Road Tax Category?

[AliceB]

Hello
I am looking to buy a van to convert to a camper. I have done this before years ago but I just insured and taxed my van as a commerical van which cost a lot of money. So now I can see there is a category of road tax called Private Heavy Goods (TC10) aswell as one for Motorhomes. So I am overwhelmed with questions.
I need to think about taxing the vehicle to get it home. I was planning to insure it as a 'camper under conversion' and would like to tax it as private heavy goods because the price is considerably cheaper. So is this possible? Has anybody done this before?
Whenever I have taxed vehicles in the past, there has just been a fixed price and I haven't had any way of informing the DVLA of the purpose of the vehicle so I wondered if there is an avenue I didn't know about.
And my next question is at what stage can it be taxed as a motor home if ever? Or is it best to keep it taxed as Private Heavy Goods? Really confused. Any info would be much appreciated.

 

[Saucer]

There have been lots of threads about this. There’s a good explainer here https://oaktreemotorhomes.co.uk/motorhome-road-taxes/

 

[AliceB]

Hello
I am looking to buy a van to convert to a camper. I have done this before years ago but I just insured and taxed my van as a commerical van which cost a lot of money. So now I can see there is a category of road tax called Private Heavy Goods (TC10) aswell as one for Motorhomes. So I am overwhelmed with questions.
I need to think about taxing the vehicle to get it home. I was planning to insure it as a 'camper under conversion' and would like to tax it as private heavy goods because the price is considerably cheaper. So is this possible? Has anybody done this before?
Whenever I have taxed vehicles in the past, there has just been a fixed price and I haven't had any way of informing the DVLA of the purpose of the vehicle so I wondered if there is an avenue I didn't know about.
And my next question is at what stage can it be taxed as a motor home if ever? Or is it best to keep it taxed as Private Heavy Goods? Really confused. Any info would be much appreciated.

I am replying to my own post here, just to ask another question, sorry. So if I end up buying a van that is already converted, would I tax this as a motorhome or still a private heavy goods? I think I will be converting it myself but if I come across one that will work already converted I will do so.

 

[Figaro]

Can't help with the question except to say private HGV is the category for motorhome over 3.5 tonne, so C1 needed on your license to drive it and road tax is 165 pounds which I believe rises to 170 after April.
I'm sure someone with experience of categories for van conversions and the requirements for it to be classed as a motorhome will be along soon

 

[Otter Spotter]

You will have to tax it at whatever the log book categorise’s it at currently, you don’t have a choice. In addition the hoops you have to jump through to change its tax category once you have converted it will prove to you how stupid the DVLA are Many have converted vehicles to Campervans only to be told ‘No’ it’s not a campervan or Motorcaravan (the official term) but a van with windows!

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[oldiesontour]

Two tax bands 3500kg or below PLG(£350YR)
Over 3500kg PHGV £160Yr
Some(most 3500 vans can be up plated for around £350 but then C1 licence needed but At the moment brings tax down to £160

 

[PeterCarole29]

Two tax bands 3500kg or below PLG(£350YR)
Over 3500kg PHGV £160Yr
Some(most 3500 vans can be up plated for around £350 but then C1 licence needed but At the moment brings tax down to £160

I havent got any reference to validate it but i thought i had read posts that stated upplating your van does not reduce you tax as they change the rule without consoltation.

 

[oldiesontour]

I havent got any reference to validate it but i thought i had read posts that stated upplating your van does not reduce you tax as they change the rule without consoltation.

Maybe wrong but I think change applies from April so still doable now..and new rules won't affect existing PHGV's ?

 

[Orion]

I havent got any reference to validate it but i thought i had read posts that stated upplating your van does not reduce you tax as they change the rule without consoltation.

That was for the original vehicle category N1 - DVLA were stating it remained as N1 for VED purposes even though it was up plated beyond the N1 weight category, and the legislation backed that up. Vehicles originally of M1 appeared to have escaped that and qualified for the reduced PHGV rate of (currently) £165 once up plated above 3500kg.

Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994

An Act to consolidate the enactments relating to vehicle excise duty and the registration of vehicles.

www.legislation.gov.uk

 

[tacr2man]

Van or motor caravan over 3500 will be phgv for ved (if not used for commercial purposes).
So if not converted to motor caravan it will be subject to hgv test , when converted will be class 4 mot .
If under 3500 will be plg for ved .

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[Orion]

Van or motor caravan over 3500 will be phgv for ved (if not used for commercial purposes).

If the van was originally registered as N1 it is possible that it will not be PHGV if up plated above 3500kg irrespective of it being used as a motor caravan. It’s due to DVLA starting to strictly apply the legislation from 1994 - although with the DVLA who knows if all applications are being dealt with in the same way depending if the day of the week has a Y in it!

I’ve quoted the relevant sections in post #271 on this thread:

Current U.K. law on up plating has been changed WITHOUT consultation

It's 90 days in a rolling 180 days. Thanks for clarifying.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[swemmy666]

Maybe wrong but I think change applies from April so still doable now..and new rules won't affect existing PHGV's ?

Plenty of members have uprated their MH in the last few months, including me. Fields X and Y can be requested via the V70 form, but F1 requires emails, letters, and or phone calls. To do field X, I think you need to also get D5 to MOTOR CARAVAN, and I believe they will require additional eveidence for that, I didnt need to as mine was already specified

 

[oldiesontour]

Plenty of members have uprated their MH in the last few months, including me. Fields X and Y can be requested via the V70 form, but F1 requires emails, letters, and or phone calls. To do field X, I think you need to also get D5 to MOTOR CARAVAN, and I believe they will require additional eveidence for that, I didnt need to as mine was already specified

Don't think Motorcaravan bit matters it's being taxed as PHGV class ...others may know different?