How Much is Road Tax for a Motorhome?

They say only two things are certain in life. Death and taxes and whilst death may only happen once, tax seems to be coming at us multiple times. Income tax, council tax, corporation tax, inheritance tax, and, of course, road tax to name a few. In this edition of our blog, we look at road tax for a motorhome, uncovering how much you’ll have to pay, how you pay it and whether you may be exempt from it altogether.

Depending on the motorhome you have, road tax could cost from £165-£325 per year. So, let’s dive in and find out what your motorhome road tax bill may be.

What is motorhome road tax?

Like road tax for your car or motorbike, motorhome road tax is charged to motorhome owners each year. With the primary goal of funding public services, the tax helps support the costs of road maintenance and infrastructure. That being said, the funds from road tax are not solely put aside for road upkeep as general taxation also helps fund road and highway development.

How much each driver is charged depends on several factors such as the weight and emissions of the vehicle.

Typically, a heavier motorhome costs more to tax than a lighter one.

How much will I pay for motorhome road tax?

The amount you are required to pay will depend on several factors. You could even find yourself not having to pay a penny.

There are currently five categories for motorhome road tax:

If your motorhome weighs 3500KG or less:

You’ll pay £210 per year if your motorhome has an engine smaller than 1549cc. Should the engine be above 1549cc, the yearly fee will be £345.

If your motorhome weighs more than 3500KG:

Should your motorhome weigh more than 3500 kg, the annual road tax for it will cost £165 regardless of engine size.

If your motorhome was registered between 1st April 2017 and 11th March 2020:

Road tax for motorhomes registered in this period is worked out a little differently. If it falls into the M1SP category and has its CO2 emissions stated on the type of approval certificate you will pay vastly different amounts. Your initial payment could in fact be over £2,000 for the first year. After that, yearly payments drop to £190. Should your motorhome have a list price of more than £40,000, you’ll need to add a further £410 to the yearly payments. These rates last for five years from the time the second payment is made.

Euro 4 motorhome

If your Euro4 motorhome was registered between March 1st, 2003, and 31st December 2006 and is not over 3500KG, you’ll pay £140 per year for motorhome road tax,

Euro 5 motorhome

If your motorhome is Euro5 compliant and registered between 1st January 2009 and 31st December 2010 and does not weigh over 3500 kg, you’ll pay £140.

Are there any exemptions from motorhome road tax?

You may be pleased to know that in some cases, you will not need to pay any motorhome road tax at all. If the motorhome you own was either built or registered more than 40 years ago, you’ll not need to pay any road tax. You will still need to apply for the exemption to stay on the right side of the law. You should also be aware that if your motorhome is used for hire or commercial reasons you cannot claim the exemption.

Can I pay motorhome road tax monthly?

Yes. Which can often be a relief to many. You can pay by monthly direct debit, but this will see the total bill reach a slightly higher amount than if you paid in one lump sum. You can also pay in six monthly instalments if you prefer. Before submitting any payment, you should double-check the amount owed. Paying too little could result in penalties and paying too much is not only a waste of money but may find you not being compliant.

How do I pay motorhome road tax?

Paying the road tax for your motorhome is easy. Get your logbook (V5C) and make sure it is in your name. You’ll want your New Keeper green slip from the previous owner if you have just purchased the motorhome too. Finally, the reminder from the DVLA that your tax is due can also be used should you have none of the other two documents to hand.

You then simply call the DVLA, visit your local post office or use the online feature to pay your motorhome road tax. The same process will be needed to declare your motorhome as exempt should that be necessary.

Once paid, you’ll either be taxed for the year, six months or monthly if you set up a recurring direct debit.

You can then continue your road trip adventures safely in the knowledge you are compliant with road tax. Just don’t forget your MOT, motorhome insurance and anything else you may need for the destination you are heading to.

At Euphoria Finance, we can help you start the motorhome adventure. We offer affordable motorhome finance so everyone can enjoy the freedom of the open road. Operating as a direct lender, our application process is quick, easy and available to all. Even if you have bad credit. In fact, bad credit finance is something we specialise in. Why not contact us today to see how easy we make it for you to affordably secure a new or used motorhome on finance?