V5 Documentation - DVLA Rule Change for Motor Caravan Reregistration June 2019

[FrankFisher]

Buy the right vehicle for the job is what I do. My last camper was a caravelle and new one is a shuttle. All M1 class allowing me to do 70mph and based around a plg. I pay the extra for this very reason. To avoid all the hassle you get with buying an N1 van and hoping DVLA will let you change it.
There is a real good reason Cali's etc have a high price tag over a commercial van. Lets not go forgetting just because dvla change it to camper that allows you to do 70mph, its still N1 class so you cant. Yes you may get away with argueing the fact but honestly is it really worth it, a lot of stress if you have a busy life.
Clearly no good to those that have a van now but for those looking for the future, pay the little extra to get into a velle or shuttle if you find the speed etc will be a problem for you.
You do sooo much homework to buy a lovely van with the options from factory but not for everyday driving on the roads.

I totally agree there needs to be a huge shakeup with who says, what means and when does. VOSA, DVLA, Police, GOV tax the lot need to come up with an idea to ensure everything is inline and there is no wrong or right answer at this present time but I would personally recommend going for a M1 in the beginning to save the agro later. Its a sure fire way to get a fairly universal van.

Well yes, except the N1/M1 thing is not what determines speed limits - the DVLA confirmed that today. M1 is definitely car limits, N1 is car limits if it has been converted to a motor caravan regardless of the body classification, so long as unladen weight is under three tonnes

 

[Farnorthsurfer]

pay the little extra to get into a velle or shuttle if you find the speed etc will be a problem for you.

Sadly its not a little extra its a lot extra and it would be a shame and a waste of money if I had to pull apart a perfectly serviceable minibus to create the windsurfing/camper that I want. As for California's, lovely but also pretty useless for carrying windsurfers/bikes/SUP's etc.

 

[Ayjay]

Frank, Oh ballocks but thanks for the publishing the link anyway. That said, I'm not sure why a 'lot of people' should lose their jobs over this as a large lump of the 'conversion industry' will probably be in the same boat and, as is the current situation, I suspect that not everybody will want to go direct to VW or the really big players who get unregistered vans direct from them.

I would also be interested to hear how T6 Forumites interpret the wording of the second paragraph in the new guidance which says:

'The body type does not affect the insurance category of the vehicle, or have any effect on speed limits or other legislative requirements. It is only used for establishing vehicle appearance and identification'.​

I reckon it's just been poorly worded and will probably be amended in the not too distant future but, as it currently stands, just might be read as giving a further green light those of us with campervans (or 'Motorhomes or motor caravans (not more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight)') to adhere to the speed limits for cars rather than those for 'Goods vehicles (not more than 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight)'

 

[FrankFisher]

Frank, Oh ballocks but thanks for the publishing the link anyway. That said, I'm not sure why a 'lot of people' should lose their jobs over this as a large lump of the 'conversion industry' will probably be in the same boat and, as is the current situation, I suspect that not everybody will want to go direct to VW or the really big players who get unregistered vans direct from them.

I would also be interested to hear how T6 Forumites interpret the wording of the second paragraph in the new guidance which says:

'The body type does not affect the insurance category of the vehicle, or have any effect on speed limits or other legislative requirements. It is only used for establishing vehicle appearance and identification'.​

I reckon it's just been poorly worded and will probably be amended in the not too distant future but, as it currently stands, just might be read as giving a further green light those of us with campervans (or 'Motorhomes or motor caravans (not more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight)') to adhere to the speed limits for cars rather than those for 'Goods vehicles (not more than 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight)'

That's exactly what they mean. I wrote about it here on an earlier post. They are saying that the law on speed limits - 1984 act - does nto refer to body classifications, just to actualy every day definitions - so if you *use* your van as a campervan, and it has been converted for use as a camper van, you are no longer a van and are not limited to van speeds. Providing you're under 3.05t, unladen, as you said.

Job losses will come in the conversion market when people discover that the vehicle they are paying 45 grand for is a van, while for 50k they can get a motor caravan direct from VW. Plus, like I said, advertising. One ASA complaint about a van being sold as a "campervan" when legally it isn't, and all marketing ends.

 

[bullracing]

I get it there is arguements for everything. You stick with your N1, I will stick with my M1 paying the extra (lets not forget I have a fairly basic M1 rather then a highline N1). You can say it makes no difference, point being, I have had absolutely zero problems.
Until your N1 is reclassed as a motor caravan what is it classed as now? pretty sure this is why your having problems. M1 is a sure fire way not to have any problems is all I am trying to get at here.

