Newbie question about tax + insurance

[Bearface]

Hi all,

Hubby and I are about to buy our 1st van - very excited but have a query about the van we're about to buy and it's tax/insurance. It's a Peugeot Boxer van conversion - it has all the necessary stuff to be classed as a campervan but the current owners haven't changed it's classification over to Motor Caravan as required by the DVLA. They have told us it's easy to do and I've looked into it and it seems it is but it requires photos and descriptions of any changes made. My question is... is this something they should do before selling it or can we just change it once we've got it in my name? Will it affect the insurance? Do I insure it as a van then change it to campervan once it's classed as such? Or am I over complicating the whole thing?!

Hope someone can offer some advice!

Thanks in advance

 

[Mikeco]

Get it changed over before you insure it as the insurance will probably be cheaper.

 

[mitzimad]

its easy enough provided your sure it fits all the criteria i sent 8 photos showing kitchen .bed ,table interior and exterior shots and one with the back doors half open to show the reg and interior in the same shot . came back in a few weeks

 

[pappajohn]

If you insure as a van it's insured as a van.
In the event of a total loss they will only pay out the market value of a van, not a motorhome.
That difference can be thousands of pounds.
A basic panel van may cost £10,000 but if the very same van was a motorhome it may be worth £30,000.

Before committing to insurance ring the insurer and explain you are in the process of re-categorising/registering as a motorhome.
They normally insure but give you a limited time to get it changed and let them know.
If you don't change it in time the insurance will be cancelled or revert to panel van insurance.
Providing it meets the criteria inside and out and you send DVLA all they require its a simple process.

 

[Nasher]

Changing classification is very easy, the information & a sample letter here: rhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/registering-a-diy-caravan/converting-a-vehicle-into-a-motorhome
Use this information rather than the crap posted on forums!

It normally takes about 2 weeks for DVLA to process (mine took 5 days)

I would ask the seller why they have not done it & use it as a bargaining tool to get the price down

Vehicle tax does not change when re-classified

Speak to your insurers (I use Adrian Flux) & explain the situation, they will advise. In my case, I bought a van, which they insured as a 'van under conversion' and I updated them when it had been converted

Check very carefully that it does meet the criteria before you commit

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[Treeeev]

I cannot understand why the seller hasn't reclassified the van if all the work has been completed. It is an easy process requiring a few photos and words clarifying the requirements.

With regards to insurance, a van in the process of being converted will be considerably more expensive. When I was converting a VW T4 camper, the insurance was around £800, but once re classified as a Motorcaravan, it dropped to just over £200 on renewal.

Cheers

Trevor

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Its so easy, .......you should get the vendor to do it, and pay them when the V5 is correct in their name

End of advice

 

[pappajohn]

You see this all the time on cars for sale on eBay/gumtree etc.. .

Doesn't need work for MOT.... Should sail through.

Then why haven't they MOT it and asked a higher price.?

 

[WynandJean]

A friend of ours was nearing completion of his van conversion. Hadn't had the classification altered yet. Had it stolen from outside his house. Insured as a van only. He is devastated.

Wyn

 

[Bearface]

Thank you all so much for your replies - really helpful and much appreciated. I'm going to speak to some insurance companies this morning.

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[Cheshirecat57]

Thank you all so much for your replies - really helpful and much appreciated. I'm going to speak to some insurance companies this morning.

No-speak to the vendor
Dont buy it unless he does the “simple” changes to the V5

 

[Bearface]

No-speak to the vendor
Dont buy it unless he does the “simple” changes to the V5

Thank you - I have emailed them asking the question