I realise this thread is nearly 8 year old, but I’m looking into getting a tractor
Unit to drive and show. Not for hire or reward but simply for fun. I’m also only looking at maybe a
10 year old truck. Does anyone have any advice as I’m a complete novice.
Also at the mo I only have a class 2 but don’t want to pull a trailer. Any advice would
Be a great help like what to do about ref as a phgv, mot’s, road tax!
I would assume a private HGV C+E unit must follow the same lines as a horse box thats over 7.5T as its only to drive to & from a show ground
Blue rock:
I realise this thread is nearly 8 year old, but I’m looking into getting a tractor
Unit to drive and show. Not for hire or reward but simply for fun. I’m also only looking at maybe a
10 year old truck. Does anyone have any advice as I’m a complete novice.
Also at the mo I only have a class 2 but don’t want to pull a trailer. Any advice would
Be a great help like what to do about ref as a phgv, mot’s, road tax!
Tax as Private HGV class 10, £165 per annum
Need full usual HGV MOT annually
No need for operators licence, or six weekly checks.
Over 7.5 tons speed limiter must be fitted and calibrated.
Over 3.5 tons Tacho must be fitted and calibrated, if over 7.5 tons must use Tacho even for private use.
Can use analogue old type Tacho, so no need for drivers card if you do not have one.
Note if you drive for a living watch out for messing up your weekly rest if going to shows.
No DCPC needed for private use.
Can drive on class C licence (no class 2 anymore).
If you have a C1e licence on grandfathers rights (107 addition), and unit replated under 7.5 tons can drive up to 8.25 tons GTW.
Most likely if you have a C licence, but not C+E you are restricted to towing a 750KG trailer with any HGV over 7.5 tons.
You can fit a ball hitch for towing if required, but remember restricted to 3.5 tons on overrun brakes.
Can leave fifth wheel on, same as a tow hitch on a car or van.
Insurance about £270 per annum through specialist insurers, such as walker Midgley, any driver over 25 fully comp, but restricted mileage.
Hope this helps, I am not an expert, so please confirm all above, or listen to replies from other more knowledgeable people than me on this site.
Blue rock:
I realise this thread is nearly 8 year old, but I’m looking into getting a tractor
Unit to drive and show. Not for hire or reward but simply for fun. I’m also only looking at maybe a
10 year old truck. Does anyone have any advice as I’m a complete novice.
Also at the mo I only have a class 2 but don’t want to pull a trailer. Any advice would
Be a great help like what to do about ref as a phgv, mot’s, road tax!
As said you can drive an artic unit on a cat C licence, but you cannot pull a trailer of any size without coming in-scope of EU regulations (A trailer is classed as goods).
- As the vehicle will never carry goods other than the drivers personal belongings you will be out of scope of EU regulations.
- As the vehicle will not be used for hire or reward you will be out of scope of UK domestic regulations.
- As you will be out of scope of regulations you will not not need to use a tachograph.
- You will not need an operators licence.
- Because you will be driving the vehicle privately the driving of the vehicle will not encroach of your driving/work hours.
I’ve no idea whether or not the vehicle needs to be fitted with a calibrated speed limiter.
TheNewBoy:
I would assume a private HGV C+E unit must follow the same lines as a horse box thats over 7.5T as its only to drive to & from a show ground
Nonsense, what do you base that on?
Colingl:
TheNewBoy:
I would assume a private HGV C+E unit must follow the same lines as a horse box thats over 7.5T as its only to drive to & from a show groundNonsense, what do you base that on?
Well…its a vehicle over 7.5T LGV, used for private use, not for hire & reward. How is that different from a show unit■■?
Well I’m reading it as you suggesting it can only be used go to certain locations i.e a showground. Which is nonsense.
Everything else you say is correct. 
TheNewBoy:
…Well…its a vehicle over 7.5T LGV, used for private use, not for hire & reward. How is that different from a show unit■■?
I will play devils advocate here. So you drove to a showground in your horse box and your horse or horses win a prize / prizes. That is your reward!! 
Prize money, even a rosette “could” be considered a reward. You would “possibly” therefore in be in contravention of the regs.
This point has been posed before and I think it didn’t work out favourably for the horse box owner.
If you drove your show truck to a show and it won a prize, even a teacup, that would be a reward! 
bullitt:
TheNewBoy:
…Well…its a vehicle over 7.5T LGV, used for private use, not for hire & reward. How is that different from a show unit■■?I will play devils advocate here. So you drove to a showground in your horse box and your horse or horses win a prize / prizes. That is your reward!!
This point has been posed before and I think it didn’t work out favourably for the horse box owner.If you drove your show truck to a show and it won a prize, even a teacup, that would be a reward!
To be honest I doubt anyone’s going to care about a rosette or trophy, I know that theory’s been posted before but I still don’t buy into it 
However, as far as I’m aware a horse is classed as goods so you could not legally take a loaded horse-box over 7.5t to a show out of scope of EU regulations, if it’s over 7.5t and used to carry goods it’s in-scope of EU regulations.
Tramper…thats a fine looking example of a peterbilt…just being nosey as to if you still have it.?..or where did it go?
tachograph:
[To be honest I doubt anyone’s going to care about a rosette or trophy, I know that theory’s been posted before but I still don’t buy into it
I agree, but… if you walked (drove) away from a show / event / display with a few quid in prize money, then that would be classed as reward. Like I said, just playing devils advocate.
