is my van a commercial vehicle

[GeorgeFromDevon]

i use it for work to carry my tools and ony my tools to work and home, i also use it for pleasure for going to the beach.

its not sign written and it does not have any racking or roof rack and no bulkhead.

its a Mercedes vito, 1.4tone unladen.

im moving into rented accommodation and they said that your not aloud commercial vehicles in the car park.

i assumed that as i dont carry goods and/or people for reward it is not a commercial vehicle.

i have not claimed the vat on it.

 

i have tried searching but come up with nothing definite

[Batz]

Tell them to fork off. LOL.

[GeorgeFromDevon]

lol that never crossed my mind =]

[Ped]

Or cut some windows into the sides and tell them its a camper!!

 

I think strictly speaking tho any van regardless of use is classed as commercial.

 

Ped:)

[cowboy54]

A commercial vehicle is a type of motor vehicle that may be used for transporting goods or passengers. The European Union defines "commercial motor vehicle" as any motorised road vehicle, which by its type of construction and equipment is designed for, and capable of transporting, whether for payment or not: (1) more than nine persons, including the driver; (2) goods and "standard fuel tanks". This means the tanks permanently fixed by the manufacturer to all motor vehicles of the same type as the vehicle in question and whose permanent fitting enables fuel to be used directly, both for the purposes of propulsion and, where appropriate, for the operation of a refrigeration system. Gas tanks fitted to motor vehicles designed for the direct use of gas as a fuel are considered to be standard fuel tanks

 

There is a difference between a commercial vehicle and whether its used for personal or commercial purposes. The other arguement you could go with is, have people just told you that they dont allow commercial vehicles, or is it actually written into the contract for you. If its a block of flats or group of houses that share parking ask to see this exclusion in their own property agreement

 

Check your V5 to see what why the van is described thats your best bet for an arguement

[ramjam52]

Interesting, as a lot of disabled people who use electric wheelchairs have converted Mercedes vans. I wonder what the landlords answer to them would be?. I would ask them to define what constitutes a commercial vehicle to them. Iff their marked parking spaces are only car size and your vehicle is large then that may be the reason. It could be snobbery as well. I used to get asked by residents and the manager not to take the access bus into a certain housing complex in north Leeds, they didn't like the noise it made (explaining that without that noise, they would not be going shopping didn't cut the ice). Good luck with getting it sorted out.

[lazarus]

hate to say it but it is almost definatly going to clasified as LGV on the v5. camper conversion is an option but its quite a lot of work and expense to make the changes to a standard that satisfies the DVLA, that and they have changed the criteria recently so just fitting the relevent equipment isn't enough any more now it has to "Look" like a camper. May be get some non advertisment looking graphics might hide the fact that is a van from them.

[andrewjohn]

Have you seen any other vehicles in the car park? Any small vans etc.

Many modern housing estates stipulate no commercial vehicles etc in the covenants, but obviously loads of people use vans for work and take them home.

[zimmer]

Years ago I had a black mini van. Cracking little van. Put a mattress in the back as well, wasn't much use mind, the lass I was dating at the time was a bit rotund and couldn't fit in.

Yes, commercial vehicle George.

[bathy1]

As above,, yes it most definitely is classed as commercial.. Just act dumb about the parking thing, chances are no one will say owt anyway. If they do say anything it's tough really coz your already living there,, fuck em!!!lol

[mick]

PH**K ME Zim, how big was she?

[Hettina]

hate to say it but it is almost definatly going to clasified as LGV on the v5. camper conversion is an option but its quite a lot of work and expense to make the changes to a standard that satisfies the DVLA, that and they have changed the criteria recently so just fitting the relevent equipment isn't enough any more now it has to "Look" like a camper. May be get some non advertisment looking graphics might hide the fact that is a van from them.

 

how do you mean non advertisement looking graphics??

its got big wide alloys and its lowered with a black bonnet, how much more unprofessional do i need to make it look. big spoiler and a body kit?

[mick]

Unfortunately, nowadays quite a few commercial vehicles are 'pimped'.

[ramjam52]

HM Revenue & Customs: What is a car, commercial vehicle or motor home for VAT?This should settle it, well give you some idea at least. This country should not be here due to all the black holes.

[The Geoff]

It may have nothing to do with whether it's a commercial vehicle as far as the DVLA/taxman are concerned, it could simply be the landlord wanting to keep the carpark looking tidy, or free of BIG vehicles. If the car park is private property I'm not sure it's even under DVLA jurisdiction - eg you wouldn't even have to have it taxed, insured, or hold a license to have it there, just a SORN.

 

I'd have a chat with the landlord and ask if a small van (and your only vehicle) is OK. Either that or chance it and see what happens.

[andrewjohn]

And chances are if 'commercial' vehicles aren't allowed' neither will 'motorhomes'. (Or boats, thats the norm, no commercial, motorhomes or boats, is what covenants normally say).

[ramjam52]

Sounds like an allocated space per dwelling thing.

[Chaos]

Easy option maybe, but look for a different landlord / other properties.

[andrewjohn]

Or you could buy one of these instead.

 

http://www.zenautoworks.ca/Current%20Stock%20Units/15366_1237812642.jpg

 

So much more versatile than a van. I fit all my kiting gear in the boot of mine (LWB).

[vibro100]

Yes its a commercial vehicle.

 

I had this argument in court when i got done for speeding.

 

I was driving a astra van. the copper said it was a commercial vehicle, i was only allowed to be driving 60mph in a 70 zone. The fact i was doing 92mph wasnt the point.

 

When i went to court i had the registration documents to prove it was a car derived van - meaning it is the same as the astra estate, same payload etc but without the windows. Meaning i could drive at 70mph.

 

Bastards still stung me for 6 points and a £330 fine.

[avspider]

Yes its a commercial vehicle.

 

I had this argument in court when i got done for speeding.

 

I was driving a astra van. the copper said it was a commercial vehicle, i was only allowed to be driving 60mph in a 70 zone. The fact i was doing 92mph wasnt the point.

 

When i went to court i had the registration documents to prove it was a car derived van - meaning it is the same as the astra estate, same payload etc but without the windows. Meaning i could drive at 70mph.

 

Bastards still stung me for 6 points and a £330 fine.

 

thats harsh!

But yes, a van is still a comercial vehicle no matter what you use it for.

[Jim O'Hara]

Have you checked that the car park is private property? If it's just council parking then any rules from the landlord or management company are going to be pretty hard to enforce.