Is there any benefit of trying to get a van reclassed?

[Swifter]

Sorry Swifter..disagree..
Motorhomes over 3500kg still allowed higher speed limits..IF unladen weight below 3050kg.

You are correct

 

[EdRedBird]

Swifter Thanks
I have what is was a clas B licence : Car
Never bothered much with the busses or HGV though I am aware of speed limmitations on those , same for towing

I was not aweare of the 3.05 tonnes cutof point on small good vehicles
As 60 is the sweet spot on my transit , it does not really mater anyway, but this is really good to know

Thanks for that

 

[poppycamper]

I was not aweare of the 3.05 tonnes cutof point on small good vehicles
As 60 is the sweet spot on my transit , it does not really mater anyway, but this is really good to know

EdRedBird
Just to clarify...The 《or》3050kg unladen weight ONLY applies to vehicles that are classified as "motorcaravan" or "van with windows"
It has absolutely no relevance to vehicle classed as "small goods vehicles"

 

[cmcardle75]

EdRedBird
Just to clarify...The 《or》3050kg unladen weight ONLY applies to vehicles that are classified as "motorcaravan" or "van with windows"
It has absolutely no relevance to vehicle classed as "small goods vehicles"

There is no reference in law to "motorcaravan" or "van with windows". For the higher speed limit to apply, it just has to have the minimum required habitation equipment (plus the 3.05t unladen weight). The DVLA's opinion on body type has no force of law. Which is why the DVLA's current stance is so unhelpful. They claim their restrictions are because the police want the record to show what the vehicle looks like in traffic. However, the police, I'm sure, would rather tell from the record what the speed limits are for the vehicles, so they can automatically issue tickets without expensive appeals due to the vehicle containing habitation equipment not visible from outside.

 

[albertramsbot]

The biggest issue is with insurance, a van with windows (your camper)will only be worth what the insurance company deem to be correct with age and millage. However, a motor caravan can be a declared value and is often 4 x what a van with windows could be worth.

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[jp11]

The biggest issue is with insurance, a van with windows (your camper)will only be worth what the insurance company deem to be correct with age and millage. However, a motor caravan can be a declared value and is often 4 x what a van with windows could be worth.

But not if you have an agreed value policy with the insurer?

 

[rod_vw]

The biggest issue is with insurance, a van with windows (your camper)will only be worth what the insurance company deem to be correct with age and millage. However, a motor caravan can be a declared value and is often 4 x what a van with windows could be worth.

That certainly used to be the case but nowadays insurance companies accept the fact that the DVLA won't reclassify to Motor Caravan and do accept (if they ask) photographs of the habitation area etc.
I know this to be correct as I have just been calling around for insurance quotes and am aware of the questions that they ask, some just asked questions and some wanted photographs.

 

[Platelet]

All this talk about weights and classification/body type/taxation class is irrelevant when the speed limit/emission zones are involved. It all comes down to what “vehicle category” it is listed under, either M1/M2 or N1. If N1 on your V5 then it is classed as a commercial and cannot be changed*. It all comes down to how it was first registered at manufacture. The reason I know this is I own a 2011 Land Rover 110 4x4 2.4 puma diesel and have tried to re register as an overland camper conversion. It can have the taxation class changed but NOT the vehicle category, so it remains as N1. I therefore fall into speed limit restrictions and the low emission zone charges (euro5). This is very annoying when a 20yr old motorhome is OK but mine isn’t. *I have been informed that the ONLY way it can be changed is if it has a new chassis and new VIN. To replace with a new galvanised chassis is cost prohibitive for me.

 

[Herbyventures]

Btw you need mountains and a compass to get it reclassified by DVLA......!


Cheers James

That doesn't work! Take it from me. Beautifully decorated van with windows. But I love the earnest discussion about speed limits... as if we all stick to them....

 

[Monty777]

My Motorhome Garmin doesn’t recognise the 3050kg limit-my Hymer is 2800kg unladen but it still insists that the lower limits apply. There is a road locally to me which I drive down a lot which is a 40 limit-halfway down the Garmin pings and insists that the limit is reduced to 30-and I cannot find any way to convince it otherwise. I live just off the A1 and it insists that the speed limit is 60 rather than 70 until it gets to the bit classed as motorway then its happy……..

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[Mr Drizz]

My insurer knows it just a van that's been converted and won't be accepted as such by the DVLA. So I have a set value (of completed conversion) Just need to send them some pictures.

 

[cmcardle75]

All this talk about weights and classification/body type/taxation class is irrelevant when the speed limit/emission zones are involved. It all comes down to what “vehicle category” it is listed under, either M1/M2 or N1. If N1 on your V5 then it is classed as a commercial and cannot be changed*. It all comes down to how it was first registered at manufacture. The reason I know this is I own a 2011 Land Rover 110 4x4 2.4 puma diesel and have tried to re register as an overland camper conversion. It can have the taxation class changed but NOT the vehicle category, so it remains as N1. I therefore fall into speed limit restrictions and the low emission zone charges (euro5). This is very annoying when a 20yr old motorhome is OK but mine isn’t. *I have been informed that the ONLY way it can be changed is if it has a new chassis and new VIN. To replace with a new galvanised chassis is cost prohibitive for me.

Whilst, indeed, you'd struggle to change from N1, the type approval classification has no bearing on speed limits. There is no way from viewing the information recorded on the V5C that you can determine the speed limit of the vehicle. This includes body type, weights and type approval classification.