If you aren’t already aware, the DVLA has this week issued updated information around converting a vehicle into a ‘motor caravan’. This makes it easier for campervan owners to have their vehicle reclassified from a ‘van with side windows’ to a ‘motor caravan’ on its V5C.
But what does this really mean?
For a campervan owner with a vehicle that has been converted to recognised standards on a pre-registered vehicle, this is welcome news. However, it also opens up the floodgates for potentially unsafe conversions to now be classified as campervans. That’s because only a visual inspection is needed for a vehicle to be classified. Essentially, if the vehicle looks like a campervan, it can be reclassified. To do this, the DVLA do not require the vehicle to undergo any safety testing.
To have a vehicle reclassified as a ‘motor caravan’, the DVLA simply now asks the owner to prove the vehicle has the following internal and external features:
- Two or more windows on at least one side of the vehicle’s body (this does not include windows on the driver or passenger doors) to provide a reasonable amount of daylight into the living accommodation
- A separate door which provides access to the living accommodation of the vehicle (this excludes the driver and passenger doors)
- A high-top roof or pop-top elevating roof
To prove this, the vehicle owner must provide the DVLA with photographic evidence of the completed conversion and support this application with a completed motor caravan conversion checklist. They must also hand over interior photos of each one of the required features with the bed and table in the use position, exterior photos from the front, sides and rear with the registration plates clearly visible, and a photo showing the VIN plate attached to the vehicle bodyshell.
Though whilst the vehicle may also be subject to a DVLA inspection, it is still only a visual inspection to ensure it meets the above criteria. Even at this stage, no safety testing is required for reclassification.
So whilst these DVLA changes potentially mean tax advantages and the ability to travel at the same speed limits as cars (e.g.70mph on dual carriageways and 60mph on single carriageways) for many campervan owners, anyone buying a campervan should still ask the question – is it safe?
If a campervan isn’t VCA Whole Vehicle Type Approved and NCC Manufacturer Approved, then there is no proof that it’s safe, even if it is classified as a ‘motor caravan’ on its V5C. Without recognised testing from the VCA and the NCC, it won’t have had habitation, gas, electrical and structural safety assessments.
As a buyer, the most useful evidence is no longer the V5C entry but instead independent dated documentation such as a gas safety certificate, electrical installation certificate, seat and seat belt installation evidence, payload calculation, and proof of the previously mentioned approvals.
At Redline Campers, we are firm believers in producing campervan conversions that are built to recognised safety and quality standards. To ensure this, every campervan we offer is VCA Whole Vehicle Type Approved and NCC Manufacturer Approved. In addition to this, all new campervans built on unregistered base vehicles are automatically classified as a ‘motor caravan’ on the V5C, with no reclassification required.
Looking to learn more about this?
Our team will be more than happy to provide you with expert advice. You can contact them by calling 01327 703371, or by sending an email to sales@redline-campers.com