DVLA being very strange

[robrac]

I have built a motorhome into a Ducato Alko minibus, 4250Kg. I had it changed over to Motor Caravan but they insist its a light goods vehicle with a max mass of 4250 on the v5. On the weigh bridge now its 3640Kg. No matter what I tell them, they insist even telling me light goods is up to 7500KG. Its not April 1st. The DVLA is not known for its flexibility, granted but am I missing something?
V5 N1 Light Goods Vehicle mam 4250 but current weight unladen is 3640.......... Help

 

[robrac]

surely it should be p.hgv because I understood LGV was up to 3599

 

[robrac]

sorry I meant 3500

 

[pappajohn]

DVLA won't class as motorhome for home builds...it's a van with windows.
The weights depends on a few things including tyre weight rating, suspension rating etc.
If it is 4250 gross then to uprate is possible but you need someone like SVTEC to help with weights and necessary suspension and tyre upgrade.
As it is you will have around 610kg payload

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

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[pappajohn]

If the mam on the vin plate is 4250kg it is private heavy goods.
The road tax is £165
Light goods include cars and is up to 3500kg.
If you don't have category C1 on your licence you can't legally drive it.

 

[gus-lopez]

DVLA won't class as motorhome for home builds...it's a van with windows.

The OP said it has been changed to Motor caravan

 

[CAB96]

I think rod_vw had the same issue?

 

[dunnah01]

Are the DVLA just saying the rules have changed and you won't get the PHGV VED reduction and you'll still have to pay the higher PLG VED even though your GVW is 4250kg

 

[Lenny HB]

It's probably because it is classed as N1, if it was M1 you would have probably got the PHGV Revenue classification.

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[rod_vw]

I think rod_vw had the same issue?

Crazy as it sounds, if the vehicle was first registered as N1 then they won't change the taxation rate but will change the body type to Motor Caravan and the weights to whatever the likes of SvTECH certify it as being capable of being used as.
If the vehicle was first registered as M1 they will change the taxation rate as well as the other items.

 

[robrac]

Hi again, Thanks for that so far,
The vin plates are
Fiat vin number no weights
Alko 4250 Svtech 4500 Its been like that since 2009
My point is I weigh 3640 now, EMPTY without water and food and clothing,,,, If they insist I am light goods then I am illegal before I start.
If I am phgv then thats fine,
Svtech say I am phgv....VOSA say it should be hpgv..... the dvla disagree
How can I have v5 that says n1 motorcaravan light goods vehicle mam 4250?
What am I missing?

 

[robrac]

Before I forget, the man at the garage said ,,,,, if its LGV 3500 and you are 3640 thats easy, stick one of those Halfords trailers behind it so that you can go to 4250 max mass like that as its based on the total oh,,,,and still be ok licence wise.
Has the world gone mad? I need a Valium

 

[Mr Colpot]

In my experience DVLA wont change the N1 to M1 even if you change the body type and weight. We had a Vantage Cub which hadn't been changed to Motor Caravan. Went through the pain of getting it corrected but still showed as N1 so technically restricted to lower speed limits. Also Dartford Crossing charged at Goods Vehicle rate.
My understanding is weight wise if the mam shows 4500 then that's what you can load it to. You just won't have the benefit of lower VED

 

[gus-lopez]

My point is I weigh 3640 now, EMPTY without water and food and clothing,,,, If they insist I am light goods then I am illegal before I start.

I think you are worrying about nothing .If the V5 says 4250 MAM then what it is classed as,lgv,phgv, light goods, doesn't matter.
As said they won't change N1 to M1 leaving it as a nonsensical loophole that basically isn't correct.

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[CAB96]

In my experience DVLA wont change the N1 to M1 even if you change the body type and weight. We had a Vantage Cub which hadn't been changed to Motor Caravan. Went through the pain of getting it corrected but still showed as N1 so technically restricted to lower speed limits. Also Dartford Crossing charged at Goods Vehicle rate.
My understanding is weight wise if the mam shows 4500 then that's what you can load it to. You just won't have the benefit of lower VED

Your speed limits are/were as a motor caravan, N1 is irrelevant for this.

 

[Mr Colpot]

Your speed limits are/were as a motor caravan, N1 is irrelevant for this.

Thanks - that's not what I was advised at the time by a Traffic Officer friend though

 

[Jev88]

I am missing a point. OP states 3650Kg weighbridge weight now but that still makes it C1 licence required to drive it.

 

[Emmit]

Thanks - that's not what I was advised at the time by a Traffic Officer friend though

If you get a ticket, take photos and show them that, by definition, it's a motor caravan. ie. 8 seats or less, cooking, sleeping and toilet facilities, (NO! Not at the same time, DOH!)

 

[Puddleduck]

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