Changing vehicle tax class from Van to Car

spartanbaz

I have a personal small van that I only use for my mountain biking hobby. I am not a commercial business, just a private owner who likes the convenience of having a van to easily transport my bikes to the mountains for fun. It seems unfair that I have to pay the same blanket van tax rate that commercial users are paying so my question is - can I change my vehicle class to that of a car since I am not using it for business anyway? And thereby qualify for cheaper road tax? Thanks for any help!

davidwood681

But it's a light goods vehicle so not unfair that you pay the light goods rate.

Car_54

The tax rate is based on the vehicle type, not whether it’s used commercially.

AdrianC

Is it N1 or M1 type-approved?
Does it have an official CO2 figure?

spartanbaz

113 CO2 and I believe it's N1 but was hoping to get this changed if at all possible.

AdrianC

So £220/year difference... No wonder you want to change it...


N1 is van type approval. You can't just change how the manufacturer approved it, and to which set of standards.

Buy a small-van-based sprogbus, and take the seats out the back.

BoGoF

As has been said it doesn't matter what you personally use it for that matters.

Only solution is to buy a car that will do the same job.

Goudy

AdrianC wrote: »

So £220/year difference... No wonder you want to change it...


N1 is van type approval. You can't just change how the manufacturer approved it, and to which set of standards.

Buy a small-van-based sprogbus, and take the seats out the back.

You're right you can't change the vehicles class.


Myself and others have bought the MPV versions on small vans to transport Trials bikes around.
Fiat Doblo MPV's are pretty much ideal, the seats fold up so well, you don't need to remove them to get a bike in on a Sunday and still drag the screamers to school on Monday morning.

Berlingos are popular too, I binned my old VX Combo for one with all the creature comforts you just don't get on the van version.

You always find more petrol versions in MPV format too, if you don't fancy a diesel.

The money you save on RFL can be put towards window tinting to keep your goodies out of sight.

Scrapit

Get an estate car or as above, ford connect tourney. Or easier still a bike rack.