£30 Road Tax

[Mrwilson]

Re reading Zions post it seems that it's only 09-10 euro 5's that qualify for the £140 deal. Bum.

[Sol]

Ok lads, hankies (or burning torches) at the ready. I spoke to the DVLA - there is a mistake, but to fix it I need a note from Citroen. Read the transcript:


Nicola (08/09/2020, 09:04:56): Hi, you're through to Nicola. Please hold a moment while I read through the chat details. 

You (08/09/2020, 09:05:15): thank you 

Nicola (08/09/2020, 09:05:46): What vehicle do you have? 

You (08/09/2020, 09:06:48): Its a Berlingo 625 Enterprise car derived van, xx12xxx and is Euro 5 but I just realised I am being charged £265 instead of £150 per year 

Nicola (08/09/2020, 09:09:14): On your V5C does it say PLG/LGV on tax class? 

You (08/09/2020, 09:10:39): Light Goods Vehicle, this is also incorrect but must have been the dealer when new. These are often mis-classified. They are in fact, a Berlingo car with no interior. I know others who have challenged this error and had it corrected. The VED tables still state £140 to £150 for a LGV of Euro 5 standard 

Nicola (08/09/2020, 09:16:29): Once a vehicle is registered as a van it cannot be changed. Me - (What???)

You (08/09/2020, 09:17:30): I know people who have had it changed, sorry to disagree but anyway even the Govt VED rates for this vehicle, Euro 5 of 2012 year and 136g/km should be £140 per year, not £265 which I am being charged 

Nicola (08/09/2020, 09:17:48): EURO status didn't kick in til September 2015 I  believe and its a 2012 

You (08/09/2020, 09:18:06): no, Euro 5 is 2010 to 2015, Euro 6 is 2015 onward - I quote 

You (08/09/2020, 09:18:51): Fuel type Registration date Euro standard Tax rate 2020-21
Electric From 01 Mar 2001 N/A £0
Diesel, Petrol, LPG From 01 Mar 2001 All except below £265
Diesel, Petrol, LPG 01 Jan 2009 to 31 Dec 2010 Euro 5 £140
Diesel, Petrol, LPG 01 Mar 2003 to 31 Dec 2006 Euro 4 £140 

You (08/09/2020, 09:19:38): Euro 5 has a crossover like all bands, my vehicle is 136g/km on the V5C so it is by age and rating, Euro 5 

Nicola (08/09/2020, 09:19:44): I am just looking into this for you. Please allow me a few moments. 

You (08/09/2020, 09:19:49): ok thank you 

Nicola (08/09/2020, 09:23:48): This should have been declared when the vehicle was first registered. If this was not done and the you believe your vehicle would have met the relevant emissions standards when it was registered you can apply centrally.

you will need to send:

The V5C
A signed declaration on headed paper from the manufacturer stating the vehicle met the relevant emission standards at the time of registration 
Nicola (08/09/2020, 09:24:20): You will need to tax at the current rate and if we change the vehicle we will refund any vehicle tax that is owed to you. 

You (08/09/2020, 09:25:15): So even though I have my DVLA vehicle details on screen, showing 136g/km and the DVLA VED table showing that equals £140 per year, I have to get a letter from Citroen to prove it meets the standards? 

Nicola (08/09/2020, 09:26:08): Unfortunately this is the process that needs to be followed. I do apologise for this. 

Nicola (08/09/2020, 09:26:57): in regards to tax, euro status didn't need to be captured on a v5c until september 2015 his vehicle is 2012 and the dealer registered it as a lgv not under co2 

You (08/09/2020, 09:26:57): ok I understand, this does not explain why the stated VED table rate is not being charged according to your own records of the vehicles CO2 rating of 136g/Km 

You (08/09/2020, 09:27:29): The co2 rating is in the V5 and on your records online 

Nicola (08/09/2020, 09:29:16): CO2 is only charged for cars, it was registered as a light goods vehicle. Please send the above documents, addressed to the Vehicles Team, to:


DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BA 

You (08/09/2020, 09:29:57): Thank you for your help, I appreciate it. I will send the required documents as requested. I'm sure Citroen will be more than happy to help me. 

