Roger A. Kahan is an active member of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs. Although Code Sec. Instead, the Code and its supporting IRS regulations specifically exclude certain vehicles from the classification of luxury cars no matter what their cost. If a vehicle is not excluded, the determination of whether it fits within the definition of a luxury car depends upon its weight, and not upon its cost. A weight standard must be applied in order to determine its correct classification.
Cars are subject to a different weight standard than trucks and vans.
A car is classified as a luxury car if it is a four-wheeled vehicle, primarily manufactured for use on public streets, roads and highways, and rated at 6,000 pounds unloaded gross vehicle weight or less. Trucks and vans. For example, if a truck can hold 6 passengers and 1,000 pounds or cargo and its gross vehicle weight was rated by its manufacture at 6,500 pounds, the truck is not a luxury vehicle. Sports Utility Vehicles. Examples of full-size sport utility vehicles include the Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Ford Bronco and Toyota Land Cruiser.