MOT: which class?

[oldiebut goodie]

Not if its a camper though. Still class 4 then.
My Merc ran at 4.5 ton but was still class 4 as it was a camper. Had to use a class 7 testing station though as it was too big for all the local class 4 testing stations.

 

[Bigsidavies]

My T32 started life as a panel van and was tested as class 7 for its first MOT when I purchased it from VW. I then converted it and VW again tested it as class 7 the following year.
I next took it to a local HGV test centre and he tested it as class 4 -as presented- ie it’s a camper, not a panel van. He changed it on the DVLA portal as he described it.
It seems not all testers are created equal.

 

[DXX]

My T32 started life as a panel van and was tested as class 7 for its first MOT when I purchased it from VW. I then converted it and VW again tested it as class 7 the following year.
I next took it to a local HGV test centre and he tested it as class 4 -as presented- ie it’s a camper, not a panel van. He changed it on the DVLA portal as he described it.
It seems not all testers are created equal.

Very true, my last MOT I had to open up the MOT manual on my phone and show the tester the paragraph that showed why my van should pass and not fail. He said ‘they keep changing it’.
If ‘they keep changing it’ it might be a good idea to keep up to date especially if it’s what you do for a living.
Bit my lip a few times and left him to slip back into the 19th century.

 

[Dundee_Kev]

Regarding changing the class of vehicle on an MOT. I have attached a couple of pics of how easy it is done. The first picture shows the vehicle details. You'll notice that down the right hand side there are change hyperlinks we can click on. When we click on the one next to MOT test class, we are presented with the second picture. Click the class you want, job done.

 

[ThunderboltFMF]

Just fallen fowl of this.
Took my T32 to my mates place.
His new tester said class7 as it’s 200kg overweight.
From the V5
Model TRANSPORTER T32 H-LN TDIBMT
Body type VAN/SIDE WINDOWS
Taxation class LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE
Revenue weight 3200 KG GROSS

There is no point arguing with him, if he says no, it’s no.
He is decent and pragmatic on most things.

So I have ended up elsewhere.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Just fallen fowl of this.
Took my T32 to my mates place.
His new tester said class7 as it’s 200kg overweight.
From the V5
Model TRANSPORTER T32 H-LN TDIBMT
Body type VAN/SIDE WINDOWS
Taxation class LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE
Revenue weight 3200 KG GROSS

There is no point arguing with him, if he says no, it’s no.
He is decent and pragmatic on most things.

So I have ended up elsewhere.

Is it a "motor caravan" in the eyes of the Type Approval regs, or is it a work van?

 

[ThunderboltFMF]

Is it a "motor caravan" in the eyes of the Type Approval regs, or is it a work van?

It's not a work van by any means, as I don't use it for work. After I bought it I wrote MOTORCARAVAN on the V5 but the DVLA wrote to me saying no.
It currently has a cooker, a fold down bed, lights and a leisure battery, but isn't fully converted.

 

[Salty Spuds]

It's not a work van by any means, as I don't use it for work. After I bought it I wrote MOTORCARAVAN on the V5 but the DVLA wrote to me saying no.
It currently has a cooker, a fold down bed, lights and a leisure battery, but isn't fully converted.

Speed limits/ DVLA / Motor Caravan / Dual Purpose / N1 and all that malarkey.

Much discussion has taken place over the years regarding the status of vans & conversions with regard to speed limits/tax/insurance etc. There's a wealth of info on the forum - particularly this thread - but it's scattered and fragmented around the forum. So I thought I'd bring it all together...

www.t6forum.com

 

[ThunderboltFMF]

From the V5
Model TRANSPORTER T32 H-LN TDIBMT
Body type VAN/SIDE WINDOWS
Taxation class LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE
Revenue weight 3200 KG GROSS
Vehicle category N1

But I have a long way to go before I can meet the DVLA's requirements

External

• 2 or more windows on at least one side of the main body (this does not include windows on the driver or passenger doors) to provide a reasonable amount of daylight into the living accommodation - No
• a separate door which provides access to the living accommodation of the vehicle (this excludes the driver and passenger doors); a window on this door counts as a separate window on the main body - Yes
• motor caravan-style graphics on both sides of the vehicle - No
• an awning bar attached to either side of the vehicle - does a C channel count?
• a high-top roof (this does not include a pop-top elevating roof) - No

Internal

• seats and a table - Yes
• sleeping accommodation which may be converted from the seats - Yes
• cooking facilities - Yes
• storage facilities - Yes

 

[Dundee_Kev]

It's not a work van by any means, as I don't use it for work. After I bought it I wrote MOTORCARAVAN on the V5 but the DVLA wrote to me saying no.
It currently has a cooker, a fold down bed, lights and a leisure battery, but isn't fully converted.

So in the eyes of the MOT, it's a class 4. The weight does not matter. If the test stations equipment can handle the presented weight then it's all go. I'd be surprised if a class 4 test stations equipment could not do a transporter. It won't weigh 3.2t, as that is the maximum weight of the van

 

[Salty Spuds]

From the V5
Model TRANSPORTER T32 H-LN TDIBMT
Body type VAN/SIDE WINDOWS
Taxation class LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE
Revenue weight 3200 KG GROSS
Vehicle category N1

But I have a long way to go before I can meet the DVLA's requirements

External

• 2 or more windows on at least one side of the main body (this does not include windows on the driver or passenger doors) to provide a reasonable amount of daylight into the living accommodation - No
• a separate door which provides access to the living accommodation of the vehicle (this excludes the driver and passenger doors); a window on this door counts as a separate window on the main body - Yes
• motor caravan-style graphics on both sides of the vehicle - No
• an awning bar attached to either side of the vehicle - does a C channel count?
• a high-top roof (this does not include a pop-top elevating roof) - No

Internal

• seats and a table - Yes
• sleeping accommodation which may be converted from the seats - Yes
• cooking facilities - Yes
• storage facilities - Yes

You’re missing the point. You don’t have to meet the DVLAs criteria. Have a read of the article I posted the link to. Forget the DVLA, what they say is irrelevant.

 

[ThunderboltFMF]

I managed to find a MoT station to do a class 7 so we have a MoT, the previous vehicle to mine was also a T32 LWB and Class 7.

 

[ThunderboltFMF]

You’re missing the point. You don’t have to meet the DVLAs criteria. Have a read of the article I posted the link to. Forget the DVLA, what they say is irrelevant.

I think/hope I get what you are saying and that is Type Approval says my Van is a motorcaravan.

Trouble is the DVLA are being obtuse and the first tester I saw today interpreted the MoT rules one way, so did the second. I have an MoT now, it's been a stressful day.

I will continue to adapt/personalise my van, which I may call VanRouge.

And the DVLA, well they can do one.