Coffeeholic:
ROG:
I bet coffeeholic will be along soon with the regs than govern private LGVsI bet he won’t. I know nothing about private LGVs.
I do 
mrpj is absolutely correct 
Q1. Do you need to remove/disable the 5th Wheel?
A. No, this is a myth. You are quite at liberty to tow a trailer with a private HGV as long as you have the relivent licence etc.
Q2. Do you need to use/ Calibrate the Tacho?
A. Yes, there used to be an exemption for vehicles classed as an Historic vehicle, which is generally accepted as being older than 25 years, but that has been recinded.
Q3. Do you need to down plate?
A. No, but you must register it as a private HGV, then the tax (VED) will cost you £165.00, or you could plate the unit for 28 tons and the tax (VED) will cost you £165.00 + the unit would be useable for work.
This was my show truck
It’s a 1977 Peterbilt 352, although it was predominatly a show truck it was fitted with a Tachograph and 5th wheel, it was listed on my O’licence and was used for moving a lighting rig which meant it weighed in at considerably less than 28 tons.
mrpj:
mikeyb:
As the vehicle is 1985 and its private and not being used for anything other than attending shows, do I need to use the tachograph??If it’s over 7.5t then yes regardless of the fact it’s private use.
Incorrect. A tacho only needs to be used if the vehicle is being used for “Hire or Reward”.
If the vehicle is being used solely for attending shows (i.e. Private Use) then it is Tacho exempt.
As for the other points, if you have an appropriate licence to drive the class of vehicle, then you do not need to remove or disable a fifth wheel coupling. In fact, if your driving licence permits it, there is nothing to stop the use of a trailer too.
Oh, and I speak as the owner of a private HGV!
garnerlives:
joedwyer1:
still need a tacho in vans over 3.5T rogNo only vehicles over mgw of 7.5 mate
Over 3.5t me thinks!
mikeyb:
There is also a mention of historic vehicles. Bah, I’ll just use it anyhoo,
You do that mikeyb! You won’t have any problems.
PS. Get Classic & Vintage Commercials Magazine and you’ll be able to get some very cheap insurance (Quite a few advertise in there) Shouldn’t have any problems getting fully comp with agreed value for about £100.
killsville:
PS. Get Classic & Vintage Commercials Magazine and you’ll be able to get some very cheap insurance (Quite a few advertise in there) Shouldn’t have any problems getting fully comp with agreed value for about £100.
Bloody hell thats cheaper than my car!
Tried a broker I found on the tinternet told me it didn’t qualify for classic status as it had to be over 30 years old (1985), quoted me £250 ish. Plus I have not held my Class C that long, depsite working in transport for years
Ive got a few copies of CVC kicking around, must have a look!
Cheers
Mike
mikeyb:
Bloody hell thats cheaper than my car!Tried a broker I found on the tinternet told me it didn’t qualify for classic status as it had to be over 30 years old (1985), quoted me £250 ish. Plus I have not held my Class C that long, depsite working in transport for years
Ive got a few copies of CVC kicking around, must have a look!
Cheers
Mike
I had mine insured through the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society’s own insurance scheme. I think it puts all it’s members vehicles into one big policy because you never earn any no claims bonus and the policy actually comes in HCVS name with you as a named driver on the specified vehicle. They insure the vehicle without really taking into account the drivers experience and the age limit for vehicles is 20 years, so you should have no problems there.
My vehicle is currently on a laid up policy but when I last insured through HCVS, the premiums only went up about £10 in 5 years.
The only drawback to the HCVS scheme is that you have to be a member of HCVS to get a policy. But, it’s only about £20 a year and you get a regular magazine and invites to their rallies.
Good luck!
Try these guys… barrygraingerinsurance.co.uk/
My Peterbilt was on a Classic policy with them and cost £110.00 per year.
It always amazes me that the Peterbilt was both cheaper to tax (165.00 vs £185.00) and insure (110.00 vs 265.00) than my Toyota 4x4!!!
Tramper:
Try these guys… barrygraingerinsurance.co.uk/
My Peterbilt was on a Classic policy with them and cost £110.00 per year.
It always amazes me that the Peterbilt was both cheaper to tax (165.00 vs £185.00) and insure (110.00 vs 265.00) than my Toyota 4x4!!!
They just this second quoted me £323, I think it must be my age! 
