Help! Confused over signwriting my horsebox

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Equimo

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Ok, I don't often post here but I need a bit of advice. I have a 3.5 tonne horsebox, Class 7. We just resprayed it and went to town doing it up. It's lovely, and I'm chuffed to bits with it. I would really like to put my business logo on the side, partly because the logo is green and will look dead smart on the black lorry :)
So I know there are rules and regs. I called VOSA who were useless and passed me on to the dept of transport. They were just as bad!
When I explained that I have a small lorry, not hgv and would like to put a logo on it she started reeling off info about the safety of the stickers i want to use. DOH! I told her thats not the issue, and she tried to pass me back to VOSA. Then told me to email the technical team and wait up to 20 days for a response. Jeeeees..... so I'm here asking your help.
The business I want to advertise is within the equestrian trade but has nothing to do with transporting horses. My horsebox is used only for my own private use. Hunting and cometitions with my own privatley owned horses.
Could i put 'sponsored by ........' as I could easily use some business funds to pay for some of the work we have done.
I would be really grateful if anyone can help out here, or point me in the direction of any files / downloads I can read to clarify the situation.
It's quite different to putting a yard name all over a 7.5 tonner, I think?
Cheers guys x
 
It's my understanding that as soon as you do this it changes the status of your transport and it becomes commercial use for the purposes of competency Certs etc etc etc.
The only thing allowed is the little makers logos they put on them.
 
I can understand why VOSA were confused , they don't really deal with 3.5 tonne vehicles unless for roadworthiness issues or they are towing trailers.
Don't see why DEFRA are going to get involved with the vehicle being signwritten unless you are transporting horses as an 'economic activity.' If you've repainted the thing in your business colours, but dont use it for business so what ? If you have changed the basic colour, say from red to black then you will need to tell DVLA. It might be an idea to see what your insurance company says about the change , but unless it was an expensive job with hard to match paint they probably won't be very interested.
Things might change if you were towing a trailer aswell but just the van by itself , cannot see a problem.
 
Talk to your accountant & also your insurer (vehicle & business)
If the box is used to advertise your business, you may well have an increase in insurance premium, but can off-set this on accounts via your advertising budget.

Get it in writing from both before you do it.
 
GeeBee45 said:
I can understand why VOSA were confused , they don't really deal with 3.5 tonne vehicles unless for roadworthiness issues or they are towing trailers.
Don't see why DEFRA are going to get involved with the vehicle being signwritten unless you are transporting horses as an 'economic activity.' If you've repainted the thing in your business colours, but dont use it for business so what ? If you have changed the basic colour, say from red to black then you will need to tell DVLA. It might be an idea to see what your insurance company says about the change , but unless it was an expensive job with hard to match paint they probably won't be very interested.
Things might change if you were towing a trailer aswell but just the van by itself , cannot see a problem.
Click to expand...

The issue is that as soon as you use your vehicle as a bill board you have changed its use and therefore you move into having to jump though all the hoops buisnesses do.
 
i have a 3.5tonne box for my own private use only... BUT... because we run a livery yard and hence have an equine related business, the insurers for my private policy said i had to have business use on it even if it is soley my own private box! they lady did say on the phone though that as it now had business use on it... i could put the company name on it if i wanted to for advertising....
i am not sure if it made much of a difference in the insurance costs as as soooooon as they knew the family business, they wouldnt even quote me for a private policy! (i had a private policy for 9 years beforehand....)

i'd love to know how you get on in the end as its such a grey area.
 
If you sign write it being 3.5 tonnes you fall outside of operator licencing but you do come under the pat the pony regulations because you are no longer private use. (you have a company logo on the vehicle). You will need an ACETQ certificate for the driver/groom/both and you will need an authorisation (type 1 or 2) issed by animal health. By definition if it is owned or sponsored by a company it can not be private.
 
sorry for hijacking the thread, but do you know if the same is true for trailers?
My friends mum had just put her business logo (horsey but not transport related) on her trailer, which I drive around for them, with friends and my own horse in.
The car is insured for anyone over 25 to drive, including towing.
Thanks
 
Splish & Masons mum said:
sorry for hijacking the thread, but do you know if the same is true for trailers?
My friends mum had just put her business logo (horsey but not transport related) on her trailer, which I drive around for them, with friends and my own horse in.
The car is insured for anyone over 25 to drive, including towing.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Yes trailers are the same.
 
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