UK Off Roading ›› Vans and Commercials ›› Road Tax
Some owners of light commercial vehicles (LCV) or pickup trucks still struggle to understand exactly how van tax works in the United Kingdom.
So, because taxing a van is a legal requirement, this section explains how Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for vans and pickups differs from current car road tax rates and bands.
Let's begin by explaining that Vehicle Excise Duty for a van, pickup, or car is essentially the same thing.
So, the DVLA collect the annual taxation levied on almost every vehicle driven on public roads in the United Kingdom.
Here's the thing:
Many years ago (prior to October 2014) they used a paper tax disc to identify taxed vehicles. So, the van owner would need to display it on the inside of the windscreen.
Now, this has become a digital process. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera technology to check if a van or a car is road tax compliant.
Note: If you want to stop paying van road tax and insurance you will need to make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).
You can check if a vehicle is taxed for free on the GOV.UK website. If not, you will need to tax your vehicle using a special reference number (e.g. written on the 'last chance' warning letter issued by the DVLA).
The best part?
The cost of taxing a car varies according to its emission of CO2. But, the current regulations for petrol and diesel vans use a fixed 'flat rate' of tax each year.
So, it's usually cheaper to tax vans and light commercials (registered since 1st of March 2001 and up to 3,500kg revenue weight). The DVLA classifies them as light goods vehicles (TC39) for VED purposes.
The payment method that you use will determine the exact price. But, a single twelve month payment of road tax for vans in the United Kingdom is £320 for the current tax year (e.g. April to March).
The same flat fee also applies to pickup trucks and double cabs every year. But, the "maximum authorised mass" will determine the rate of vehicle tax for a motorhome.
Last time we checked, anyone with zero emission vans will be exempt from paying road tax. But, it needs to be 100% electric - not one of the hybrids or plug-in hybrid models.