Registering pickup trucks as passenger cars has become a hot topic following the issuance of Circular 60/2023/TT-BTC by the Ministry of Finance. So, what types of vehicles are considered “passenger pickup trucks,” and what are the latest regulations regarding license plate fees? This article will provide detailed answers to these questions.
Defining “Passenger Pickup Trucks” Under Current Regulations
Circular 60/2023/TT-BTC, effective from October 22, 2023, introduces the concept of “passenger pickup trucks” for the first time. This vehicle type is grouped with passenger cars with fewer than 9 seats and is subject to a license plate fee of 20 million VND in Region I (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City). This is a significant change from the previous regulation in Circular 229/2016/TT-BTC, where this vehicle type was not specifically defined, and the license plate fee was only 500,000 VND per registration.
So, what exactly is a “passenger pickup truck”? According to Vietnamese Standard TCVN 7271:2003 (still in effect), a “passenger pickup truck is a passenger car with characteristics different from a double-cabin pickup truck as defined in section 3.2.8.”
TCVN 7271:2003 defines a “double-cabin pickup truck” as a vehicle with an open cargo bed (which may have a cover) or a closed cargo bed, which may or may not be integrated with the cabin, and has doors for loading and unloading goods. The cabin has two rows of seats. The usable area of the cargo bed floor is not less than 1m2, and the payload, including both people and goods, is 950kg or more.
Distinguishing “Passenger Pickup Trucks” from Regular Pickups
Based on the above definitions, popular pickup truck models on the market such as Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton, Mazda BT-50… are not “passenger pickup trucks” under the new regulations. On vehicle registration certificates, these models are described as double-cabin pickups, meaning they are classified as trucks. Their lifespan is limited to 25 years from the date of first registration.
“Passenger pickup trucks” are not common in Vietnam and mainly consist of large, “lifestyle” pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 or Ram. These are luxury models, equipped with large engines, and subject to high import taxes, resulting in prices typically ranging from 5 to 7 billion VND. They are not intended for cargo transport and are not subject to the lifespan limitations like trucks.
Ford F-150 is an example of a passenger pickup truck
Latest License Plate Fees for Trucks
Circular 60/2023/TT-BTC stipulates a license plate fee for trucks of 500,000 VND per registration in Region I (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City). Other regions maintain the fee of 150,000 VND per registration. Therefore, the information that the license plate fee for pickup trucks has increased 40 times is inaccurate. The 20 million VND fee only applies to “passenger pickup trucks,” a distinct vehicle type from regular pickup trucks.
Conclusion
“Pickup trucks registered as passenger cars” are essentially “passenger pickup trucks,” a type of large, luxury pickup truck, different from regular pickup trucks. Understanding this definition helps users avoid confusion regarding vehicle license plate fees. Circular 60/2023/TT-BTC has clarified the regulations on fees, contributing to the transparency of vehicle registration procedures for citizens.
