Are pickup trucks still popular in the UK?

A couple of years ago, pickup trucks were all the rage for business owners in the UK.

From building sites to business parks, double-cab pickups like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux became a go-to choice for UK business owners. They were practical, powerful, and far more lifestyle-friendly than a traditional van. For many, they offered the best of both worlds. 

But let’s be honest, tax played a huge role. For years, double-cab pickup trucks could be classified as commercial vehicles, which meant significantly lower Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax and attractive capital allowances for businesses.

Then in April 2025, HMRC changed the rules, and the tax advantages disappeared. 

So that begs the question, was the pickup truck boom because they’re damn good vehicles, or was it purely for tax? Let’s take a closer look. 

Twenty years ago, pickup trucks were a bit of a pipe dream in the UK. They were limited to those who wished they were living across the pond or drivers who genuinely needed a rugged and sturdy vehicle. 

However, fast forward to the post-COVID world and pickup trucks were becoming more and more common in the UK. 

As manufacturers tried to break into the LCV market, pickup trucks offered a stylish and more flexible alternative to vans like the Ford Transit. There’s no doubt they looked better, and if you went for a double-cab, they could also work as a family car. 

However, the most obvious reason for getting a pickup truck in the UK was for tax. Rules meant that you could classify your double-cab or extended cab pickup as a commercial vehicle, which in turn meant much reduced tax rates. 

This caused a pickup truck boom, and in 2023, overall sales increased by 38%, fuelled by over 18,000 registrations of the Ford Ranger and over 10,000 of the Toyota Hilux (SMMT). 

The landscape changed in April 2025 when the new Labour Government announced sweeping changes to tax rules, including stopping double-cab pickups from being classified as commercial vehicles.

This meant higher Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax, reduced capital allowances, and increased costs for businesses and individuals who own or lease these vehicles.

Since the changes, there has been a decrease in the number of pickup trucks on the road in the UK. If we look at the data, pickup truck registrations for January 2026 are down 57% compared to the previous year (SMMT), and while the Ford Ranger remains the most popular pickup, it sits 7th in the list of the most popular LCVs, and is way behind its registrations compared to 2023. 

There’s no denying that the old tax rules were a huge plus for pickup trucks, and since the changes, the market has cooled. January 2026 registration figures show a sharp decline, suggesting that many businesses have stepped back. 

Our internal data suggests pickup truck demand has been steadily declining in the last couple of years. While 2026 figures only cover the first few months (as of writing this), current trends indicate that pickup truck leases could fall by nearly 25% compared to 2024 levels. 

But does that mean pickup trucks no longer make sense? 

No, they are still excellent choices for tradespeople, farmers, and construction professionals, and offer a lot of features a standard van can’t: 

• Open load bed flexibility 
• Excellent towing capability 
• Off-road capability 
• Dual-purpose usability 

What has changed is the financial justification for choosing a double-cab pickup over a more traditional van. With higher Benefit-in-Kind exposure and reduced allowances for some businesses, pickups have become harder to justify unless they’re genuinely essential.

We’ve seen a market shift towards medium vans, which are currently on track to pass 2025 levels. They’re not getting rid of a van completely, they’re moving towards vehicles that are more cost-effective. Which, given the current economic climate, is straightforward to understand. 

Pickup trucks haven’t vanished from the UK market — but they are losing momentum. Our data suggests the post-tax-change market is being driven less by the financial perks, and more by genuine practicality.

So if you’re considering a pickup in 2026, the key question is simple:

Do you want one… or do you actually need one?

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