Nissan Pathfinder - CAR or VAN?

Nissan Pathfinder - CAR or VAN?

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A client is considering buying a Nissan Pathfinder (see link below), which i believe is a car for tax purposes although it is one of these borderline vehicles which i cannot decide whether it meets the "of a construction primarily suited for the conveyance of goods or burden of any description" test.

The garage in question has told him that the vehicle qualifies as a van for tax purposes - i have my doubts!

What are other people's opinions...?

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/gallery/?model=1358&img=archive/Nissan/Pat...

Replies (3)

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By valentino rossi
12th Oct 2010 10:35

In my opinion its a car
Looking at the vehicle I would say that it falls in the car catergory. My reasoning being that it is not primarily designed for carrying good rather than people.

The Revenue guidance on this matter is as follows:

 Vans with rear seats

Some vehicles look like vans and don't have windows in the sides behind the driver. But they do have additional seats for carrying passengers behind the front row of seats (or they're designed so they can be fitted with them). They're sometimes known as combination vans or combi vans.

HMRC considers that this type of vehicle is a commercial vehicle for VAT purposes if it meets either of the following conditions:

It has a payload of more than one tonne after the extra seats have been added.The dedicated load area (the load area that's completely unaffected by the extra seats) is larger than the passenger area. This means that the main use of the vehicle is for carrying goods rather than passengers.

If it meets either of these conditions then the vehicle is a commercial vehicle for VAT purposes and you can reclaim the input VAT if you follow the normal rules for reclaiming VAT.

Another piece of evidence that it is a car rather than a van is that comcar.co.uk Has it listed in the company car tax calculator.

However, looking online Nissan do make a van version of this vehicle which may be designed to qualify so you should check whether it is the car or van version he is buying.

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By graemeban
12th Oct 2010 17:14

Sure the correct vehicle?

Are you sure you are looking at the correct vehicle?

I have one of these Pathfinders in the picture and it is graded as a car.

However, you get a 4/5 seat version with a seperate cab on the back which is graded as a van, one of my client's got one.

It maybe your client has picked up the garage wrong.

Hope this helps. 

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By Simon K
13th Oct 2010 08:42

Many thanks...
...for the replies. Sounds like there is both a car and a van version of this vehicle so i will need to double check which one my client is after.

Thanks again

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