A four-wheeled vehicle with electric motor (Tariff notice 11)
Check the tariff classification for a four-wheeled vehicle with an electric motor powered by rechargeable batteries.
New regulation
A new regulation was published on 6 August 2021:
L 294/1
Reg. 2021/6016
This is not considered a change in Northern Ireland practice.
Description of goods
Four-wheeled vehicle with a DC 24V 800W electric motor powered by two 12V rechargeable batteries with 45Ah-capacity. It is approximately 65 cm wide, 125 cm long and 129 cm high (measured at the seat back, 85 cm with the seat back folded down). Its total weight is approximately 107 kg (108 kg including the batteries). The maximum load is approximately 130 kg.
The vehicle has the following characteristics:
- a horizontal platform connecting the front and rear sections; the platform cannot be adjusted in any way (e.g. folded or tilted) to suit the user’s needs
- two sprung axles, rear-axle drive and an 820mm wheelbase
- gradient capability 130
- turning circle 210 cm
- two sets of inflatable tyres (the rear tyres being larger than the front ones)
- a configurable, height-adjustable rotating seat with supports and armrests and a non-slip surface for the feet
- an adjustable fold-down steering column with oval-shaped handlebars
- front and rear lights, direction indicators and rear-view mirrors
The steering column also has a dashboard featuring a switch box, a speed control, a horn button, an engine-idle button, a blinker switch, a light switch, a battery-status indicator and a speed adjuster.
The vehicle has two manually operated levers for accelerating, braking and reversing. The steering can be adjusted to allow operation with one hand.
It has a ‘smart’ regenerative electromagnetic braking system.
With fully charged batteries, the vehicle has a maximum range of up to 45 kilometres and can reach a maximum speed of approximately 15-16 km/h.
It may be fitted with small anti-tipping wheels at the back, a shopping basket, a walking-stick holder, etc.
The vehicle may be stowed for transport purposes. It may be used on roads, pavements, footpaths, pathways in parks, cycle paths and certain leisure trails, or in pedestrian areas (e.g. shopping precincts).
Classification (Combined Nomenclature (CN) code)
8703 10 18
Reason
Classification is determined by General Rules 1 and 6 for the interpretation of the Combined Nomenclature and by the wording of CN codes 8703 , 8703 10 and 8703 10 18.
Classification under heading 8713 as a carriage for disabled persons is excluded as the vehicle is not specially designed for the transport of disabled persons: it has no special features to alleviate a disability.
Although the vehicle is designed so that the steering can be controlled with one hand and features a comfortable rotating seat with supports and a non-slip surface for the feet (and may optionally be fitted with small anti-tipping wheels), such characteristics do not objectively constitute special features designed to alleviate a disability (see also the Combined Nomenclature Explanatory Notes (CNEN) to subheading 8713 90 00 , the Harmonized System Explanatory Notes to heading 8713 and HS classification opinion 8703.10/1).
In addition, vehicles fitted with a separate, adjustable steering column and those reaching a maximum speed over 10 km per hour are excluded from heading 8713 (see also CNEN to subheading 8713 90 00 ).
The vehicle is used for transporting persons and upon presentation to customs authorities it is not recognisable as a vehicle designed solely for disabled persons (see Case C-198/15 (1)), based on its objective characteristics and properties which must be assessed at the time of customs clearance (see Case C-286/15 (2)). Any subsequent post-clearance modification of the vehicle is disregarded as is any assessment of the vehicle that may be carried out by a national authority for purposes other than those laid down in customs legislation.
The vehicle is a special type of vehicle for the transport of persons.
It is therefore to be classified under CN code 8703 10 18 as a motor vehicle principally designed for the transport of persons, similar to golf cars.
Contact details
Tariff Classification
Customs and Border Design
10th Floor
Alexander House
21 Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
Essex SS99 1AA
Email: tariff.classification@hmrc.gov.uk
This Tariff notice is published for information purposes only.