DVLA Rules - height?

[Gman88667733]

My partner and I are hunting for a van to convert and ideally reclassify as a motorhome or motor caravan. I had my heart set on a low roof Citroen Relay, but have now seen that they require a high top? What exactly is the height they require? Also looking at medium roof Transits and a high top Vivaro... But not sure if the medium roof transit would be high enough. They are not very clear.
I have a quote for insurance for a camper conversion policy that requires it to be converted within 12 months. But I am not sure if I could insure it any other way if we did not reclassify it.

Thanks

 

[pappajohn]

There is no minimum height and I believe the maximum is 16ft.....as in HGV trailers.
An average motorhome height is 10ft.
DVLA require a motorhome to Look like a motorhome and not a van.... Min number of windows, decals, awning rail etc.
DVLA won't accept pop top roofs... IE: elevating roofs... in their new requirements.

 

[34127]

The external appearance relates to what the vehicle looks like. If, in the eyes of the DVLA, it doesn't look like a campervan then the log book will not get changed to motor caravan but more likely changed to van with windows. It seems like pot luck as to wheteher or not your vehicle gets reclassified as there seems little or no difference between some vehicles that have been reclassified and those that have been turned down.
However, the DVLA do state that if the internal arrangements comply with their requirement then the vehicle can still be used as a campervan and have the benefits of campervan speed limits and ferry tolls.

With regard to your query about height it is hard to say what exactly is required from the DVLA guidelines but the vehicles that have been reclassified as a Motor Caravan are typicall H2 Relays and their equivalent.

There are some companies that don't put any time scale on the conversion work and are happy to insure the vehicle until the work is finished.

 

[mpdcymru]

There is no minimum height and I believe the maximum is 16ft.....as in HGV trailers.
An average motorhome height is 10ft.
DVLA require a motorhome to Look like a motorhome and not a van.... Min number of windows, decals, awning rail etc.
DVLA won't accept pop top roofs... IE: elevating roofs... in their new requirements.

No height limit in Uk other then for a double deck bus in which case it is (a very memorable) 4.57 metres. Minimum height for an unmarked bridge however is 5 metres (16 ft 6) which is probably more important in practice

 

[Gman88667733]

So I don't need to base my van purchase on that alone then?

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[pappajohn]

But I am not sure if I could insure it any other way if we did not reclassify it.

You can insure it as a panel van.....but it would only cover the van.
Anything inside, fixtures and fittings etc, would NOT be covered unless you also took out a 'goods in transit' policy.

 

[Gman88667733]

I spoke to Brentacre insurance and they said the could insure a van as a modified van (with windows) and all the internal modifications that a camper would have would be allowed at no extra charge. This could be a way around it?

 

[Gman88667733]

Ideally I'd want the highest roof we could get anyway, but I also really like the width of the Citroen Relay.

 

[pappajohn]

You only get 5 free posts then to continue you need to subscribe.

 

[Minxy]

Ralph-n-Bev

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[Ralph-n-Bev]

God knows Minxy. ??‍
It’s all changed since Ralph did Pug. Lots of things you have to have to call a conversion a motorhome. I don’t think there even had to be a height requirement when we did ours.
So can’t help. Other than give you a link to the thread to Pugs build.

rb panel van conversion begins !

Well after Ordering our base vehicle back in July it has finally arrived..... As you can see its a Peugeot Boxer, the van is 6.4m long and has a 2.2 engine with 130 BHP. The new Boxer has a few changes to it the obvious one being the face lift. Other changes made are to the sliding door gear...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

You may be able to get a bit of help/advice off it Gman88667733
P.s that’s a right mouthful for a user name ?
Good luck with your build.

 

[Minxy]

God knows Minxy. ??‍
It’s all changed since Ralph did Pug. Lots of things you have to have to call a conversion a motorhome. I don’t think there even had to be a height requirement when we did ours.

I was thinking more along the lines of your experience with insurance!

 

[34127]

I spoke to Brentacre insurance and they said the could insure a van as a modified van (with windows) and all the internal modifications that a camper would have would be allowed at no extra charge. This could be a way around it?

Several companies wiil offer you a similar policy, Adrian Flux is one that don't seem to care how long it takes to finish the conversion.

 

[34127]

You can insure it as a panel van.....but it would only cover the van.
Anything inside, fixtures and fittings etc, would NOT be covered unless you also took out a 'goods in transit' policy.

If the internal is modified to dvla guidelians then it can be used and insured as a campervan.

 

[rod_vw]

@Gman88667733 It's not as wide as a Citroen Relay but you could look at the one that I have for sale.

It's already shown as a Motor Caravan on its V5C as it was converted before the DVLA changed their rules.

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