Imported car taxed as a Light Goods Vehicle

[wolfsbaneracing]

I'm importing a used car into the UK.
DVLA paperwork ideally requires a CofC, which I do not have.
CofC would state the emissions, meaning a taxation class K and £395 per year.
The DVLA have advised that without a CofC (or similar) to prove the emissions, the car will be classed as a Light Goods Vehicle. = £320 pa !
Can anyone flag up any downside to simply 'allowing' the DVLA to register the car as LGV ??
Many thanks.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Would it affect your speed limits, and how would it affect your insurance would be the questions I would look into.

[chrisch77]

If it is classed as light good vehicle then I assume it will be subject to lower (i.e,van) speed limits, so that could be a significant downside.

[OldGermanHeaps]

chrisch77 said:

If it is classed as light good vehicle then I assume it will be subject to lower (i.e,van) speed limits, so that could be a significant downside.

Van speed limits are weight and payload dependant so possibly depends on the type and size of car too.

[MustangGT]

OldGermanHeaps said:

Van speed limits are weight and payload dependant so possibly depends on the type and size of car too.

Car speed limits do not vary by weight. All vans are restricted to lower speed limits than cars, except on motorways. The only 'vans' that have the same speed limits as cars are car-derived-vans with a max loaded weight of no more than 2.0 tonnes.

[Ussrcossack]

Might need to pay CAZ if in any zones.

Co c can be bought from manufacturers or importer

[samoht]

This is normal for Japanese imports, and yes it often results in lower annual road tax.

ULEZ is done off the year, so from 2006 on is ok for petrols, from 2016 I think for diesels. Basically whenever the relevant standard became mandatory for cars sold new here.

The lower road tax can sometimes roughly offset the higher insurance, depending of course on the model of car.

[wolfsbaneracing]

Thanks samoht.
Any idea how big an issue this is with regard to speed traps / cameras ?
Are there lots of Japanese imports being stopped for unknowingly 'speeding' ?

[samoht]

I assume we're talking about it being taxed as "Private/Light Goods (PLG)" rather than "Light Goods Vehicle" ?

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...

Assuming it's the former then it doesn't affect speed limits.

If it's really Light Goods Vehicle that does sound wrong, it should be PLG for a car imported from outside the EU and thus without certified emissions.

[Speed 3]

Pretty sure most TVR's were registered as PLG when manufactured, think my Chimaera was. It may be related to a small volume class. Certainly didn't affect my observation of normal speed limits

[wolfsbaneracing]

Thanks Speed 3.
First diggings on the 'net suggest that PLG applies / applied to vehicles first registered before 2001.
Anybody have knowledge of a later vehicle still being classified as PLG ?
TIA.

[sixor8]

If you have no C of C with emission data, it will be classed as a PLG. This was the same for many cars produced after 2001 with low volume regulations, such as TVR, Ginetta etc. Speed limits apply to the type of vehicle (LGV, PLG etc), not its VED band.

ALL cars and light vans were classed as PLG before 2001, before mandated emissions data. If you fill in a V10 form for VED (yes they still exist and are required sometimes), the taxation class can be PLG petrol car, diesel car etc.

[samoht]

Yes, imports from outside the EU are normally classified as PLG, and thus in line with pre-2001 cars (since neither have certified emissions levels).

[The Dictator]

I bought my 2009 Viano 3.5 V6 petrol engine last October. I have just checked and it is classified as PLG and I get much cheaper tax than if it were initially UK registered. Insurance seems no higher.

I thought I was going to need a CoC as I may have needed regular trips into the new ULEZ zone, however when I went to check the ULEZ checker website, it had finally updated and showed it as qualifying for no charge.

I am not sure how long it to actually show as such, but it certainly took months for it to filter through the system.

It was MOTd a few weeks before I bought it, so I thought that may have been a part of the process, but probably not.

[Earthdweller]

samoht said:

I assume we're talking about it being taxed as "Private/Light Goods (PLG)" rather than "Light Goods Vehicle" ?

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/governmen...

Assuming it's the former then it doesn't affect speed limits.

If it's really Light Goods Vehicle that does sound wrong, it should be PLG for a car imported from outside the EU and thus without certified emissions.

PLG would be Correct

It used to be written on all the tax discs ( remember them )?

[wolfsbaneracing]

Many sincere thanks for all the help and ideas.
I think the mists have finally cleared - form V149, the current tax tariff, backs up the pointers received.

Over the 'phone, the DVLA advised that without a CofC the car would be classed as a "light goods vehicle".
That's where the confusion started.

V149 details class 11 "Private/light goods vehicle" and class 39 "Light goods vehicle".
Ridiculously subtle difference in wording / title, but far more serious ramifications !

Another call to the DVLA this morning confirmed that my 2007 car (without CofC) will be placed in class 11, "PLG"
Phew !

Out.

[jeff1776]

Interesting thread, thanks. Can anyone advise on the following variation?

I am importing a used car from France. It was first registered there in Jan 2012 and the French registration carte grise says it is EURO5.

DVLA want to put into the tax class PLG (as above). Might that have a bad effect on the EURO classification? I need to get that right given the proliferation of LEZs.

Thanks all.