What is VCA Whole Vehicle Type Approval?

Whole Vehicle Type Approval is a rigorous set of safety tests put in place by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA).

At Redline Campers, we’ve been issued with Whole Vehicle Type Approval through the GB Small Series Type Approval scheme. This means our conversions meet the VCA’s performance, technical, and safety standards, and are proven to be safe to drive on the road.

To achieve Type Approval, a vehicle manufacturer must have a recognised quality management system in place. At Redline Campers, we build all of our campervans following an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management system.

All new Redline campervan conversions built on the VW T6, T6.1, New Transporter (T7), and second-generation Ford Transit Custom/Ford Tourneo Custom (V710) platforms have
have VCA Whole Vehicle Type Approval. Because of this, all of the unregistered campervans we offer can be classified as a ‘motorcaravan’ by the DVLA in the vehicle body type section of the vehicle’s V5 ownership document.

As these tests are not mandatory for campervan conversions, many converters do not have this approval. This is usually because they do not have the required systems in place. As a result, it will mean their campervans are classified by the DVLA as a ‘van with side windows’ rather than a ‘motorcaravan’. However, more importantly it means they are offering untested conversions.

At Redline Campers, we believe VCA Whole Vehicle Type Approval is necessary due to the change of usage of the vehicle, the change in vehicle payload and the change in components utilised within the conversion.

What do VCA Whole Vehicle Type Approval tests involve?

Type Approval tests involve the oversight of the selection and testing of samples.

The testing undertaken covers the base vehicles and every component we utilise in the conversion. These tests include physical pull tests on seat belts, tests on all travel seats, and detailed assessments of payloads, mass distribution, and exterior projections. It also involves the testing of swivel plates, appliances, and heating systems.

It is a prerequisite of Type Approval that we have appropriate measures in place to ensure that production samples will continue to meet the performance requirements as the products originally examined. This is known as Conformity of Production (CoP) and ensures that as the manufacturer, every campervan conversion we build is produced to the same rigorous standards as those that we were initially tested to.

What is the GB Small Series Type Approval scheme?

The GB Small Series Type Approval scheme requires the highest standards of safety testing by the VCA. This is based on the approval of a particular vehicle type and allows us to produce up to 500 units of each conversion model annually.

What is Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA)?

Individual Vehicle Approval is another route to Type Approval. However, this is a route which is more specifically designed for one-off vehicles. Due to this, it’s a route taken by much smaller converters as it requires every vehicle to be inspected at a Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) station. An IVA is an entirely visual inspection. This means that the conversion seats, seat belts, swivel plates, appliances and heating systems are all assessed by eye and are not put through the rigorous testing required from the GB Small Series Type Approval Scheme.

What is ISO 9001:2015 certification?

ISO 9001:2015 certification is an internationally recognised standard for quality management.

At Redline Campers, we utilise our ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management system to ensure we offer consistency with every campervan conversion we build. This enables us to deliver a safe and quality conversion time after time.

Our focus on safety and quality is built around four key points:

• Customer first
• Win with quality
• Continuous and never ending improvements
• Building our brand reputation

As a Redline customer, this means you can be assured of our commitment to consistently providing quality products and services that not only satisfy your demands and expectations but also the demands and expectations of rigorous safety standards.

What is an NCC Approved Manufacturer?

An NCC Approved Manufacturer is a manufacturer that has been inspected by the National Caravan Council (NCC) and is proven to have passed the organisation’s comprehensive safety checks.

At Redline Campers, all of the new campervan conversions we offer have NCC Manufacturer Approval. By passing the NCC’s safety checks, it is demonstrated that our campervan conversions are proven to exceed BS EN 1646 European Health and Safety Standards.

As the trade association representing the UK caravan industry, the NCC Badge of Approval on the outside of our campervans and the certificate in our user handbooks are recognised throughout the industry. Both of these are proof of our commitment to the safety of our products and our customers.

Whilst NCC Approved Badges are relatively commonplace on caravans and motorhomes from major manufacturers, this is not true of the largely unregulated campervan conversion industry. In fact, Redline Campers is one of only six VW campervan converters in the UK to have NCC Manufacturer Approval.

Having NCC Manufacturers approval means that our campervans are:

• Safety checked, this includes gas and electrical installations, furnishings, and cooking equipment
• Technically checked and regularly inspected by specialists
• Compliant with British and European standards

What do NCC inspections involve?

Conducted at our dedicated production facility near Daventry, Northamptonshire, NCC inspections involve the checking of up to 600 individual points on each of the campervan conversion models we offer.

To continue to be an NCC Approved Manufacturer, we are subject to regular on-site surveillance audits of our production facility and thorough inspections of the gas and electrical installations, and cooking equipment in our campervans. This ensures our products continue to comply with the NCC’s criteria.

What is insurer recognised?

Insurer recognised means that leading vehicle insurance providers are familiar with our campervan models and each aspect of our conversions. This makes our campervans easier to insure. With non-approved conversions, you may find insurance providers will initially only insure the base vehicle, and it may require additional explanation to insure the campervan for its true value.

Download the Redline Campers brochure

Learn more about what we have to offer at Redline Campers by downloading our brochure!