Very strange question!! Using a lorry for personal use, but also sheep shows (Tacho)

[ArcticFox]

Odd question I know, and I couldn't really work out what title to put to get someone who has/competes/transports their own horses and also keeps sheep!

I have my own horses and use my lorry to take them to competitions. I don't drive for a living anymore so the horsebox is for personal use. Therefore I don't keep a tachograph (I don't think I have to but I'm willing to be corrected as its a grey area and confusing!)

the lorry has a paper tacho. But I don't do anything with it.

Now the reason for the odd question! We recently registered as a farm for our smallholding as we keep hebridean sheep and are selling the sheep/meat/skins etc.

Having set up the business (we are in the first year), we also take them to the shows to compete (last year winning breed champ at RHS and GYS! ). As its a business we can put the show entries through the books etc (its a whole new learning curve this business lark!)

Anyway last week we went to the Great Yorkshire - as its so far from home, and as last year, we took the horsebox. Partitions out, sheep hurdles in the back and the sheep travelling happily on straw. Once arrived its brill as we can then use the lorry to sleep in.

We are not alone in the using a horsebox, although no-one from heb sheep does so I can't ask the question - however someone said to us that as we are transporting the sheep, we need to keep a tachograph etc.

Can anyone advise me?

Do I need a tacoh - if so, is this just for sheep, or should I always do it?
We have our horse/sheep transporters thingy - should I be getting anything else?


Well, any advise gratefully received

Thanks in advance, and apols for the odd question!

 

[Santa_Claus]

Your problem and I'm sure someone will correct me is that you will currently have a Tacho exemption which is done at the time of MOT each year which means the vehicle is for private use only. You will als only pay private Hgv rate tax.

If using if for transporting sheep as part of your business you will need to change the declaration of the vehicle including tax and then keep a Tacho record of all the time it is driven. And you might need operators licence and you will need to change your insurance to cover commercial use. Yes you are not being paid to drive the sheep but it is part of your business!

 

[ArcticFox]

Thanks SC - thats what I'm beginning to realise!

Have called lorry insurance, and waiting to hear back.

Also if I use my car to tow sheep - does the car need to be insured for business when we are towing sheep?

its very confusing!

 

[Baggybreeches]

Thanks SC - thats what I'm beginning to realise!

Have called lorry insurance, and waiting to hear back.

Also if I use my car to tow sheep - does the car need to be insured for business when we are towing sheep?

its very confusing!

Yes SC is correct, and yes you will have to insure for business use if you use your car. I insure my car for business use it isn't vastly more expensive.

 

[ArcticFox]

Brill. Thanks. OH is onto the case for the car.

Still waiting for a quote from insurance co

 

[mutley75]

i read a couple of times but didn't see what size vehicle you use. since april07 private lgv have had to use a tacho, you don't need to keep the records but you must have one in use. I presume you are running a 7.5 tonner? personally i would put one in if you have the ability, unless of course you are planning on driving for 20 hours without a break! It is a grey area so rather than run the risk of upsetting vosa at the roadside why not just run with 1?

 

[ArcticFox]

I will start now, thanks

just another Q though. The isolation switch turns off the tacho to prevent battery flattening, so when turned back on the clock is wrong.

So do you reset your clock or do you keep the clock the same and keep a 'real time' log of your hours to offset against the tacho??

thanks for your help, the advice I was previously given (by a pro hgv driver) was wrong it would seem!

 

[measles]

The same thing happens with the clock in our very long lorry and we reset the clock each time we go out.

 

[Nicnac]

i read a couple of times but didn't see what size vehicle you use. since april07 private lgv have had to use a tacho, you don't need to keep the records but you must have one in use.

That's only for those vehicles registered after 1/4/07 though.

OP - I'd way up the costs vs. paying to 'conform' versus possible fines. How often are you going to show where you can't trailer sheep (business insurance on my car was free)?

 

[ArcticFox]

Its a 52 plate, so that makes sense to the advice I was given.

We only go to a show once a year where we may need to take the sheep - insurance for the lorry is £500 a year on top of the normal so thats definitely not worth it!

OH changing his car insurance - my car is already reg for business use.

Might have to look into a caravan and go down in convoy but my car is not the best for that so that would need upgrading.

Wish I'd stayed in blissful ignorance! (well until VOSA stopped me so I'm glad its been brought to my attention tbh)