Speed limits for Transporters - as well as the current position of camper conversions not being reclassified as such by the DVLA - have been
extensively discussed on the forum, culminating in precedence being set that a Kombi* as well as a converted campervan* can legally travel at car speeds on single & dual-carriageways, even though the vehicle may not have been reclassified from a N1 Light Goods Vehicle to a M1 Passenger Car.
*Kombi - see dual-purpose vehicle requirements here:
www.gov.uk
*Campervan - motor-caravan / motor-home vehicle requirements here:
www.gov.uk
Various threads can be found across the forum, some stickied and locked, and are easily located using the following:
Post 345280 shows an example letter a member sent back in response to receiving a Notice of Intended Prosecution from a Safety Camera Partnership authority alleging his T32 Kombi was travelling at a speed exceeding that which its class was permitted by law to do (see
www.gov.uk/speed-limits for more information on what speed a LGV, amongst other types, can legally travel at).
In summary, the letter points out
- That it appears the NIP has been generated based on a recorded speed of 72mph on a national speed-limit (NSL) dual-carriageway,
- That the belief by the operator / computer generating the Notice was that the vehicle was a LGV, therefore the speed limit for that type of vehicle for a dual-carriageway would be 60mph,
- That the vehicle is in fact registered as a ‘dual-purpose vehicle,
- That, in claiming the above, the member proves with photographs that their Kombi unladen weight was less than 2040kg limit, was constructed to convey both good and passengers, is fitted with rear transverse seats, and has windows fitted to the side and rear.
- That the Notice has been generated in error as no law has been broken (NB: the fact they acknowledge they were recorded as driving at 72mph does contradict this, but with discrepancies in speedometer readings, most authorities do allow some leeway).
The text of that example letter is quoted here:
Ultimately, the authority wrote back to that member and confirmed the NIP would be cancelled and no further action taken against them.
Provided your vehicle was travelling within the speed limit set for its classification, and meets the requirements of a dual-purpose vehicle / motor-home, then there should be no reason to prosecute for for excess speed by
type of vehicle within England or Wales (Scots law differs, and there is an ongoing thread on that
here, which will inform how their law interprets this matter).
Should an authority continue to press ahead with a prosecution, that does not necessarily mean you would be found guilty of speeding at Court. The two example letters below would help you prove this to the Court, pointing out the differing opinions of one authority (a safety camera partnership) to another (the driver and vehicle licensing agency) where you can demonstrate you were adhering to the speed limit set for your vehicle..
Post 335533 shows a letter a member received back from the DVLA after they sent in their V5 Logbook with covering photos and a letter requesting the vehicle be reclassified as a motor-caravan fallowing it being converted.
In summary, the DVLA letter stated:
- DVLA were not willing to amend the classification because the vehicle was not externally recognisable as a motor-caravan.
- The camper was evidently recognisable as a ‘van with side windows’.
- That, regardless of the refusal to reclassify it as a motor-caravan, the camper could still be used as one.
The text of that DVLA letter is quoted here:
Post 334169 shows a letter two members have received back from the DVLA after both making separate enquiries as to whether their vehicles were subject to lower speed limits given they complied with the DVLA-specified requirements to what they recognise to be a motor-home (see
the Gov.UK link mentioned above for said requirements).
In summary, the DVLA letter stated:
- Vehicle speed limits are determined on how the vehicle is configured for use, namely carriage of passengers, carriage of goods, or both.
- The V5 Logbook ‘body type’ should not be used to determine the vehicles’ speed limit.
- That, should the vehicle meet the DVLA requirements needed to be recognised as a ‘motor-caravan’ / ‘motor-home’ then it should be treated as having the speed limits of such.
The text of that DVLA letter is quoted here:
For more information on the DVLA and reclassification as a MH / MC, see this thread:
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
This post has been written by a forum member based on the posts and threads found within the forum. The forum, by its very nature, is merely a tool for sharing information, so naturally can not be held liable for any prosecution or conviction a member or guest here receives based on the details imparted. Both legislation and its interpretation by Courts, as well as policy decided by government authorities and organisations such as the DVLA, can change over time, which could render this post incorrect and outdated. I speak independently of the forum when posting this thread. Therefore I would recommend you seek your own independent professional legal advice, this post simply being a collaboration of views I have read being expressed on T6F.
Mine is brand new professionally converted camper interior, sink, cooker, heating system, water tank, pop top, crash tested bed, 1 x sliding side window, microwave.......wonder if they would still class it as a panel van