! The HCVS scheme is sounding more attractive all the time!
Try the Nation Farmers Union [NFU] I’ve had my 1986 Scania with them on a classic policy for last two years, less than £100 a year. Just referred a friend and hes put his three classic trucks on with them. [you don’t have to be a farmer either]
killsville:
Incorrect. A tacho only needs to be used if the vehicle is being used for “Hire or Reward”.If the vehicle is being used solely for attending shows (i.e. Private Use) then it is Tacho exempt.
Oh, and I speak as the owner of a private HGV!
have you read the drivers hours since April 2007 ? the private use rule changed then !!! Private use no longer exists for vehicles over 7.5.tonnes however you may be exempt if the vehicle is over 25 years old (as a Historic Vehicle)
( I also own a private hgv!)
I stand corrected Denis. Although after now reading the rules, there may still be a loophole (or should I say flaw) in the rules.
The wording taken from the rules says the exemption is:
“Vehicles or combinations of vehicles with a maximum
permissible mass not exceeding 7.5 tonnes used for
the non-commercial carriage of goods”
What if the vehicle does not carry any goods whatsoever? Does this make a difference?
I’m now wondering if it may be worth e-mailing the authorities for a definitive answer!
Thankfully my vehicle is over 25 years old anyway!
mikeyb:
killsville:
PS. Get Classic & Vintage Commercials Magazine and you’ll be able to get some very cheap insurance (Quite a few advertise in there) Shouldn’t have any problems getting fully comp with agreed value for about £100.Bloody hell thats cheaper than my car!
Tried a broker I found on the tinternet told me it didn’t qualify for classic status as it had to be over 30 years old (1985), quoted me £250 ish. Plus I have not held my Class C that long, depsite working in transport for years
Ive got a few copies of CVC kicking around, must have a look!
Cheers
Mike
You might have to agree to a limited annual mileage to get the rate down further.
My bike is a classic, with limited mileage of 5,000 a year, my insurance drops quite a bit. 
Going off topic slightly, can you use no claims bonus on more than one vehicle at a time?
For instance i have got a car on a classic policy with 5 years NCB, would I be able to use this on my car and lorry at the same time?
Mike
Saw a truck very much like this on the a14 last week, was haulin a container (i think, if memory serves me correctly ) towards ipswich, it’s the first one i have ever seen on a uk road being used for work as it was quite noticeable against all the usual uk styles of trucks,
think it was a plain white one, is it an o/d truck or a company that runs it 
, if anybody knows. just out of interest. 
pecjam23:
Saw a truck very much like this on the a14 last week, was haulin a container (i think, if memory serves me correctly
think it was a plain white one, is it an o/d truck or a company that runs it
i will hazard a guess that you saw one of the freightliners that works for the american forces exchange. (like our naafi), often seen pulling containers,dry boxes and reefers. regulars on the a14
killsville:
What if the vehicle does not carry any goods whatsoever? Does this make a difference?
The wording suggests an exemption exists in those circumstances, however it doesn’t alter the fact that the vehicle need to be =/<7.5t .
mrpj:
killsville:
What if the vehicle does not carry any goods whatsoever? Does this make a difference?The wording suggests an exemption exists in those circumstances, however it doesn’t alter the fact that the vehicle need to be =/<7.5t .
A discussion was had on this subject in relation to training school LGVS and it was concluded that they did not legally need to use tachos as they did not carry ‘goods’
I assume that the same ruling will apply to a private unit plated at over 7.5 tonnes for the same reason.
I have sent an e-mail to VOSA with this question and am awaiting a reply.
killsville:
I’m now wondering if it may be worth e-mailing the authorities for a definitive answer!Thankfully my vehicle is over 25 years old anyway!
it would be worth asking Our private hgv usually has a horse in it 
so that counts as goods !!!
A discussion was had on this subject in relation to training school LGVS and it was concluded that they did not legally need to use tachos as they did not carry ‘goods’
Not exactly. The reason we don’t use tachos is because we are in the list of vehicle users that don’t need to. This includes armed forces etc etc. BUT, the exemption from tachos only applies when the vehicle is being used for the purpose of training towards driving test or use during a driver cpc module. So, just out of interest, post test training IS NOT exempt and we are required to use/retain tachos.
So the rule is nothing to do with carrying goods or otherwise - just it’s use for driver training as a stated exemption. Hope this helps