Can I change my 04 defender tax class?

I pay big wedge for road tax on my 2004 double cab. Since the later cars were registered as light commercial and get cheaper tax. Has anyone managed to change taxation class from plc to commercial?

Mudstyler said:

I pay big wedge for road tax on my 2004 double cab. Since the later cars were registered as light commercial and get cheaper tax. Has anyone managed to change taxation class from plc to commercial?

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You can't. Your tax class is based on what it was first registered as.

Thanks. I'll give it a go!

I don't think you will be able to as you are not altering the vehicle, but even if you could you might have found any benefit would have been wiped out by increased insurance. I once swapped my TD5 twin cab Black Limited edition for a bog standard TD5 Twin cab and when I rang my insurance to change registration no.s I was horrified to find out there was quite a considerable increase in the premium. I explained that the previous vehicle was the much more upmarket and sought after version with leather seats, air con electric windows , roll cage etc. and that my new vehicle was just the basic version with same body, engine brakes etc. so should actually be cheaper and they replied that my Black edition was registered as a car where as my basic one was registered as a commercial vehicle so more expensive to insure.

Success. From £580 to £280/yr

Mudstyler said:

Success. From £580 to £280/yr

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did it have any effect on insurrance or are you waiting til renewal to find out

Cavey_P38 said:

did it have any effect on insurrance or are you waiting til renewal to find out

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Doubt if it’s insured unless declared to the insurer but I’m sure that is all in hand.

I'm intrigued what one of the changes to your vehicle did you make from the list below / link above that allowed the tax change?

Vehicle changes that affect tax
If you make changes to your vehicle it could affect:

• how much vehicle tax you pay
• your vehicle’s tax class

Changes that affect your vehicle include:

• the engine size (cc)
• the fuel type
• the weight (goods vehicles only)
• the number of seats (buses only)
• what you use the vehicle for, for example using a minibus for profit

You will not have to pay vehicle tax or will pay a lower rate if it’s being used by:

• a disabled person
• an organisation providing transport for disabled people

There is a few down sides to changing to commercial tho.

plod don’t need a reason to pull you over.
Can’t go to the council tip.
National speed limit change changes to 50.

Mcclegend said:

There is a few down sides to changing to commercial tho.

plod don’t need a reason to pull you over.
Can’t go to the council tip.
National speed limit change changes to 50.

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I don't think I've ever seen a white van doing only 50 on motorways, mostly they seem to do about 85-90

Col

Single carriage ways 50
Double carriage way 60
Motorway 70
As a commercial.



Fastest thing on the planet is a white van driven by a hi vis vest lol.

Mcclegend said:

Single carriage ways 50
Double carriage way 60
Motorway 70
As a commercial.



Fastest thing on the planet is a white van driven by a hi vis vest lol.

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even more so if it is on HIRE

Mcclegend said:

There is a few down sides to changing to commercial tho.

plod don’t need a reason to pull you over.
Can’t go to the council tip.
National speed limit change changes to 50.

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Plus higher insurance premiums as mentioned in previous post.

Most Defender commercials are dual purpose vehicles, so can drive at car speed limits.

Sorry to open this up again. I have a similar issue in that I am looking to buy a 2000m/y Defender 90 that is classified as a van (according to the insurance company) as is did not have windows in the rear side panels when it was new. The car has now got side windows fitted and so I would like to change the tax class to a car as the insurance is cheaper. Has anyone got any advice or have done this. Thanks

Very odd. My 2004 XS 110 doublecab is £230 a year!

Well I nearly bought a ps10 stationwagon but my insurance insisted it was a van, even though DVLA said it wasn't. And even though as a Car my quotes were 250 odd, cheapest quote on ps10 was well over 400 "because it's a van"
Regardless of what the dvla say, insurance will treat it as whatever they think it is. So change the tax class, chances are the insurance will stay the same

bankz5152 said:

Very odd. My 2004 XS 110 doublecab is £230 a year!

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2006 onwards is higher tax bracket.

Thingy08 said:

Sorry to open this up again. I have a similar issue in that I am looking to buy a 2000m/y Defender 90 that is classified as a van (according to the insurance company) as is did not have windows in the rear side panels when it was new. The car has now got side windows fitted and so I would like to change the tax class to a car as the insurance is cheaper. Has anyone got any advice or have done this. Thanks

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looked at this with mine, was advised needed seats and seat belts fitted in the rear.