Is Road Tax Cheaper for a Campervan?

henTaxes are one of the things we are all pretty much used to in the UK. They seem to spring up everywhere and no matter what, we can’t shake them off! Among the most lucrative taxes for the government is road tax or Vehicle Excise Duty as it is now called. In 2023/24 it was said that this tax generated approximately £7.8bn, the highest amount ever recorded for it.

For campervan owners, it’s another cost to cover, which, with the cost of road tax for their car as well, means things can get a little expensive. So, is the road tax on a campervan any cheaper to help lessen the burden? In a word, no. Road tax for a campervan is much the same as it is for a motorhome or a car, with just a few differences to be aware of.

In this blog, we take a look at what those differences are and what type of costs you can expect.

What is road tax?

Road tax, now known as VED or Vehicle Excise Duty is a tax put upon vehicle owners to help cover the costs of maintaining and improving UK roads. Varying factors come into play to determine how much you pay, including how old your campervan is, its engine size and how much it weighs.

How much is road tax for a campervan?

A campervan is assessed in the same way as a motorhome for road tax purposes. This means that the amount owed in road tax will be determined by several factors. We’ve broken down the different categories your campervan may fall into so things are a little clearer.

Road tax for a campervan registered before 1st March 2001

If your campervan was registered before 1st March 2021 and it is not yet 40 years old, the amount of tax will be based on the gross vehicle weight and engine.

Where your campervan weighs less than 3,500KG and has an engine size of less than 1549CC, your road tax will cost £210 per year if paid in one lump sum. If paid in monthly instalments, the total becomes £220.50.

Should your campervan weigh less than 3,500KG but have an engine of more than 1549CC, the annual road tax will be £345 if paid in one go or £362.25 when paid over 12 months.

Should your campervan exceed 3,500KG and be registered pre 1st March 2001, you’ll need to apply for a suitable new driving licence and see your road tax calculated for a larger vehicle rather than a campervan.

Road tax for campervans registered from 1st March 2001 – 1st April 2017

If your campervan weighs less than 3,500KG and has an engine of less than 1549CC, you’ll pay £210 per or £220.50 when paid in instalments. If the engine size exceeds 1549CC, you’ll pay £345 per year or £362.25 if paying monthly. Should you own a campervan that was registered between these times and weighs more than 3,500KG, you will pay £165 per year or £173.25 if paid monthly.

Road tax for campervans registered between 1st April 2017 and March 11th, 2020

Now, we can’t give you a specific amount that you must pay in this instance as each campervan might be a little different! The amount of road tax you pay for your campervan in this case will be determined by whether your campervan is in the M1SP category and whether its CO2 emissions are included on the certificate of conformity. Both must apply for a different rate of road tax to be charged.

As there are so many variations, it would be easier to consult the table put together by the government. Just note that there are two payments to be made here. The initial one, and then your renewal which will be cheaper. To add further confusion, if the list price of your campervan is above £40,000, you pay one set fee for five years after the second time that the vehicle is taxed. After those five years, the fee will drop to the second tax charge.

You’ll be pleased to know that this road tax plan was shelved fairly quickly so any motorhomes registered after March 11th, 2020, aren’t subject to these complexities!

Campervans registered after 11th March 2020

Should you have purchased your campervan more recently and had it registered from 11th March 2020 you simply pay the rates that were established for motorhomes registered between March 1st, 2001, and April 1st, 2017.

Your campervan is more than 40 years old

If you own a vintage campervan and it was built or registered over 40 years ago, breathe a sigh of relief! You won’t have to pay any road tax on your campervan. You’ll still need to register, but as long as you apply for your tax exemption, you won’t have to worry about the tax bill. Just be careful, records are updated in April of every year, so you can only apply for your exemption from the 1st of April of the relevant year.

Overall, road tax is no different if you own a campervan. There are a few small differences, but ultimately, you still have to pay it, and it costs about the same! If you haven’t yet taken the plunge and got yourself a new campervan, why not speak to us? Our team at Euphoria are the experts in campervan finance. Enabling those with good credit and bad credit to always find an affordable finance solution. Our easy application process and fast response mean you can soon be on the road enjoying a new lease of life. Just don’t forget your road tax!