Nicola (08/09/2020, 09:30:18): No problem. Have a lovely day

[Sol]

Re reading Zions post it seems that it's only 09-10 euro 5's that qualify for the £140 deal. Bum.

Not at all, 09-10 was the introduction date of Euro 5, not the period covered by it! The standards go up each time, not down. A 2012 cannot be more polluting that the identical vehicle from 2010. Euro 5 ran until 2015 and then Euro 6 was introduced.

All Euro 5 vehicles have a DPF and an additive system like Adblue, PAT, Eolys etc which is how they met the standard. The issue here is the lame-brained dealer who registered my van did so as a LGV and not under it's CO2 rating or as a Car Derived Van (CDV) which is what it is. 

The PF2 platform is used across the PSA range of small & medium cars, and the Berlingo van is a Berlingo car, with no interior at the back. Not so of the Dispatch or Jumpy as they were never cars to begin with. This also affects the speed limit they will hold you to in law.

I'm going to challenge mine, I suggest all Berlingo van owners do so too. Get it changed to CDV or Car Derived Van and not Light Goods Vehicle - I'm going to contact Citroen for a start and send in evidence, pictures of the van, a berlingo B9 car and any details requested. I know others on the French car forum who have done this successfully.

Why pay double the road tax than the next guy who has the Multispace of the same year!

[Mrwilson]

I wish I had your patience and calm in such situations. This is why the gaffer deals with most other humans and I'm kept in the background. Until things get shouty that is.
I'm going to pass this info on and we'll see what happens, looks promising though.

[Sol]

Ah yes, I used to be shouty and nippy, but all that gets you is hung up on....hello.....hello.....lol.

I do get more patient as I get older, and especially so when I may be due a refund of road tax, pay less in the future for all the years I have the van, and not get busted for sitting at 70 on the motorway or dual carriageway...which you can / will if you leave it as LGV.

I've contacted Citroen using the contact-us form. I expect this will take some time. Revenge is best served cold as they say. Having the last laugh is priceless so I am in it for the duration, if I do nothing then nothing changes. Why bother with a DPF if they don't give you the VED discount that relies on you having one?

[Pedronicus]

Thanks for that comprehensive info, Zion. Luckily wife bought her van new from a Citroen dealer who are still going so we will contact them in the first instance for a letter. Let us know how you get on with Citroen please.

One more question - if the vehicle should have been classed as a Car Derived Van, what car is it derived from? What came first, the van or the MPV?

[Sol]

I believe the car came first Pete, but as they share an identical platform it should be a given that they are car derived vans. They may have been designed at the same time. The C4 Grand Picasso, the Pug 3008 and lots of other cars in the range are on the same platform. The C4GP is actually identical even down to the rear suspension, which is only shared with the Berlingo B9 and the C4GP itself. (not the air-ride version)

I just had a call back from the nice branch manager at Arnold Clark Citroen in Edinburgh, he said he was sent the enquiry from Citroen but can't help as he was not the supplying dealer. I guess they sent the enquiry there as he is my local dealership.

He suggested trying the business section of Citroen on 0800 285 1707 - onward and upward I guess.

[Pedronicus]

According to Wikipedia the car came first in 1996.  The Grande Large version was developed into the Multispace and Combi leisure vans.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Berlingo

[Sol]

Just had a call with Citroen Business Line - they advised to speak to Head Office

Citroen head office

02476 884444

[Sol]

According to Wikipedia the car came first in 1996.  The Grande Large version was developed into the Multispace and Combi leisure vans.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Berlingo

Exactly.

Also, fleet vans of B9 range are often limited to 70mph so the drivers can't break the law, yet an LGV is limited to 60mph on a motorway and 50 on a dual carriageway. Try arguing that one in court if your van is registered as LGV yet it has the underpinnings of a car and was originally designed as such, just mis-registered when new.

If I can get hold of a confirmation letter from Citroen, I'll share it as the info is not personal, but relates to the van meeting the required standard of Euro 5 at the time of manufacture. 

50% off your road tax anyone?? Higher speed limit without prosecution??