Do you own a small horsebox?

[Verywindyday]

Would you mind telling me how much it costs you to run each year and irs age?
obviously fuel will depend on mileage done, so I’m really interested only in insurance, tax, repairs etc.
i have a pony who hates traffic so am considering a small box, so I can get him out to do farm rides etc.
Definitely won’t consider a trailer as I would have to upgrade my car to pull it.

I own a 7.5 lorry rather than a 3.5 so my running costs are more expensive but I know plenty of people with the small boxes. Tax and insurance for 3.5 boxes are both usually around £300-ish a year. The cost of repairs can vary enormously - I budget around £1500 to get mine serviced and through its MOT every year. Mine’s not had anything major go wrong (touch wood) but the price I bought it for was right at the top of my budget and I got it thoroughly checked over by an independent specialist horsebox mechanic before I bought it. We had a trailer before I splurged on the lorry because when I looked at how much I’d need to pay to get something safe, well-maintained and with everything I needed I couldn’t justify spending that much on one child’s hobby. The trailer needed annual servicing (about £120), insurance was £10 a month and we used it at least twice a week - when I sold it I got slightly more than I’d bought it for so it was definitely value for money. Before you buy something work out how many times a month you’ll use it - you may well find it works out more cost-effective to hire self-drive or book a transport company, or to upgrade your car to a towing vehicle.

Thanks, that’s a great start.
i don’t wan t to get a towing car as I have a long drive to work and parking is awkward so need a tiny economical car day to day.
I am asking for running cost to do exactly what you said….to decide whether a weekend hire every couple of weeks would actually work out cheaper!

Depending on how much the box is in the first place (and you’d be looking at spending at least £15k on something relatively safe, and probably quite a bit more) I suspect that only using it twice a month would mean that hiring would work out cheaper

I have a 3.5 T horsebox. Tax is £300 odd. Insurance and breakdown cover is about £350. I have paid between £250 and £750 for annual service / MOT depending on what has needed to be done. I Love love love my Horsebox :-)

I have a 3.5t van conversion, which I love.
It’s a Renault master and excellent on diesel.
Breakdown cover with Anthony D Evans £175. serviceand Mot around £400-500 with a few routine fixes and repairs needed (can be as low as £300). insurance is a bargain at £220.
road tax maybe £340/5? Storage will vary unless you have free parking.

As an aside, I had a trailer before (prefer the van) but can recommend a Volvo xc40 plug in hybrid, it was on H&H’s list of top towing cars as you can get 28 electric miles and is quite compact, but can tow an ifor Williams with two small ponies.

I have a 3.5t 2010 Renault Master coach built, so not a new one.

Tax is about £280, insurance and breakdown cover is about £300.
MOT is £55

I don't pay for repairs or servicing, only parts, as DP is a mechanic. But honestly, it takes me all over the country and has barely cost a thing

I do use it a lot, if i was only using it twice a month it would prob be cheaper just to hire one

I have a 3.5t, tax is £365, insurance nearly £800 with recovery for horse & vehicle (insurance is only ££££ because it’s a 21 plate and a rather expensive model 😬). My box before this one was £250 to tax and £290 to insure with recovery.