Has anybody every done this? I'm think of converting my private passenger seated jeep to a commercial jeep. I never use the seats anyhow which are always rolled up and to have them taken out altogether would be much handier for me. I think I have to get the jeep re-registered and re-weighed but I'm not sure of where to start or any idea of the costs involved. Is it even allowed?
Converting private jeep to commercial?
- Thread starter bb12
- Start date
Does anyone know what's involved in converting a private jeep to a commercial vehicle?
We can't get insurance for our private jeep to tow a twin-axle trailer and the options now are:
- buy a new commerical vehicle;
- convert the existing PMV vehicle to a commercial vehicle.
Is it as simple as applying to re-register it, taking out the rear seats, and having it tested by the DOE every year?
I've googled and can't find an answer.
Thanks
We can't get insurance for our private jeep to tow a twin-axle trailer and the options now are:
- buy a new commerical vehicle;
- convert the existing PMV vehicle to a commercial vehicle.
Is it as simple as applying to re-register it, taking out the rear seats, and having it tested by the DOE every year?
I've googled and can't find an answer.
Thanks
You have to get the rear seats, belts & attachments removed. It will need a DOE test each year once it is over 1 year old. Have it weighed at an authorised weighbridge - the Motor Tax Office can give you a list of these.
Complete an RF111 Form (Change of Particulars - from MTO or can be downloaded) to change the class from Private to Commercial. Commercial insurance. MTO will want to inspect the vehicle to confirm change of class.
You can get a refund on the private motor tax if there are 3 months or more left to run on the disc. Also surrender your Vehicle Licensing Cert to the MTO and you will receive a new one from DOE in Shannon showing change to commercial vehicle.
Complete an RF111 Form (Change of Particulars - from MTO or can be downloaded) to change the class from Private to Commercial. Commercial insurance. MTO will want to inspect the vehicle to confirm change of class.
You can get a refund on the private motor tax if there are 3 months or more left to run on the disc. Also surrender your Vehicle Licensing Cert to the MTO and you will receive a new one from DOE in Shannon showing change to commercial vehicle.
G
Gone Fishin'
Guest
Why you would convert to a commercial is beyond me. You have already paid VRT on the vehicle as a private car and you will not get any rebate if you convert it.
Buy a commercial or trade against one. Converting does not make sense.
(BTW, any good Insurance Broker will get you insurance to tow a twin-axel trailer, once the towing capacity of the car is not exceeded.)
Buy a commercial or trade against one. Converting does not make sense.
(BTW, any good Insurance Broker will get you insurance to tow a twin-axel trailer, once the towing capacity of the car is not exceeded.)
Hi Gone Fishin', if you can tell me which good broker will get me insurance, I'd appreciate it. I've been trying for the past 2 weeks with insurance companies and brokers and have been turned down in every case.
More details on the twin-axle trailer in question in this thread.
We have checked with a few dealers and if we trade in our private jeep against a commercial one, they have offered €5k below its current value. Is it not therefore more economical to convert from private to commercial rather than trading in?
G
Gone Fishin'
Guest
What marque/model is the car?
It's a 2003 Landrover Freelander, 1.8ltr petrol.
It's maximum towing capacity is 2,000kg and the weight of the unit is 1,400kg.
With the insurance companies the problem appears to be that the vehicle is registered for private use and they will therefore not insure it for partial business use to tow a commercial trailer. We have been told by 2 brokers that we need to switch to a commercial vehicle in order to get adequate insurance, i.e. 3rd party insurance for the trailer itself while in transit and insurance for the jeep to tow a twin-axle trailer.
It's maximum towing capacity is 2,000kg and the weight of the unit is 1,400kg.
With the insurance companies the problem appears to be that the vehicle is registered for private use and they will therefore not insure it for partial business use to tow a commercial trailer. We have been told by 2 brokers that we need to switch to a commercial vehicle in order to get adequate insurance, i.e. 3rd party insurance for the trailer itself while in transit and insurance for the jeep to tow a twin-axle trailer.
