Hi,

I've just bought a Ford Transit Courier 22 plate and I'm looking at making it more friendly to have my dog (in her cage) in the cargo area as she has been used to a car until now.

Is it possible to get the solid bulkhead replaced with mesh? Perhaps even just the top half. If so, any companies in UK you can recommend? Does this make the cab very noisy?

What about an opening window in the solid bulkhead? Possible and recommendations?

What about a window on the side or back doors? I can see campervan conversions but they don't seem to do couriers (I guess to small to lie down in so why would you put a window in).

Many Thanks

4 hours ago, SarahVan said:

What about a window on the side

NO !!!

It affects the taxation of the van, and can have VAT implications.

You can fit windows in the rear doors if you want. Any decent coach builder will be able to do the modifications and advise you.

On 8/25/2024 at 9:59 PM, unofix said:

It affects the taxation of the van

Please can you show me the legislation that confirms this. I've been unable to verify it. I can find that too many windows may be an issue but not their position.

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/vat-input-tax/vit50600

This review of the Toyota Corolla Commercial illustrates the point about either no, or totally opaque, rear windows to comply with tax rules:

https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/corolla/estate/review/n24583#introduction

 

On 9/26/2024 at 7:50 PM, unofix said:

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/vat-input-tax/vit50600

This is about car-derived vans which a Courier is not - it is a van van.

On 9/27/2024 at 11:29 AM, Eric Bloodaxe said:

This review of the Toyota Corolla Commercial illustrates the point about either no, or totally opaque, rear windows to comply with tax rules:

https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/corolla/estate/review/n24583#introduction

 

This is also about a van derived from a car, which a Courier is not.

1 hour ago, SarahVan said:

This is also about a van derived from a car, which a Courier is not.

You aroused my curiosity on this one, and been having a bit of a search around. Can't find a 100% clear answer anywhere. Most of the stuff related to converting a van to carry passengers (which you're not) or converting to a camper (which again, you're not). Nowhere could I find a definite answer to just putting windows in a van.

Back in the day, it used to be popular to put windows in ex-AA Minivans, and there was I think a rule that there was no tax implication if the vehicle was over 5 years old. But again, they were being converted to carry passengers.

I did find this, from an accountant of all people. Full item here:

https://www.bishopfleming.co.uk/insights/it-car-it-van-or-it-car-derived-van-or-combi-van

but this is the most relevant bit:

For both VAT and income tax purposes, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) rely on the definition of a vehicle included in the Value Added Tax (Cars) Order 1992: A motor car is:

• a motor vehicle of a kind normally used on public roads which has three or more wheels and either:
• is constructed or adapted solely or mainly for the carriage of passengers; or
• has to the rear of the driver’s seat roofed accommodation which is fitted with side windows or which is constructed or adapted for the fitting of side windows.

Other than that, the suppliers/fitters of windows may have some advice, or it's down to asking HMRC direct. 

Certainly, rear door windows wouldn't be an issue as many vans have them anyway. It's the side windows that seem to be the cause of confusion.

On a different tack: how about a rooflight which seem to be fairly widely available from conversion firms?