Commercial Vehicles - twin cab alternatives
Discussion
Evening
With the recent change to tax law making twin cabs less financially viable, has anyone got any suggestions for robust vehicles suitable for construction sites that would be BIK kind?
Land Rover Defender Hard Top seems to be most obvious, although I’m trying to manage economics and perspective and they seem a little pricey and flashy…
With the recent change to tax law making twin cabs less financially viable, has anyone got any suggestions for robust vehicles suitable for construction sites that would be BIK kind?
Land Rover Defender Hard Top seems to be most obvious, although I’m trying to manage economics and perspective and they seem a little pricey and flashy…
Lefty said:
Looks useful. Would need a lease.surveyor said:
EV s. Couple of pickup options and ranger next year. Or go for a van.
Hugely cheaper to run, low BIK and tax write off advantages for the business.
Its worth a look
Awful range (Hilux is circa 150miles) and not sure if VAT reclaimable (payload less than 1tonne).Hugely cheaper to run, low BIK and tax write off advantages for the business.
Its worth a look
Kia PV5 is worth a look. Cheap as chips on a lease and full commercial tax benefits.
I have a 2019 Hilux which I have converted to a tipper. It is the extra cab version with the 2.4 engine and it is woeful. Fuel economy is terrible and the power is completely gutless low down. It has been reliable but I would not buy another unless the put the 2.8 engine and auto box in it.
Just to pick up on the dropside point — the rules here are pretty mechanical and don't leave much room for clever workarounds. Since 6 April 2025, a double-cab with a payload under 1 tonne is taxed as a car for both BIK and capital allowances. The test is the manufacturer's payload rating on the plate, not what gets bolted on afterwards, so pulling the bed off and fitting a dropside doesn't change the tax treatment. HMRC will look straight through anything cosmetic.
The real line in the sand is 1 tonne. Anything at or over that is still a commercial vehicle: 100% annual investment allowance, VAT reclaim, and flat-rate van BIK rather than car BIK. That's why the factory single-cab and genuine 2-seat N1 versions exist — the manufacturers build them to clear that threshold properly, which is a different thing entirely from a converter doing cosmetic surgery on a double-cab.
The Defender Hard Top and the Kia PV5 mentioned above are both proper N1 commercials, so they get the full commercial treatment. Whichever route you take, make sure it's plated as N1 with the payload to match before you sign the lease paperwork — that's the bit that decides everything.
The real line in the sand is 1 tonne. Anything at or over that is still a commercial vehicle: 100% annual investment allowance, VAT reclaim, and flat-rate van BIK rather than car BIK. That's why the factory single-cab and genuine 2-seat N1 versions exist — the manufacturers build them to clear that threshold properly, which is a different thing entirely from a converter doing cosmetic surgery on a double-cab.
The Defender Hard Top and the Kia PV5 mentioned above are both proper N1 commercials, so they get the full commercial treatment. Whichever route you take, make sure it's plated as N1 with the payload to match before you sign the lease paperwork — that's the bit that decides everything.
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