MMM article on DVLA not re registering Converted vans

Otter Spotter

Otter Spotter

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Article in the latest MMM and Practical Motorhome states DVLA have paid out £100 each to 2 van owners who couldn’t get their self builds re-registered from Vans to Motor Caravans.
The DVLA have admitted that they had not used the regs correctly and had not changed the website to reflect any changes.
Hopefully this means you can get your van V5 changed now from ‘Van with windows’ to Motor caravan’ if it complies.
I will try again.
 
Otter Spotter said:
Article in the latest MMM and Practical Motorhome states DVLA have paid out £100 each to 2 van owners who couldn’t get their self builds re-registered from Vans to Motor Caravans.
The DVLA have admitted that they had not used the regs correctly and had not changed the website to reflect any changes.
Hopefully this means you can get your van V5 changed now from ‘Van with windows’ to Motor caravan’ if it complies.
I will try again.
Click to expand...

Oooh. Does this mean you don't need silly graphics any more?
 
Wow lol
I got an apology from them for not changing my van to "motor caravan" first time.
4x failed attempts, 2x rejected complaints, only standard rejection letter.
Only passed when my MP kindly wrote to them asking them to explain reasons for rejection. Got new V5 with MC within days of her letter! Then an apology. (No changes made to van during that time)

I've no problem with rules, but equally the rules need to be written by someone who can write them unambiguously and then apply them accurately.

I'll get back in touch for my £100 bonus :)

(That said, last few months have seen more passing, so perhaps their house is a bit more in order)

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*no* graphics are *needed*
In fact nothing is needed.

Stupid as it sounds, they say (paraphrasing) - here is a list of things we expect to see to convert to a motor caravan. We will convert some even if they don't tick all the boxes, and we may reject some even if you do tick all the boxes. We just roll the dice.

Or similar.

Most need *some* graphics though, but the rest I've seen all combinations pass/fail.

My graphics are not "standard campervan" and I've only one window per side - but it is a full conversion.
 
I had a gentleman contact me recently requesting graphics for his van conversion. DVLA had stated graphics must be fitted. He didn't want any graphics at all but felt pressured into fitting them.
I manufactured a set and applied them with vaseline. After the photo shoot he just pulled them off. He received his new V5 as a campervan. A very happy camper.
 
wiljoy said:
I had a gentleman contact me recently requesting graphics for his van conversion. DVLA had stated graphics must be fitted. He didn't want any graphics at all but felt pressured into fitting them.
I manufactured a set and applied them with vaseline. After the photo shoot he just pulled them off. He received his new V5 as a campervan. A very happy camper.
Click to expand...
This is exactly why they are enforcing ever strict rules. Hope he gets done for speeding
 
If it has a bed and a cooker it's a Fiddlesticksin camper

The whole shambles is just another example of a government body making pointless rules . The bull about making it identifiable in traffic is just that ... bull

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A friend, who has a windowless stealth camper, has had two pairs magnetic panels made up.
One pair claims the van is owned by a "Sanitary Cleaner"
The other pair are "windows" complete with potted plants.

They are used as required.
Some sites need the van to look like a camper,
other sites will not permit vans with signage.
Laybys need no windows or signs.
 
Ours was rejected and was registered as a van with windows. I sent all the relevant pictures in but the letter that was returned stated that it had to have graphics and an awning attached. This is so it looks different to a 'van with windows' which is what they've said it is on the V5 😂

It is a full conversion with rock and roll bed, seatbelts, fridge, sink and hob, LPG gas and removable table. I do wonder how we would go on if we ever needed to make an insurance claim.

I'll see if I can dig the letter out.
 
W
Boldly said:
This is exactly why they are enforcing ever strict rules. Hope he gets done for speeding
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Why would he?....Motor Caravan, Camper Van or Van With Windows are all classed the same for speed limits As long as less than 3050kgs unladen weight, less than 12m long and max 8 people.
Criteria is that they are fitted out for living in and meet DVLA requirements as such and which a "Van With Windows" does.

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Mine was rejected in 2019 even though it had all the requirements inside and out, with Awning and the graphics as you can see from the Avatar and it was registered as kVan with windows’ with my appeal being stuffed in a draw. I think I will be trying again very soon.
 
Mine doesn't have the required 3 windows down one side, just 2 on each side (including driver's/passengers). I don't want windows over the bed. I like to sleep in the morning. The 2nd set is pretty stealthy, too (see avatar). If I had graphics, I'd put the battenburg back on, with "Welfare Unit" or suchlike. Won't get away with "Police" or even "Heddlu" these days!
 
LesW said:
No need for nastiness..
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Not nastiness. When people start to choose which rules they obey and which they ignore that is called anarchy. There are a lot of rules I don't like but in the interest of society I stick to them.
 
wiljoy said:
I had a gentleman contact me recently requesting graphics for his van conversion. DVLA had stated graphics must be fitted. He didn't want any graphics at all but felt pressured into fitting them.
I manufactured a set and applied them with vaseline. After the photo shoot he just pulled them off. He received his new V5 as a campervan. A very happy camper.
Click to expand...
I just hope he never gets stopped and the details checked ... or worse still his camper is nicked and the police are looking for one with decals on that match the DVLA details.

Boldly said:
This is exactly why they are enforcing ever strict rules.
Click to expand...
I agree, it's to differentiate them from a standard 'works' van.

