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

[oldiebut goodie]

Just show the same photos to your insurance co. as you would have done to dvla. I have never experienced that to be a problem. The risk is the same to an underwriter whether it has those two words on the V5 or not. I don't see why people are worrying about the insurance aspect. OK there may be some brokers insisting on those words but there are others. You can insure virtually anything in this world so it isn't as though you cannot get insurance.

 

[Slw66]

Hi All

I have started a gov petition and need people to share and sign it needs at least five email addresses to get going please share
Petition: DVLA follow the law as it is change of V5 document for motorcaravan.

I'm in the same boat, I thought it was becasue my photo's were'nt good but now I've since discovered this, I may try to resubmit with close ups of the hook up plate, the pop up contrasting colour and size roof and the permanently fixed reimo rail to indicate clear external chages diferent to the panel van it was originally......also this petition is being checked but I'll sign it as soon as it's available.....

 

[Slw66]

I wonder if it is an attempt to catch people like me who had their van registered as van with windows from new by the converter and then they changed it to campervan - this circumvented that horrendous road tax bracket ( which has just come up in another thread recently) as it was first registered at the basic van purchase price of under £40k ( the kick-in point for that high road tax). I did wonder if they would try to plug that loophole.
I have found that dealing with some jobsworths at the dvla is like wading through treacle!

I think this is where I am, going to try a second time with more detailed pics of contrasting color pop top, hook up plug and reimo rail along woth conversion company's letter and warranty and say I've popped to my police station who confirmed it was identifiable as a campervan and that iti s legal reqiorement for it to classified as such on the v5....all things crossed.

 

[Loz]

I think this is where I am, going to try a second time with more detailed pics of contrasting color pop top, hook up plug and reimo rail along woth conversion company's letter and warranty and say I've popped to my police station who confirmed it was identifiable as a campervan and that iti s legal reqiorement for it to classified as such on the v5....all things crossed.

Why not try for MPV instead?

 

[Markymark]

Their new stance is not exactly going to simplify or clarify things when you can have three near identical vehicles travelling down a road in convoy all with different classifications ie a Cali as an MPV, a converted swb transporter that has had its V5 changed to motor caravan and a converted swb transporter that is a van with windows.

 

[Slw66]

Why not try for MPV instead?

That might be my fall back position if this doesn't work, do you think I could get that?

 

[Kwp0906]

I think this is where I am, going to try a second time with more detailed pics of contrasting color pop top, hook up plug and reimo rail along woth conversion company's letter and warranty and say I've popped to my police station who confirmed it was identifiable as a campervan and that iti s legal reqiorement for it to classified as such on the v5....all things crossed.

An interesting idea, how can they argue it doesn't look like a camper van for traffic enforcement purposes when the traffic enforcers have stated that they believe it is?

Be interested to see how you get on

 

[Neuon2003]

That might be my fall back position if this doesn't work, do you think I could get that?

I think it is very much worth doing both, simultaneously, and then exhausting DVLA's internal appeal system.

IMHO, the line would be that you are notifying them of a change to your V5C details, as required by law, as you now think the body type is either MPV or Motor caravan. Your evidence would be the external similarity to a VW California conversion and compliance with the Motor caravan minimum features in the Guidance document. As well as the evidence of the conversion, include the evidence of the comments of the local police (if available in writing) and results of, say, a survey monkey poll which asked whether participants think your conversion looks like a VW California (photos of both).

When you get knocked back (i.e. 'van, with windows'), the appeal process could then focus on an explanation of why your conversion is not an MPV but the VW California conversion is.

 

[Neuon2003]

I’m sure that a test case will be along shortly... .

It is a legal requirement that all UK registered vehicles are classified correctly on the V5C log book. All campervans, motor caravans and motorhomes fall into the DVLA category of ‘motor caravan’. If you have converted a van into a motor caravan then you must return the V5C to DVLA for body type amendment

So, the V5C has to be returned to DVLA "if you have converted a van into a motor caravan". However, it is not possible to determine the existence of this legal duty because currently there is no means before the V5C is submitted to establish if you have converted a van into a motor caravan. The Guidance document which establishes the existence of the conversion to a motor caravan (and hence compliance with the law) is silent on how to determine whether "the exterior of the vehicle actually appears to be a motor home".

 

[DPS]

Sorry to go off thread slightly but this would apply to all who's van is not registered as a camper.

We sleep in our Kombi, back seats out, £99.00 Ikea bed in the back.
Am I leaving myself at risk of prosecution for DD if the police knocked on my door after a few beers whilst camping in a pub car park or anywhere for that matter?
I only have a swivelling passenger seat which is in its normal position if we are just stopping for 1 night and the keys would be in my possession.

Does anyone know of any times this has happened and the proceeding outcome?

A car, van, lorry, campervan, Motorhomehire or motorbike are all motor vehicles. If you are in one with the keys in the vehicle or in your pocket, and you are over the drink drive limit, whether you are sleeping in it or not, then you can be prosecuted. The onus is on you to prove that a) you are not in charge of the vehicle and b) that you had no intention of driving it. Being asleep in it is not a defence because you could be drunk at the same time. If you are on a bona fide, pre-booked campsite with the awning up, barbecue out etc. , then they might, at their discretion, accept that you have no intention of driving.

