Is a hard top Defender classed as a commercial vehicle?

[paddyhasneeds]

Still looking at Defender 90s - this never even crossed my mind until I just read something, but is the hard-top classed as a commercial vehicle for things like insurance?

[West4x4]

yes for tax. insurance can depend on the company

[NTEL]

Had a bit of a nightmare with this myself. My previous Insurance company, Trade Direct, said it was a car and would not cover it on my multi van insurance. So, I told them where to stick it and went with NFU Mutual who now cover a renualt trafic, a renault master and the Landy 110 hard top for less than £1700 any driver. NFU count it as a commercial vehicle as does the VAT man.

[Alicatt1]

My brother got a Subaru STi registered as an "Agricultural Vehicle" on the V5, but I never seen it doing any ploughing on the farm

[Griff Boy]

I thought to qualify as a lcv it had to be able to exceed 1000kg load capacity? I've got a Nissan navara which is a lcv, bur I remember being told some issues about similar pick ups not having enough load capacity and therefore not being classed as a lcv?

[Court Jester]

Hi all, Sorry to hijack the thread Paddy, but on the same theme, I am looking at the possibility of a defender as a third car - the wife learned to drive in one and has a hankering for another - on the excuse that it will carry muddy dogs and mountain bikes and keep her car clean - but I think to remind her of her youth!

Just researching and doing the maths at the moment - can anyone tell me if the Defender 90 with rear windows and seats (is that the Station Wagon?) also classes as a commercial vehicle? Just asking as I think from the Land Rover info she picked up that that means £185 car tax, whereas on emissions it would be £405.00.

May be that we get an older (pre-emission tax model) - can anyone let me know what the tax is on those please?

Also does it still class as commercial vehicle tax even if you use it for non-commercial, private use only? We don't run a business so no commercial use.

[Skywalker]

IIRC, the "Utility" defenders - hard tops and pick ups are classified for road tax as "Light Commercial Vehicles" and get the RFL at £185.

The station wagons are classified as "Motor cars" are get levied for RFL based on emissions - hence he £400+ notes.

If you were a VAT registered company, you could claim the VAT (back) off the purchase price of the vehicle - this is seperate from the Road Fund Licence.

I might be wrong, so wait until someone corroborares this before quoting me.

[paddyhasneeds]

This depends on age too though presumably so < 2001 and you're not going to get clobbered as a bad man?

[Court Jester]

Thanks guys - it was the RFL I was talking about - so if newer than 2001 it's £405 for a defender with rear windows? Ouch - already pay that on mine so don't want that on a second car!

Makes the decision to go for the older model.

[gedG]

Nearly, but if it is registered before March 2006 it will stil fall into band K, £215 per year at the moment.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl... for full listings

[pikeyboy]

Court Jester said:

Thanks guys - it was the RFL I was talking about - so if newer than 2001 it's £405 for a defender with rear windows? Ouch - already pay that on mine so don't want that on a second car!

Makes the decision to go for the older model.

just bought a defender for the very same reasons as you and its a Nth car so wanted minimal outlay on all fronts - Its worth mentioning insurance was £120 fire and theft with lancaster for my girlfriend and I with nill no claims bonus,Kind of softens the blow of the road tax.

[Court Jester]

That is a little softer! Still feels like an expensive toy tho!

Thanks for the help tho

[David Beer]

The SVX soft top is a commecial vechcle, i know. It only has two seats, not sure why my Griff doesnt qualify !!