a We operate a six-wheeled vehicle
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plated at 22 tons and we are thinking of using a drawbar trailer with it. Would this increase the road tax and how would it affect our 0 licence ?
A Before contemplating the use of a
drawbar trailer with your existing vehicle you should ensure that the gross weight of the trailer is such that the total combination weight is within the plated train weight of the drawing vehicle.
You will have to pay increased excise duty if a trailer is drawn and this is based on the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle. For example, the rate for a vehicle with an unladen weight of 6 tons 10cwt (about average for this class of vehicle in truck form) used without a trailer is £270 a year, but when used with a trailer it is £324. The additional duty of £54 is the additional rate for any vehicle exceeding 4 tons unladen weight when drawing a trailer. This of course does not apply in the case of semi-trailers used in articulated combinations.
So far as the operator's licence is concerned, you will not need an additional licence but the trailer will have to be specified on your existing licence. If when you made your original application for the operator's licence, you did not specify the trailer as being owned or to be acquired and did not seek a margin to cover the trailer, then you will have to apply to vary your licence to include the trailer.
This is done by completing a form GV81, similar to the original application, and may result in details being published in Applications and Decisions.