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camelman

Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3317

Rear seat conversion for hardtop...

Obviously aimed at those trying to get around company car tax etc..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Defe...SwVopgG8b7

24th Mar 2021 7:39pm

Landy718

Member Since: 22 Mar 2021
Location: Brooklyn/Catskills
Posts: 17

2016 Defender 110 Other USW Auto Santorini Black

I'm not a brit, so this is very much over my head. Whats being done here?

25th Mar 2021 2:26pm

camelman

Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3317

This would allow the 110 hardtop to have rear seats.

There are a number of significant tax benefits enjoyed by the Hardtop as it qualifies as a commercial vehicle, partly because it can't carry passengers in the rear.

This conversion potentially allows someone to run the HT as a 'commercial' vehicle but carry rear passengers.

It opens up lots of debate around insurance, tax avoidance etc etc which I'm staying clear of

25th Mar 2021 2:28pm

Landy718

Member Since: 22 Mar 2021
Location: Brooklyn/Catskills
Posts: 17

Ah got it. That's not a model type we have stateside, hence my confusion.

25th Mar 2021 2:32pm

Ryderoo

Member Since: 28 Aug 2015
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 1655

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Santorini Black

Tax avoidance aside, I don’t know the implications with HMRC. I do know that some insurance companies will happily insure a rear seat converted commercial vehicle as long as you have a certificate of conformance from the manufacturer/installer..

Down the line, purchasing a second hand hard top as a private buyer you could have the choice of modifying your vehicle to carry passengers. Cheers Simon

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you

2015 Urban Truck 90 XS Santorini Black Hard Top - Reluctantly gone
2020 Discovery 5 Eiger Grey 3.0 SE
2021 Defender S D250 Santorini Black 110 Hard Top on the drive

25th Mar 2021 2:41pm

camelman

Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3317

If you run the hardtop as a company van, it attracts a benefit in kind of around £3500 per year so at 20% tax, you pay £700 a year extra tax. The business can also currently reclaim a 130% tax write off on the value of the vehicle if it's commercial as well as reclaiming all of the VAT.

If you ran the equivalent 5 seater (say a £60k 110), the benefit in kind is more like £20k. At best this would mean an extra £4k a year tax but might push you into higher tax bracket so £8k a year in additional tax. Additionally, the tax write off is much less favourable and the VAT can't be reclaimed on the car if there's any personal use allowed.

Whilst unlikely, If tax man gets wind of your conversion to a 5 seater it would probably be an uncomfortable conversation

I'm sure someone will post the link to the thread on a similar issue with VW combi's....

Last edited by camelman on 25th Mar 2021 11:01pm. Edited 1 time in total

25th Mar 2021 5:20pm

Ryderoo

Member Since: 28 Aug 2015
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 1655

I’m sure Mr Taxman would want to add all the years of lost revenue plus VAT returned.

Plus a fine and interest I suppose.

Those £3k seats aren’t all that cheap after all. Cheers Simon

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you

2015 Urban Truck 90 XS Santorini Black Hard Top - Reluctantly gone
2020 Discovery 5 Eiger Grey 3.0 SE
2021 Defender S D250 Santorini Black 110 Hard Top on the drive

25th Mar 2021 6:47pm

Supacat

Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green

I wonder if a variation on these would fit?

Click image to enlarge

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Taxi-Minibus-Bu...890.l49292

26th Mar 2021 8:36am

dontwakemeup

Member Since: 28 Feb 2021
Location: Oz
Posts: 55

Beware. All airbags and other restraint components are removed from the hardtop in the back.

27th Mar 2021 7:11am

astroarcadia

Member Since: 12 Jun 2020
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 49

Has anyone done this yet or can anyone reccomend a company that carries out these conversions.

4th Aug 2021 5:10pm

markb110

Member Since: 22 May 2010
Location: Guildford
Posts: 2520

Can’t you just throw in a mattress, get everyone to lay down and if stopped say you are a hearse…….

4th Aug 2021 5:30pm

astroarcadia

Member Since: 12 Jun 2020
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 49

Would be nice to have on occasion.

I can see two people doing this

WCS in Whitney do a sort of half conversion.

Seeker do a full conversion.

4th Aug 2021 5:47pm

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