Are there any "small" vans or even large jeeps that need a C licence?

Donald Trump

Hi all,


I read that the limit for a B licence is a GVW of 3,500kg. Are there any vans/pickups or even jeeps, on the market that would just about exceed it.



I'm not asking if there are ones that obviously exceed it. I'm talking about ones that are barely over the limit

TrailerBob

Light goods vehicles sold in Europe are plated to 3500kg m.a.m... they may be capable of more but plated that way for licencing. You'll find variants of Iveco van etc. That are higher, notably the dual rear wheel axle.

Donald Trump

TrailerBob wrote: »

Light goods vehicles sold in Europe are plated to 3500kg m.a.m... they may be capable of more but plated that way for licencing. You'll find variants of Iveco van etc. That are higher, notably the dual rear wheel axle.

Are there any other immediate consequences of going slightly above 3500kg rather than slightly below it (apart from licence requirements). For example, suppose I had one plated at 3500 and one plated at 3501kg, are there any tax or other differences. or other requirements.

(Also, what is m.a.m ... maximum allowed something??)

Seanieke

You'd be up in the higher tax band than €333 & you'd need a Tachograph fitted.

Eric Cartman

tax impacts it and you wouldnt have the licence for it potentially, also needs a tachograph fitted afaik.

there are some larger US pickups (ford f250 / f350 ) etc... that would be plated higher than 3500

Wildly Boaring

As above all for EU plates at 3500.

You're onto the likes of Mitsubishi Canter etc as smallest hgv (mgv?)

Donald Trump

But, on the other hand, my understanding is that if you potentially had to deliver to Dublin city centre regularly, a commercial vehicle slightly over the 3500 limit would qualify for free tunnel access whereas one at 3500 would not.

TrailerBob

What exactly do you want to know?... because you're talking about port tunnel tolls now... Not exactly a reason for getting a truck...

Max Authorised Mass....

Also Google.. and the RSA website

Eric Cartman

but every other toll is more expensive, it would have a tachograph, you'd need a c licence , you'd pay more road tax than the 333, i think its 470 or something on that. You have a more expensive hgv test, speed limiter fitted , reflective markings etc...

with the exception of a 2 hour period (mornings inbound, evenings outbound) the tunnel is 3 quid, even if you needed it at the times where its 10 quid specifically it wouldnt be worth it. A commute paying both 10 quid tunnel fees a day is costing 400 a month, thats 4800 a year, between all the extra expenses on a 'hgv' i think youd spend more than 4800 over driving a lgv and paying the tolls. You also have to remember that once you get out the port tunnel, many places you likely want to go will have a 3.5 tonne limit on them,

Seanieke

Surely the taco restrictions would quash any free toll perks.

Wishbone Ash

Donald Trump wrote: »

...(Also, what is m.a.m ... maximum allowed something??)

Maximum Authorised Mass.

I recall a number of years ago about some controversy in the UK about a variant of the Ford Excursion 4x4. Several people has imported them from the USA only to discover that their standard B licence wouldn't allow them to drive it on public roads as it was over 3,500kgs.

Wildly Boaring

You'd need rigid licence.

Tax on likes of a canter is less than 500 I think.

Speed limiter.
Taco, CPD, suppose depends on how commercial your use is.

Insurance be bit of a balls for private use

Still waters

500 for tax.
limited to 90.
you could potentially get tacho exempted.
you can get exempted from CPC but its next to impossible from what I've heard.
Insurance is a nightmare if you havent previously driven an HGV and youd need recent documentation to back it up unless you own a company/have fleet insurance

Seems like a lot of hassle to avoid a toll

Spook_ie

Just get a Transit 3500 chassis and put a huge body on it, it'll look like more than 3500 so you should just sail through, or do they actually check registrations?

Del2005

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Maximum Authorised Mass.

I recall a number of years ago about some controversy in the UK about a variant of the Ford Excursion 4x4. Several people has imported them from the USA only to discover that their standard B licence wouldn't allow them to drive it on public roads as it was over 3,500kgs.

All the US trucks are too heavy. The US EPA placed fuel efficiency standards on .5t vehicles so the manufacturers pushed light trucks to people with gas guzzling engines, that's how they became so popular. Another environmental friendly idea that spectacularly back fired.

R.O.R

Seanieke wrote: »

Surely the taco restrictions would quash any free toll perks.

Restrictions even apply when you join Club Baja to get a free Taco.



Probably more restrictions when driving a vehicle with a Tacho though

hi5

The smaller US trucks like the Ford f150, Dodge RAM 1500 are fine they have a gross mass weight of about 2800kg.
It is a problem for US campers as even the smallest come in over 3500...

https://www.donedeal.ie/campers-for-sale/ford-f-350-majesty-camper-price-drop/21633059

Eric Cartman

hi5 wrote: »

The smaller US trucks like the Ford f150, Dodge RAM 1500 are fine they have a gross mass weight of about 2800kg.
It is a problem for US campers as even the smallest come in over 3500...

https://www.donedeal.ie/campers-for-sale/ford-f-350-majesty-camper-price-drop/21633059

The f150 supercrew 2019 is 4900lb (2200kg ) unladen with a payload capacity of 1300kg , it literaly hits the 3500kg wall exactly. Anything larger like an f250 will either be downplated to hell or need a c licence.