Taxing Motorhomes in the UK: Our Taxing Guide

Owning a motorhome opens up a world of freedom and adventure. But along with the joy of life on the road comes responsibility—one of the most important being Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), often called “road tax”. If you’re in the UK (or thinking of bringing your motorhome here), it pays to understand how taxation works, what you’ll owe, and how to avoid penalties.

Here at Go European, we want to make sure your motorhome travels are smooth, starting with getting the tax sorted. This guide covers everything from how tax is calculated, the different categories, exemptions, and practical tips.

• VED is a mandatory tax you must pay if your motorhome is used or kept on public roads in the UK.
• It’s collected by the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency).
• Costs vary widely depending on factors such as your motorhome’s weight, engine size, when it was registered, and sometimes emissions.

Failing to pay can result in fines, possibly even clamping or seizure of the vehicle. So it’s not something to leave to chance.

Here are the major variables that determine how much you’ll pay:

• Maximum / Gross Vehicle Weight: Motorhomes under or over 3,500 kg are taxed differently.
• Engine Size (cc): Smaller engines often cost less tax than larger ones. Thresholds like 1,549 cc are important cut-offs.
• Date of First Registration: Changes in tax law mean that motorhomes registered before or after certain dates (e.g. 1 April 2017, or between 2017–2020) might be taxed differently.
• Emissions / Environmental Standards: While not always the biggest factor in older motorhomes, for newer ones emissions (CO₂) can affect tax rates.

Here are the broad categories and what you might expect to pay. Always check gov.uk for the most up-to-date, vehicle-specific rates.

• Private or Light Goods Vehicles (TC11)
  • Applies to motorhomes with a gross weight of 3,500 kg or less.
  • Tax depends on engine size:
    • Up to 1,549 cc → around £200 per year.
    • Over 1,549 cc → around £325 per year.
  • Private Heavy Goods Vehicles (TC10)
    • Applies to motorhomes over 3,500 kg.
    • Regardless of engine size, the cost is usually around £165 per year.
  • Special Registration-Date Bands
    • Some vehicles registered between 1 April 2017 and 11 March 2020 fall into unique bands due to emissions or type-approval rules.

*These are approximate and illustrative. Always verify for your specific vehicle using DVLA online tools.

There are a few situations where you may pay less or not have to pay VED at all:

1. Historic / Vintage Motorhomes: If the vehicle is over 40 years old, it may qualify for historic vehicle status and be exempt from VED. But you’ll need to apply for that classification.
2. Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN): If your vehicle isn’t going to be used or kept on public roads, you can declare it off road (SORN). Then you don’t pay VED while off the road.
3. Temporary Reduced Rates / Transitional Rules: Sometimes when tax law changes, there are transitional or grandfathered rules affecting certain vehicles. It’s worth checking whether your registration date or type-approval status gives you benefit.
4. Low/Zero Emissions & Environmental Incentives: For some newer motorhomes, environmental regulations (emissions standards) may reduce tax rates. But these benefits are more likely to apply for newer registrations, and rules may change.

• You can pay VED annually, but often you can also pay for six months or in monthly instalments via direct debit.
• Always ensure your logbook (V5C) or new-keeper documentation is in order. DVLA reminders help, but it’s ultimately your responsibility to keep track.
• If you forget or fail to renew, penalties apply. Checking the renewal date and having a reminder system is a good idea.

• Mis-estimating your motorhome’s weight or engine size – these can cause underpayment or be challenged.
• Overlooking registration date / emissions category – sometimes you might think you pay one rate, but your vehicle falls into a different bracket.
• Not applying for exemptions (historic status, etc.) if eligible.
• Letting VED lapse – the legal consequences can be substantial.

• Ensures your motorhome is legal to drive.
• Helps with resale: buyers will check VED status, whether the vehicle has been taxed etc.
• Budgeting: tax is a recurring cost; factoring it in early helps avoid surprises.
• Environmental impact: emissions-based rules are growing; staying compliant may save money and reduce environmental footprint.

If you own (or are buying) a motorhome:

1. Check its gross weight (is it ≤ or > 3,500 kg?).
2. Check engine size (especially if near 1,549 cc cut-off).
3. Check registration date, emissions and type-approval status.
4. Look up the current VED rates for your details on GOV.UK.
5. See if you’re eligible for any exemptions (historic status, off-road, etc.).
6. Decide how frequently to pay: annual, 6-monthly, or instalments, depending on what works best cash-flow-wise.

If you’re thinking of travelling Europe in your motorhome (or buying one), we also cover how UK tax & registration might interact with EU/EEA laws, border crossings, insurance, etc.