Wide Caravans legal from 20 April - Official

[nrdonnelly]

Dear All,

Please find enclosed the law changes regarding caravan width which is now being applied from April 20th 2010. This is now confirmed by the NCC.

PRESS RELEASE

Wider caravans behind cars to become legal after 20 April 2010

VAT no longer zero rated on new wider caravans

The NCC (National Caravan Council) has received confirmationˇ fromˇ Government that amendments have been laid to the Road Vehicles (construction and use) Regulations 1986 to allow conventional cars to tow touring caravans and other trailers up to 2.55m wide in the UK.ˇ The change will come into force on 20 April 2010.ˇ From this date VAT at the standard rate of 17.5% will be applied on the sale of all new caravans up to 2.55m.ˇ

For many years UK legislation has been such that a touring caravan or any trailer up to a maximum width of 2.3m wide can be towed behind a conventional car. Wider units could only be towed by a motor vehicle with a gross weight greater than 3500kg.ˇ The new legislation is a result of a challenge by the European Commission, which according to DfT is to 'fulfil the European Community obligation on trailer widths set out in the Directive 97/27/EC, and to ensure harmonisation of Regulations across Europe'.ˇ This means that from 20 April 2010:

wider trailers and caravans up to 2.55m may be towed by cars lawfully in the UK

all new trailers and caravans up to 2.55m wide will attract VAT at the standard rate (17.5%)

HMRC are to issue a business brief amending the Public Notice 701/20 to reflect the new VAT treatment for sales of new trailers and caravans.

The NCC is in discussions with HMRC regarding the VAT implications for the sale of pre-owned caravans (over 2.3m wide) originally sold prior to 20th April 2010 at zero rate.

All comments welcome. We're chasing the HMRC for a comment as we speak.

Nigel Donnelly

Editor

Practical Caravan

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[Gafferbill]

.....that will lead to some interesting towing mirror set-ups!

 

[Gafferbill]

.....that will lead to some interesting towing mirror set-ups!

I note the date Nigel(just hedging my bets)!

 

[DianneT]

That's good news as it now means that our German friends can bring their caravan over here to see us for a change. This will also bring a lot of new designs on the market from British manufacturers for the end of this year possibly. Would not be surprised if they have not got a few designed already.

 

[KeithJ]

Hobby were selling their wider 'vans at the NEC VAT free - they seemed quite a bargain next to the narrower ones on the same stand that had VAT included. The man said you could buy them but would not be allowed on the road with them until the specified date in April - but if you did this you would save the VAT which you would have to pay if you did not purchase until later.

Keith