The cost to get into a shuttle is not a great deal more really for the less hassle, A velle is a lot more but you get a lot more for your money. The Cali is just stupidly more money but look what you get. If you cannot afford to get into a T6 M1 you should not be looking at a T6, drop to a T5.1 or stop whining that DVLA wont change it. Maybe its the whole reg snobbery for some (note I said some before I get shot, My Mrs is just as bad.) maybe its also those not knowing. We all start somewhere. I have a 2005 Caravelle because I could not afford a newer more practical M1 one a few years ago.

I can express my opinion on the matter and I have a slightly different one to others on here so atleast it allows for a 2 sided conversation, dont forget though, I still love you all no matter what you have . You are all pointing at DVLA for not changing your van but really you need to be starting with the right van or doing what DVLA want to have your van changed over. I would never go buy a van banking on DVLA changing it.

 

[czmate1999]

So, I have a T32 campervan with windows all round. It has a reimo rail, Thule cassette awning, reimo pop top, kitchen, etc etc. Now if I put motor-caravan graphics down the side, can I have its classification changed?

In any case what classifies as 'motor-caravan graphics'?

 

[Farnorthsurfer]

So, I have a T32 campervan with windows all round. It has a reimo rail, Thule cassette awning, reimo pop top, kitchen, etc etc. Now if I put motor-caravan graphics down the side, can I have its classification changed?

In any case what classifies as 'motor-caravan graphics'?

If you put graphics down the side, I think it would qualify yes. There is a link to a chap that did just that I think @oldiebut goodie posted earlier but I could be wrong.
In any event I am pretty happy that with a little planning and application it should be possible to get the reclassification and if not hopefully we can cruise about at 60mph anyway, allegedly.

 

[Deaky]

So, I have a T32 campervan with windows all round. It has a reimo rail, Thule cassette awning, reimo pop top, kitchen, etc etc. Now if I put motor-caravan graphics down the side, can I have its classification changed?

In any case what classifies as 'motor-caravan graphics'?

No because it also needs a fixed high top roof. Not a pop top. But honestly, what's to worry about. To you, it's still a campervan and won't impact what you brought it for.

 

[Dilbert]

reimo pop top

Presumably that now means NO.

And also how can Californias be classified as motor caravans if they have pop top roofs?

 

[Sharpe]

Can imagine the window van option will be popular for conversions?

 

[Farnorthsurfer]

Can imagine the window van option will be popular for conversions?

View attachment 52954

Would love to get out there and order a new one, but funds will never permit me to do that unless the lucky numbers come up. Nice spot on the options list though thanks

 

[oldiebut goodie]

Presumably that now means NO.

And also how can Californias be classified as motor caravans if they have pop top roofs?

I thought that they also were not being registered as "motor caravan" now or was that just a hiccup in the system?

 

[andys]

Pretty sure it will be compulsory - it's the high top that s most significant. If you don't match their "guidance" you will not get a "motor caravan" classification. The question for van converters then becomes, what can they legally advertise their vans as?

They will be able to legally advertise them as campervans just as now

 

[andys]

The hightop, double window and graphic requirements are clearly aimed at the "stealth camper" that Youtube is full of, and the first surely aimed primarily at Transporters (ok Tranists and NissRenHalls as well). Not many people on here willing to fit a hightop in order to get the Motor Caravan classification I suspect?

 

[andys]

Will things like Ducatos, Sprinters, Crafters etc that come with a roof high enough to stand up in count? Or will they have to fit the extra high top available before they qualify?

 

[Spaghetti]

To add to the mix, I read on fb I think, someone changed their reg to a private plate, and their previous motor caravan status has been changed to panel van with windows.
I am not going now down the path of private plate.....

I’d be interested to find out whether this is confirmed or not. Why would the DVLA assume that it’s a van with windows without inspecting it? It could’ve been 10 years since the original change was made, and for them to decide it’s now a ‘van with windows’ seems a little unfair. The original conversion may have had a high top and vinyl graphics applied.

 

[andys]

I’d be interested to find out whether this is confirmed or not. Why would the DVLA assume that it’s a van with windows without inspecting it? It could’ve been 10 years since the original change was made, and for them to decide it’s now a ‘van with windows’ seems a little unfair. The original conversion may have had a high top and vinyl graphics applied.

Yes it sounds like fake news to me, especially coming from a facebook post

 

[oldiebut goodie]

Will things like Ducatos, Sprinters, Crafters etc that come with a roof high enough to stand up in count? Or will they have to fit the extra high top available before they qualify?

See my link earlier to a 2nd time successful re-classification - his van was like that by the look of it.

 

[andys]

See my link earlier to a 2nd time successful re-classification - his van was like that by the look of it.

But that was before the new definitions, this is day zero now I would imagine.

 

[oldiebut goodie]

But the new definitions were obviously what they worked to in that case.