Private HGV tax cheaoer than my car..!!

Paradigm

Just to clear things up

There is no need to remove the "fifth wheel".

If you are not towing a trailer then a C+E entitlement isn't required.

If the vehicle weighs less than 7.5 tonnes it can be replated & then can be driven by anyone with a C1 entitlement.

Anyone passing their test before 1st Jan 1997 should (barring the DVLA !!!!-ups previously mentioned) already have this.

Quite why anyone would consider this as an option is a mystery....unless your name is Chris Eubank

robredz

Gloomendoom wrote: »

OP why not get a steam lorry. Usually zero road tax and, if you are resourceful, free fuel too.

If you pick the right one, you can drive it on your car licence.

How about a Sentinel S4 it could do 60 mph when Diesel trucks struggled to 35. Need a fireman with you to stoke the fire most likely......

optimus_primera

robredz wrote: »

Don't forget the 90kph (56 mph in UK measures) speed limiter, makes modern trucks boring to drive, and is responsible for much of the bunching on motorways. Incidentally after the EU made the UK government introduce limiters; deaths of drivers on long distance work falling asleep at the wheel increased, due to the autopilot effect.

I'll agree with that, i drive a 7.5t for work, and motorways are really boring, did Grimsby to Leeds to Boston yesterday, all at 55 mph, on cruise control ... tedious or what .......

Currently have just started on the rd to getting class 2 entitlement, as we are binning off 7.5 tonners,and getting 12 and 18 tonners .

misterspivvy

well there is one advantage to having a private HGV. Like a motorhome, it's no longer used for hire or reward and therefore becomes speed limiter exempt.:D
You'd be quite amazed how quick some of these trucks can be. plus a tractor unit with no trailer on is not working to a fraction of its capacity and you should see 15mpg, more on newer trucks- same as a range rover but from a 12 litre straight six turbo diesel.

mrbadexample

misterspivvy wrote: »

well there is one advantage to having a private HGV. Like a motorhome, it's no longer used for hire or reward and therefore becomes speed limiter exempt.:D

No, it doesn't become speed limiter exempt. The criteria for speed limiters depends on the age and weight of the vehicle, not the use to which it is put. The exemptions are as follows:

Exemptions

- vehicles being taken to a place where a speed limiter is to be installed, calibrated, repaired or replaced, or - to complete the journey during which it has accidentally ceased to function, - vehicles owned by the Secretary of State for Defence and used for naval, military or air force purposes, - vehicles used for naval, military or air force purposes while being driven by a person for the time being subject to the orders of a member of the armed forces of the Crown, - vehicles used for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes, - vehicles used on a public road for not more than an aggregate of six miles in a calendar week whilst passing between land in the keepers occupation.

misterspivvy

I don't necessarily agree, the regulations concerning speed limiters refer specifically to passenger carrying and goods vehicles used for hire or reward.
Just because the tax disc on for example, a privately owned, used for shows only Scania will say "private HGV" it doesnt mean its being used for hire or reward, one of those enormous A class American winebago motorhomes will also have a "Private HGV" taxation class whilst being limiter exempt, despite the fact it may weigh the same as a solo tractor unit, it goes on the weight, requiring that the driver passes his LGV test in order to drive it.
Why are heavy wrecker trucks used for HGV recovery, snow ploughs and horse boxes limiter exempt? They can all be based on the exact same rigid scania chassis as a haulage truck, but all have uses NOT encompassing "hire or reward".
If I'm wrong, the simple answer is just to buy an HGV first registered before Jan 1st 1988 which are limiter exempt due to age.

optimus_primera

The rumour going round is that its going to change anyway..... you will have to use a tachograph whether for hire or reward or not,you will have to a speed limiter,and the appropriate licence entitlement to drive anything with a gross weight of 7.5t or more ........

Quinny_2

Speed limiters already apply to certain types of van, and horse boxes are supposed to have them as well, but I think it may depend on the age of the vehicle.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/speedmanagement/vanspeedlimits

http://www.horsebox-rescue.co.uk/html/speed_limiters.html

http://www.horsebox-rescue.co.uk/speed_20limiters_20-_20new_20regulations.pdf

misterspivvy

optimus_primera wrote: »

The rumour going round is that its going to change anyway..... you will have to use a tachograph whether for hire or reward or not,you will have to a speed limiter,and the appropriate licence entitlement to drive anything with a gross weight of 7.5t or more ........

That will be interesting if its true- anything being made now with a tachograph will have a digital tacho for which you need a digi card, a portable data storage device, for which you need a way to transfer the data to storage capable of storing it for 2 years, for which you need to have the FTA or similar check your records to comply with the law..incidently what law are you required to comply with for a horsebox? standard EU HGV driver regs or what?
drowning in a sea of EU nonsense IMO!!!

Paradigm

misterspivvy wrote: »

incidently what law are you required to comply with for a horsebox? standard EU HGV driver regs or what?
drowning in a sea of EU nonsense IMO!!!

Funny you should ask that, I was looking for the same info for a friend.

Good site here http://www.drivinghorseboxes.co.uk/driving_tachographs.htm