D
Dipole
Guest
I would be fairly certain that an insurer will be obligied to insure the vehicle under the IIF declined cases agreement.
Get refusals in writing and then return to the first insurer who declined in writing.
You do have the correct licence which allows you to tow a trailer?
Get refusals in writing and then return to the first insurer who declined in writing.
You do have the correct licence which allows you to tow a trailer?
Yes, have the correct licence and yes, original insurer wants 5 written diclinatures plus proof of public liability insurance and sight of the policy document before they will even consider quoting.
Some companies will not even give a written diclinature. We have also been advised by a broker that even if the original insurer is obliged to quote after we have presented all the required documenation, the quotation will be so high as to be prohibitive.
For this reason we have decided to pursue the possible 'switch to commercial vehicle' route as we have already spent the best part of the last 3 weeks talking to our current insurers, via the broker as they won't talk to us direct, and phoning around numerous other brokers and insurers to no avail.
Some companies will not even give a written diclinature. We have also been advised by a broker that even if the original insurer is obliged to quote after we have presented all the required documenation, the quotation will be so high as to be prohibitive.
For this reason we have decided to pursue the possible 'switch to commercial vehicle' route as we have already spent the best part of the last 3 weeks talking to our current insurers, via the broker as they won't talk to us direct, and phoning around numerous other brokers and insurers to no avail.
As well as removing the rear seats you must ensure that they can not be refitted. This involves welding the bolt holes full thus preventing refitting.
This will be checked by the company carrying out the MOT. If they are not welded closed they will ( Should ) not carry out the test.
This will be checked by the company carrying out the MOT. If they are not welded closed they will ( Should ) not carry out the test.
G
Gone Fishin'
Guest
A 1.8l FREELANDER will not tow a 1400Kg load, it will tear the car to bits. My advice would be to sell the car and buy a commercial vehicle with a towing capacity of at least 2000Kg, something like a Nissan Terrano.
A Freelander 1.8 Van will be worth next to nothing and a conversion will end up costing a ridiculous amount of money.
(American spec Freelanders had a towing capacity of 2500 lb, i.e. just over 1000Kg. At a stretch the Diesel car might manage it, the 1.8l petrol definitely will not last long, it's a very weak engine.)
BTW, I'm not sure if you are aware of the horrendous reliability problems of the Freelander Petrol engines. Check out www.honestjohn.co.uk and go to the car by car breakdown tab on the LH Side, and you will see the litany of problems with the car.
A Freelander 1.8 Van will be worth next to nothing and a conversion will end up costing a ridiculous amount of money.
(American spec Freelanders had a towing capacity of 2500 lb, i.e. just over 1000Kg. At a stretch the Diesel car might manage it, the 1.8l petrol definitely will not last long, it's a very weak engine.)
BTW, I'm not sure if you are aware of the horrendous reliability problems of the Freelander Petrol engines. Check out www.honestjohn.co.uk and go to the car by car breakdown tab on the LH Side, and you will see the litany of problems with the car.
D
Dipole
Guest
You only need three letters of refusal from insurers. You haven't even got the first yet.
The IIF decide whether the premium is so high as to be considered tantamount to refusual.
To get the refusals in writing you may need to call in to one or two offices where you'll probably find plenty of TAXI drivers looking for the same papers you will be looking for.
The IIF decide whether the premium is so high as to be considered tantamount to refusual.
To get the refusals in writing you may need to call in to one or two offices where you'll probably find plenty of TAXI drivers looking for the same papers you will be looking for.
D
Dipole
Guest
You could get a servicable small van/box van based on a transit/merc or fiat floorplan for small money.
G
Gone Fishin'
Guest
You have to do that to qualify for a lower VRT rate, it's not necessary for a straight conversion from private to commercial. And, as this would be a used car, VRT qualification does not come into things.
G
Gone Fishin'
Guest
A sensible move. Best of luck in your new venture.