Converting an estate car to commercial

otis

Hi All,

I know this has probably been done to death at this stage but I just want to verify the sequence of operations involved in converting a passenger estate to a commercial.

My understanding is:

1. Remove rear seats, seatbelts, seal up mounting points, install floor.
2. Weigh converted vehicle
3. Present converted vehicle for DOE test
4. Present converted vehicle at Motor Tax Office for inspection and taxing as a commercial vehicle.

I am a small business owner and I have a registered business, VAT No etc. Also the car involved was imported from NI in 2008 with the necessary VRT paid etc.

All replies/advice appreciated.

-Corkie-

I am not sure if you can still do this. Only some estates qualified AFAIK as it depends on loadspace.

slimjimmc

Don't you also have to permanently blank out rear side windows i.e. weld in steel sheeting.

Terrontress

Is this not throwing your VRT paid away? Would you not be better to sell the car and then either buy something which was originally VRTd as a commercial or else buy a car elsewhere, convert it and then import it?

colm_mcm

slimjimmc wrote: »

Don't you also have to permanently blank out rear side windows i.e. weld in steel sheeting.

This isn't the case if passenger vrt has already been paid. Unless they've changed it.

tinofapples

OP out of curiosity, did you achieve this ?