it! Both are on there im just not sure which 1 is the relevant weight needed?? I'm going to check it all out so thanks for that

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[Yes dear]

Try http://www.svtech.co.uk/vehicles/motorhomes/

they were excellent.

Thanks for that. Funnily enough I've just been given that name & details by another customer in my local parts place

 

[TheBig1]

the plate will have the revenue weight for tax, then the maximum train weight (van and trailer) then rows for axle 1 axle 2 and axle 3 if fitted.

 

[TheBig1]

Thanks for that. Funnily enough I've just been given that name & details by another customer in my local parts place

SV tech are expensive for what they actually do. They just provide a letter to say the van can be uprated and a sticker. But they charge a few hundred quid for that without even looking at the van. Its a big con and places like van weight engineering do the same much cheaper

 

[Speve]

I'm trying to work the plate out cos there's so much on it! Both are on there im just not sure which 1 is the relevant weight needed?? I'm going to check it all out so thanks for that

The relevant plate is the converters plate

 

[Yes dear]

the plate will have the revenue weight for tax, then the maximum train weight (van and trailer) then rows for axle 1 axle 2 and axle 3 if fitted.

Thanks I will take a look, hopefully i might be able to work it out now!

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[Lenny HB]

I'm trying to work the plate out cos there's so much on it! Both are on there im just not sure which 1 is the relevant weight needed?? I'm going to check it all out so thanks for that

The last plate fitted superseded the others so unless it has been changed it will be the Laika plate.

 

[Yes dear]

SV tech are expensive for what they actually do. They just provide a letter to say the van can be uprated and a sticker. But they charge a few hundred quid for that without even looking at the van. Its a big con and places like van weight engineering do the same much cheaper

I Learn something new every day! Cheers for that.

 

[bigtwin]

they charge a few hundred quid for that without even looking at the van.

Do Van Weight Engineering look at the van?

Ian

 

[TheBig1]

Do Van Weight Engineering look at the van?

Ian

No, but charge less to issue the same letter and sticker

 

[bigtwin]

No, but charge less to issue the same letter and sticker

Ahh, ok, the same service but just at a different price.

Ian

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[Hoovie]

SV tech are expensive for what they actually do. They just provide a letter to say the van can be uprated and a sticker. But they charge a few hundred quid for that without even looking at the van. Its a big con and places like van weight engineering do the same much cheaper

It depends what you need.
When I was looking into an uprate, I spent a fair amount of time with SV Tech getting information and advice and discussing options. At the time I could have used SV Tech or John Russell (sadly RIP), but I liked the advice and approach of SV Tech better for a number of reasons and decided they were worth the extra cost. (Van Weight Engineering was not operating at this time).
The guidence and discussions with SV Tech led me to have very useful discussions with two other companies regarding how to correctly and SAFELY deal with the extra weight that was getting certified (This is more than just a tick in the box to get cheaper road tax in reality in most cases).

If the requirement is a simple uprate or downrate with no changes needed to safely take the higher weight, it is actually very possible to do all the paperwork yourself and buy a replacement sticker from eBay (or even create your own).

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Thanks I will take a look, hopefully i might be able to work it out now!

Photo the plate and put it up on here so folks can advise.

 

[Simon Meadwell]

SV tech are expensive for what they actually do. They just provide a letter to say the van can be uprated and a sticker. But they charge a few hundred quid for that without even looking at the van. Its a big con and places like van weight engineering do the same much cheaper

 

[Minxy]

I assume it's a 400i, not 4001, as I couldn't find the latter so I've had a shuftie at 400i models and they seem to be 4200kg so it could be that the one you have was originally at that weight and down-plated by a previous owner.

Van Weight Engineering as already mentioned can do the paperwork necessary to get it back up to 4200kg but make sure you have C1 on your driving licence to allow you to drive over 3500kg otherwise you'll be going no-where.

The converter's plate (ie Laika) is the one you need to look at.

 

[Yes dear]

Photo the plate and put it up on here so folks can advise.

Great idea I will do that over the weekend. We are looking to safely make the changes, its not just a paper exercise. I'm Wheelchair dependant & need to carry substantial medical kit. My power wheelchair alone adds considerable weight so it all needs careful consideration & planning.
Thank you to everyone who has posted, all your comments/help is very much appreciated

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