 

[$immo]

A car, van, lorry, campervan, Motorhomehire or motorbike are all motor vehicles. If you are in one with the keys in the vehicle or in your pocket, and you are over the drink drive limit, whether you are sleeping in it or not, then you can be prosecuted. The onus is on you to prove that a) you are not in charge of the vehicle and b) that you had no intention of driving it. Being asleep in it is not a defence because you could be drunk at the same time. If you are on a bona fide, pre-booked campsite with the awning up, barbecue out etc. , then they might, at their discretion, accept that you have no intention of driving.

Although I agree in principle especially on a public road, I must state the following to avoid "Panic on the campsite"
Sec 5 of the RTA states on a road or other public place. "Public Place" has been deemed in case law to be the broadest term, i.e implied consent to general public. So although a supermarket carpark etc are private property, there is implied consent to enter at anytime so would fall under "public place".

Most campsites have an implied consent whilst open to enter, perhaps to a barrier at the reception. If this closes at say 10pm and opens again at 7am, this would make it Private Property and the RTA would not apply.

Anywhere without implied consent would be deemed private and it would make no difference if you had keys in ignition and engine running after consuming copious amounts of Babysham & Black tower.

Most campsites would be deemed as private as there is not a implied consent for all public to enter only those who had paid the fee.

So no panic sleeping in your van on a campsite

(P.s I won't even go into the Police powers on private land especially when it's your private dwelling!)

 

[T6Dixie]

This is useful for those who have been rejected .. Just had our letter... Proud owners of a van with side windows
https://www.basecampers.com/how-to-re-register-as-a-motor-caravan-with-the-dvla/

 

[DPS]

Although I agree in principle especially on a public road, I must state the following to avoid "Panic on the campsite"
Sec 5 of the RTA states on a road or other public place. "Public Place" has been deemed in case law to be the broadest term, i.e implied consent to general public. So although a supermarket carpark etc are private property, there is implied consent to enter at anytime so would fall under "public place".

Most campsites have an implied consent whilst open to enter, perhaps to a barrier at the reception. If this closes at say 10pm and opens again at 7am, this would make it Private Property and the RTA would not apply.

Anywhere without implied consent would be deemed private and it would make no difference if you had keys in ignition and engine running after consuming copious amounts of Babysham & Black tower.

Most campsites would be deemed as private as there is not a implied consent for all public to enter only those who had paid the fee.

So no panic sleeping in your van on a campsite

(P.s I won't even go into the Police powers on private land especially when it's your private dwelling!)

I agree in the main, however, as you are away from home, I have heard anecdotal evidence that some police forces have been concerned that you could leave the campsite, in your vehicle whilst you are over the limit. It has been described as a grey area when people have asked for clarification. I have heard of instances where people have handed their keys into a site office as further evidence that they had no intention of driving.

 

[Hah!]

I agree in the main, however, as you are away from home, I have heard anecdotal evidence that some police forces have been concerned that you could leave the campsite, in your vehicle whilst you are over the limit. It has been described as a grey area when people have asked for clarification. I have heard of instances where people have handed their keys into a site office as further evidence that they had no intention of driving.

@DPS That is a good idea, keep a remote with no key blade and a surf key & hand the key into reception/pub/friends kitchen and use the remote for access and security.

Who could dispute that as no real difference to sleeping in your own house with keys on the hall table surely...

 

[oldiebut goodie]

This a document that was provided before the change of body type came into play - no mention of body type whatsoever! ( This copy was saved to my computer in October 2011 - just before the body type requirement came into force in 2012)

 

[Kwp0906]

After a bit of digging it seems the new California beach is registered as

Body type- mpv
Taxation class- diesel car
Vehicle category- m1

I cant find anything on the dvla,dvsa or dft that gives the specification required for an MPV conversion but it got me thinking, if you converted a van to the same spec as a California beach that was visually identical inside and out, could you then submit it for a voluntary IVA to have its vehicle category changed to from N1 to M1 then submit that certificate as evidence to the dvla along with a covering letter to also get the body type and taxation class changed or am I barking up the wrong tree?

 

[zombie_T6]

I don’t think it’s possible to get the N1 changed once it’s been registered as that. Also if you could it would cost you more to tax I would imagine.

 

[Farnorthsurfer]

This a document that was provided before the change of body type came into play - no mention of body type whatsoever! ( This copy was saved to my computer in October 2011 - just before the body type requirement came into force in 2012)

Thanks for that document it would have been impossible to find otherwise. It seems to me that this could be used to bolster an application to DVLA if the van looks pretty much like page 5,6 or 7. Out of luck if you have a slide pod or rear kitchen by the looks of it. I am convinced that this is about money from tax emissions and fines and has nothing to do with what a motor caravan looks like. Which is all the more frustrating, why don’t they just come clean and ban private conversions, or try to. That would be too difficult for them I guess, much easier to make it up as they go along.

 

[oldiebut goodie]

It is the usual - SNAFU!

 

[HotandCold]

I re-registered my van as a 'Motor Caravan' on 15th June, it must have been one of the last under the old rules. Interestingly, it was initially registered as 'van-side windows' (which it definately didn't have).