New and Used 12.0t Horseboxes for Sale in the UK

A 12.0 tonne horsebox and a 12.0 ton horsebox both refer to the same weight class vehicle, but the wording depends on country:

• Tonne (metric tonne) - used in the UK and Europe
• 1 tonne = 1,000 kg
• The correct term for horseboxes in the UK is usually 3.5 tonne
• Ton (imperial ton) - used mainly in the USA
• 1 ton = 907 kg
• Not generally used in UK vehicle classifications

Because horseboxes in the UK are regulated using metric measurements, a 3.5 tonne horsebox is the accurate term for listings, insurance, road tax, driving licence rules, and DVLA documentation.

No - you cannot drive a 12.0 tonne horsebox on a standard Category B licence. A 12.0t horsebox is classed as a heavy goods vehicle, so you need a Category C (HGV) licence to drive it legally in the UK. Even if you passed your test before 1 January 1997 and have C1 entitlement (up to 7.5 tonnes), that does not cover 12 tonnes - only a Category C licence does.

For a deep dive into driving licence requirements, see our Horsebox Driving Licence Requirements in the UK blog post.