How the UK Government is destroying the pickup truck market

The pickup truck has long been a staple of practicality, performance, and rugged capability—but in the UK, its future is under serious threat. In this video, we break down how government policies, emissions regulations, and tax changes are making pickups more expensive, less viable for businesses, and harder to justify as daily drivers.

From ULEZ zones and increasing road tax to tighter CO2 restrictions and the crackdown on commercial vehicle benefits, we explore how the UK government is slowly phasing out the pickup truck. Are we witnessing the end of the road for these workhorses, or will the market adapt?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Would you still buy a pickup in the UK today?

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[paulhill]

if you get the 2 seater version its still classed as commercial vehicle, it has happened due to people having them and then using them as family runabouts and not paying the company car tax on them due to the number of seats .

[JDndcity]

Pick ups only became popular because of tax situations, they will now just revert back to vans.

[RokoWoju]

I know 5 people that have those trucks, they even told me I should get one as a company car like they have, none of them have actually practical use, they simply replaced Range Rovers. You know the game you play it, don't give me all that crap about economy and jobs - you can still own single cab or get a van, that ford Ranger is useless it was made to fit criterias as utility car and sell as such .

[deepwood]

Truck builders have done most of the damage themselves.
They're no longer for work. They've added $40, 000 in garbage nobody wants or needs. They've made them unaffordable.

[IanSRutter]

All you who voted for Labour, you were warned. Hope you're happy now.

[Commentariat-tf]

I've pushed the "EJECT" button on the UK, after 40 years... People, you really can vote with your feet, if it all gets too much.

[davidpalin]

How can a party founded by the working man hate the people who founded them?
Shameful

[ianwilliamson]

This is what happens, when we inherit an inexperienced Government, with no idea on business ethics? This is why, they were in opposition for 14 years!

[ThePedroDB]

The whole 'push' for EV has been badly judged by Govts all round the world. It's good to see Car Manufacturers reverting to longer timescales for ICE vehicle production. The UK Govt seems determined to have 'Bragging Rights' that they achieved Carbon Neutrality before anyone else. Despite the massive inconvenience and expense to the Consumer. It'll take decades before the National Grid will be capable of supporting an electric future. It's all going to end in tears - just like HS2...

[gussief]

I'm in construction and I don't know anyone at the sharp end of the industry that's got a "pick-up, " like this. Most trade have a panel van or a proper 3.5ton pick up. These twin cabs are very limited as to what you can do with them.

[orical]

Why do we allow the Gov to use taxation to forcibly coerce the public? This is blackmail.

[graemeburt]

Not one of our current government ministers have ever run a business. They have the level of business acumen akin to left wing university students with similar levels of envy regarding small business owners.
Meanwhile their pet projects like net zero and welcoming immigrants with handouts on a grand scale are increasing debt while tax receipts drop and bureaucracy increases. The taxation on pickups shows only that they are scrambling for money in the short term while their long term policy can go to hell and if they send our small businesses bust in future they could not care less.

[martinbolton]

These pickups? always were a tax dodge and though some are genuinely used many are just "Chelsea tractors" spending more time in supermarket carparks than using their size and power for any practical purpose.

[JonathanWebb-hb]

Both the Tories and Labour want to do this . I won't vote for net zero tax .

I don’t think many of us or the govt are convinced that the massive luxury 50k plus trucks in the thumbnail with its tiny bed at the back is “mostly for work”, most of these luxury doubly cabs are primarily home use now, and as a result they’re getting taxed

Sure some people who are honestly using them for work are being caught, bu the majority of these are being driven round cities on someone’s arse or double parked in Tesco 😂

[iansenior]

Increase in tax to pay for immigration immigration immigration.
We need REMIGRATION REMIGRATION REMIGRATION.
We need small government. Abolish Inheritance Tax, Lower general taxation. Lower VAT RATE.
Spend foreign aid on domestic aid.

[Mao.Loves.Zedong]

Tbf 90% of people who drive these aren't builders going to work.

[KillerPicnic]

Good. The modern pick-up is nowhere near what it used to be. Its not as utilitarian. The bed is always too small, the cabin too large. They're so oversized, and so glorified. If businesses want to sell pick up trucks they could be smaller overall.

[outoftownr]

6 of my builder mates have handed back their 23 plate Rangers & now got vans

[russellpetrie]

stop paying wef stop supplying other countrys with our taxes stop building runways at airports stop building hs2 stop vat bs ing us with green tax