horsebox running costs

[diddydavies]

looking at buying a 7.5t leyland horsebox and was wondering what the running costs were. Passed test way before 1997 so am assuming I can drive it on my licence (will check our before I purchase)

How much is a plate? mot? (is this the same thing), insurance etc

 

[emmah]

How long is a piece of string

MOT (plate) is £75 a year but thats not including any work that you may need doing to pass the MOT. I have been quite lucky over the last few years with my lorry and its had a basic service (£150) and flown through it's test. This year it cost me £2000 to get it through it's test 8)

Insurance costs me about £400 including road side recovery and the road tax is about £160.

I would certainly recommend having someone to check over the lorry you are looking at I paid someone to check one for me and its a good job I did because it looked nice on the outside but on the inside the engine was a shed!!

 

[Louby]

2nd what emmah said.
I looked at loads and found most were rust buckets or just awful dangerous horse areas. We finally bought something much older than I was looking for. It appeared to be in good condition and was a good price, however I took it for a minor body repair on the body not chassis and was asked to call in as they wanted to show me something. The minor repair has turned into a massive job as lots of the body was rotten. I didnt go into this with my eyes shut, I thought I had a fairly good idea (albeit basic) of what to look for and its scary to think what could have happened if I hadnt had the minor repair done as the rot could not been seen or 'felt' from just me checking it over.
Please check more than just the mechanics. Good luck, it really is a minefield.

 

[Bangagin]

I've just bought an H reg 7.5 tonne lorry. I looked at quite a few and some of them had such bad rust that it would have been very expensive to maintain them. When I found the one we just bought it looked pretty good, so I paid for a vehicle inspection, but this was carried out by someone who keeps horses and so they looked the horse area, floor, ramp, etc over thoroughly as well as the mechanics.

It passed with flying colours, so I bought it last month. I've paid just over £200 to insure it for any driver over 26 years of age. I've then gone for separate breakdown cover, which cost me just over £200, as some companies (including the one I took out insurance with) doesn't guarantee separate onward transport for the horses, and I read some horror stories about horesboxes being winched on to recovery vehicles with the horses on board!

My advice would be to buy the best lorry you can afford, and one with a long MOT and tax.

The only other expense of course is the fuel!!

Good luck!

 

[diddydavies]

Thanks All

Great help especially about getting it checked, the sensible thing would be to get a trailer as only have one, but OH would prefer me to have a box, so just checking all the facts.

Following on from my 1st question, what insurance company do you use? and (I know I am being greedy by asking another question) if it says 7.5t does this mean it can carry upto this weight (including its own weight) or is the box 7.5t and therefore when ladden can I still drive it on my licence?

 

[perfect11s]

Thanks All

Great help especially about getting it checked, the sensible thing would be to get a trailer as only have one, but OH would prefer me to have a box, so just checking all the facts.

Following on from my 1st question, what insurance company do you use? and (I know I am being greedy by asking another question) if it says 7.5t does this mean it can carry upto this weight (including its own weight) or is the box 7.5t and therefore when ladden can I still drive it on my licence?

yes 7.5 ton is the total weight of the lorry and its load so you realy need to take it to a public weighbridge to find out for sure what is left... so say it weighs 5500kg that would leave you 2000kg for horses, tack, you, OH , food and drink etc
best to do this before buying !!!!as some older lorrys have shall we say a very limited payload hmmm ......