Question of the week: Why is the Tesla Cybertruck banned in the UK?

David Ross, Editor
Fri, 24 Jan 2025

Dear Honest John,

"I've seen news stories saying that the Tesla Cybertruck is banned in the UK. Why are other pick up trucks legal but this one is not?"

- DH

Dear DH,

Bury Police seized a Tesla Cybertruck this month from a UK resident as the vehicle was registered and insured abroad, which is not permitted in the UK. The vehicle was seized under section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which gives police the power to obtain the names, addresses and evidence of insurance.

Bury Police also stated that the Tesla Cybertruck is not road legal in the UK as it does not hold a Certificate of Conformity, a document which is required for a vehicle to be sold as new. In order to get this a vehicle needs to meet Type Approval standards, which include EU safety, environmental and production requirements. Although the UK has left the EU, at present these regulations are aligned.

As yet the Tesla Cybertruck has not been tested to EU regulations, but in its present form it is unlikely it would pass.

One EU regulation mandates that any protruding bodywork must have a rounding of 3.2mm in order to reduce the severity of pedestrian impacts, but the Cybertruck's unusual design and stainless steel body panels means this is currently not the case. It would likely require a substantial redesign in order to meet the regulation.

In theory it could be possible for someone to import a Tesla Cybertruck, but in order for it to be used legally on UK roads it would have to pass an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test. As well as the design of the bodywork there are other features of the Cybertruck which may not meet the IVA standards. such as the drive-by-wire steering and toughened windscreen.

A further issue is the Cybertruck's weight. The Maximum Authorised Mass of the lightest version is 4007kg, which means that only UK licence holders that passed their driving test before 1st January 1997 would be permitted to drive one on a car licence - anyone who passed after this date would have to obtain a C or C1 large goods vehicle licence.

Ask HJ

Should I worry about the cost of battery replacement on a Tesla?

I'm thinking of buying a Tesla but wonder if a PHEV would be more flexible on longer journeys. I'm also concerned about Tesla’s depreciation and cost of replacement batteries. If you could give me a steer I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Tesla provides an eight-year warranty for its batteries. We've seen survey data that suggests most Teslas retain more than 90% of their capacity after 100,000 miles, which is pretty impressive. You probably shouldn't be concerned about the cost of replacement batteries. Unless you cover high miles, it's unlikely to be an issue for at least 10 years. By which time, you'll have saved a lot of money in maintenance and fuel compared to a petrol or diesel car. Teslas generally hold their value very well, too - and as the uptake of electric cars increases, this is unlikely to change anytime soon.

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