As I am the resident LGV and towing info person on the horse and hound site I can legally state that a rosette, small cash winnings etc are not classed as reward in the context of hire and reward
Hire and reward is to make or intend to make a profit which makes it a commercial venture
vosa.gov.uk/guide-for-horsebox-owners = page 5
Horses and/or associated kit and provisions
are deemed to be transported for hire or
reward if that transport is done as part of a
commercial equestrian activity, if there is an
expectation of receiving more than just modest
prize-money, or if any kind of significant
corporate sponsorship is received. In other
words, if transporting horses is done as part of
an equestrian activity which goes beyond what
could reasonably be considered a hobby – ie it
is designed to make a profit, or be at least cost
neutral, then it should be considered to be a
hire or reward operation.
Colingl:
Well I’m reading it as you suggesting it can only be used go to certain locations i.e a showground. Which is nonsense.
Everything else you say is correct.
I used that scenario as that would be its main use, but you could go to Tesco to do your shopping in it if you wish
Thanks T951 & tachograph
tachograph:
Blue rock:
I realise this thread is nearly 8 year old, but I’m looking into getting a tractor
Unit to drive and show. Not for hire or reward but simply for fun. I’m also only looking at maybe a
10 year old truck. Does anyone have any advice as I’m a complete novice.
Also at the mo I only have a class 2 but don’t want to pull a trailer. Any advice would
Be a great help like what to do about ref as a phgv, mot’s, road tax!As said you can drive an artic unit on a cat C licence, but you cannot pull a trailer of any size without coming in-scope of EU regulations (A trailer is classed as goods).
- As the vehicle will never carry goods other than the drivers personal belongings you will be out of scope of EU regulations.
- As the vehicle will not be used for hire or reward you will be out of scope of UK domestic regulations.
- As you will be out of scope of regulations you will not not need to use a tachograph.
- You will not need an operators licence.
- Because you will be driving the vehicle privately the driving of the vehicle will not encroach of your driving/work hours.
I’ve no idea whether or not the vehicle needs to be fitted with a calibrated speed limiter.
I’ve just been through this but with a six wheel rigid, not a tractor unit so I have no idea about the trailer towing legalities…but I do have a few answers…
You definitely need to MOT it.
You definitely need a working speed limiter (depending on the age of the truck - pre 1987 is exempt I believe)
You definitely need a six year calibration certificate (I have been told that, as a private HGV, if the two year check has been missed it will only be marked as an advisory at MOT - from a VERY reliable source but always worth checking…)
Tax is, as has been said, £165 a year.
Limits on your annual mileage is between you and your insurance company - they will ask, you decide. From my own experience, it is very little expense to increase the mileage substantially.
Personally, I put a chart in for every journey - I have no idea if it’s a legal requirement, I choose to because then I have a record of mileage for the insurance company and a record of everything else should anything go wrong…
Get one, enjoy it, have fun but be prepared to be constantly skint!! 
On a recent CPC course I bought up the question of taking a traction engine on the back of the trailer to shows and would you need to use a tacho if it’s your own unit and trailer .
The answer eventually came back not within 100km but unfortunately no definitive answer should you go from one end of the country to the other for shows .
Gillberry:
On a recent CPC course I bought up the question of taking a traction engine on the back of the trailer to shows and would you need to use a tacho if it’s your own unit and trailer .
The answer eventually came back not within 100km but unfortunately no definitive answer should you go from one end of the country to the other for shows .
I think you was told wrong, off hand I’m not aware of an exemption from EU regulations that would cover you for carrying your own vehicle to shows, you would be in-scope of EU regulations regardless of whether you went 100km or 1,000km and would need to use a tachograph, the only exception to this would be if the vehicle has historic status, i.e. is 25 years old or more.
tachograph:
Gillberry:
On a recent CPC course I bought up the question of taking a traction engine on the back of the trailer to shows and would you need to use a tacho if it’s your own unit and trailer .
The answer eventually came back not within 100km but unfortunately no definitive answer should you go from one end of the country to the other for shows .I think you was told wrong, off hand I’m not aware of an exemption from EU regulations that would cover you for carrying your own vehicle to shows, you would be in-scope of EU regulations regardless of whether you went 100km or 1,000km and would need to use a tachograph, the only exception to this would be if the vehicle has historic status, i.e. is 25 years old or more.
Sorry I should have made clear that I was talking personal use as in no hire or reward .
Gillberry:
tachograph:
Gillberry:
On a recent CPC course I bought up the question of taking a traction engine on the back of the trailer to shows and would you need to use a tacho if it’s your own unit and trailer .
The answer eventually came back not within 100km but unfortunately no definitive answer should you go from one end of the country to the other for shows .I think you was told wrong, off hand I’m not aware of an exemption from EU regulations that would cover you for carrying your own vehicle to shows, you would be in-scope of EU regulations regardless of whether you went 100km or 1,000km and would need to use a tachograph, the only exception to this would be if the vehicle has historic status, i.e. is 25 years old or more.
Sorry I should have made clear that I was talking personal use as in no hire or reward .
For hire or reward doesn’t enter into the equation now, if you’re carrying goods in a vehicle over 7.5t that’s not 25 years old you’re in-scope of EU regulations and need to use a tachograph.
You can only carry goods for personal use and be exempt from EU regulations if the vehicle does not exceed 7.5t MAM.
iv’e seen quite a few show vehicles on the road over the years and everyone of them have either removed the 5th wheel or built a metal box around said 5th wheel,as we all know it’s just to show you are not using the vehicle for business if pulled by police or DVSA