Q We are a vehicle recovery company and as such have
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just obtained an electrically propelled mobile crane. Can you tell me how it should be taxed, and should the driver have a heavy goods vehicle driving licence because it is over 3 tons unladen? Must it be plated and tested?
A ( Mobile cranes can be taxed at A the annual rate of £5 as provided for in Schedule 3 of the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971. In that Schedule a mobile crane is defined as "a vehicle designed and constructed as a mobile crane which (a) is used on public roads only either as a crane in connection with work being carried on on a site in the immediate vicinity or for the purpose of proceeding to or from a place where it is to be used as a crane; and (b) when so proceeding neither carries nor hauls any load other than such as is necessary for its propulsion or equipment".
In the absence of any information as to the precise use to which you intend to put your vehicle it is not possible to state that you will be able to tax your vehicle under this Schedule. If you are able to do so, however, then the driver will not need a heavy goods vehicle driving licence, being specifically exempted under Section 112(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1972. This subsection exempts drivers of vehicles taxed at £5 under Schedule 3 of the 1971 Act from hgv licence requirements.
In the event of your being unable to tax your vehicle in this way, then the driver will need an hgv driving licence for there is no other exemption for mobile cranes.
Paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 of the Goods Vehicle (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1971 exempts mobile cranes from the Plating and Testing Regulations and Paragraph 10 exempts electrically propelled vehicles. Therefore, on two counts, your vehicle will not require plating and testing.
However, it will be subject to the less stringent tests for a mechanically propelled vehicle, as provided for in Section 43 of the Road Traffic Act 1972, three years after its first registration.