Northernraider said:
If it has a bed and a cooker it's a Fiddlesticksin camper

The whole shambles is just another example of a government body making pointless rules . The bull about making it identifiable in traffic is just that ... bull
Click to expand...
Don't agree, if it's got camper decals it's a camper, if not then it's a van. See my response to Boldly above.

Brains said:
A friend, who has a windowless stealth camper, has had two pairs magnetic panels made up.
One pair claims the van is owned by a "Sanitary Cleaner"
The other pair are "windows" complete with potted plants.

They are used as required.
Some sites need the van to look like a camper,
other sites will not permit vans with signage.
Laybys need no windows or signs.
Click to expand...
It would be interesting to know what his insurance company make of that ... I certainly wouldn't want to risk not being insured if he needs to make a claim.

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DVLA and insurance can't have it all ways.

If it's a conversion and you want a V5 to show this then the requirements were that you send pictures in to meet a certain criteria. They have now changed that criteria.

Our T5 is a full conversion *excluding the 'now required' awning and graphics, we sent them pics of the windows and the interior as specified. The V5 came back as van with windows which the pictures prove it is absolutely not.

The insurance is for a converted T5 into a campervan, but the V5 shows something else.

We don't want an awning on it as we're selling it and we don't want graphics it's not our thing.

Those two thing don't make a campervan.
 
Boldly said:
Not nastiness. When people start to choose which rules they obey and which they ignore that is called anarchy. There are a lot of rules I don't like but in the interest of society I stick to them.
Click to expand...
More fool you

Personally I think there are far too many stupid pointless rules. And there are more and more because people are easily herded like sheep.
No thanks
 
Minxy said:
Don't agree, if it's got camper decals it's a camper, if not then it's a van. See my response to Boldly above.
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That's nonsense

I had over 40 vw campers

Not one had decals

Not seen many vw californias etc with decals either.


It's a stupid rule that's completely pointless.
 
Brody said:
DVLA and insurance can't have it all ways.

If it's a conversion and you want a V5 to show this then the requirements were that you send pictures in to meet a certain criteria. They have now changed that criteria.

Our T5 is a full conversion *excluding the 'now required' awning and graphics, we sent them pics of the windows and the interior as specified. The V5 came back as van with windows which the pictures prove it is absolutely not.

The insurance is for a converted T5 into a campervan, but the V5 shows something else.

We don't want an awning on it as we're selling it and we don't want graphics it's not our thing.

Those two thing don't make a campervan.
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Exactly. They changed the criteria for one reason only . Because too many were registering home built campers.

If it was for any other reason the tens of thousands of already registered campervans would also be changed.

I've had loads that never had decals, awnings, certain types of windows, tables etc etc because not every person who wants a camper wants the same thing. Which is one of the main reasons folk do self builds ...to get what they want and need.

If they really want to sort it then create 2 different classes

Motorcaravan and campervan
 
I'm in the process of converting a van into a motor caravan , and have just had to fork out nearly £1200 for an awning that we weren't gonna bother with as we wild camp mostly and can't use it much in these situations , so I'll be really pissed if it fails the DVLA test.... Paying for Awning & graphics for it not to pass.

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Minxy said:
I just hope he never gets stopped and the details checked ... or worse still his camper is nicked and the police are looking for one with decals on that match the DVLA details.


I agree, it's to differentiate them from a standard 'works' van.


Don't agree, if it's got camper decals it's a camper, if not then it's a van. See my response to Boldly above.


It would be interesting to know what his insurance company make of that ... I certainly wouldn't want to risk not being insured if he needs to make a claim.
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I am sure that if his van was nicked he would give a description of it to the Police including ‘No decals’ and the DVLA do not record anywhere a description of decals on any vehicle only the base colour. 👍🏻
 
Bart said:
I'm in the process of converting a van into a motor caravan , and have just had to fork out nearly £1200 for an awning that we weren't gonna bother with as we wild camp mostly and can't use it much in these situations , so I'll be really pissed if it fails the DVLA test.... Paying for Awning & graphics for it not to pass.
Click to expand...
Don't count on it . Many haven't
 
Bart said:
I'm in the process of converting a van into a motor caravan , and have just had to fork out nearly £1200 for an awning that we weren't gonna bother with as we wild camp mostly and can't use it much in these situations , so I'll be really pissed if it fails the DVLA test.... Paying for Awning & graphics for it not to pass.
Click to expand...
I don't think it is a definite requirement to have an awning, just what they would 'expect' a campervan to have, no way would I spend that sort of money for one just to get a 'tick' in the box and even if I wanted an awning that seems a heck of a lot for one!
 
Minxy said:
I don't think it is a definite requirement to have an awning, just what they would 'expect' a campervan to have, no way would I spend that sort of money for one just to get a 'tick' in the box and even if I wanted an awning that seems a heck of a lot for one!
Click to expand...
I am pretty sure it does not say anything about an awning... does it not say an awning rail should be fitted.. IE the sort the tuggers have?
Fiamma s45 circa £500.00 and even with fitting yes does seem lot.


Screenshot_20221111_004245.jpg
 
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Boldly said:
This is exactly why they are enforcing ever strict rules. Hope he gets done for speeding
Click to expand...
Speeding has nothing to do with V5 classification, but the Road Traffic Act which defines a motorcaravan in law which has *no mention* of graphics.
DVLA use their own rules but these are NOT legal definitions.

Yes, can of worms, stupid, confusing, etc - but not related.

My last van, 2016, had no graphics, DVLA passed it first time.

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