What Class MOT for a 4.2tonne Motorhome?

[rod_vw]

Just as the title says.

What Class MOT for a 4.2tonne Motorhome?

Mine is due for its first MOT in November and I'm getting conflicting views. The van is now registered as 'Motorhome' was originally a 3.5tonne van when I bought it new.

Thanks, Rod

 

[karalal]

4

 

[icantremember]

If the V5 states that it is a "motorhome" it will be class 4 MOT

 

[The Coops]

IV

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

Class 4
Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-ins...er-and-light-commercial-vehicles/introduction

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[rod_vw]

Thank you karalal , icantremember , The Coops and Scottish Scrutineer that is exactly as I thought.

This all comes about after I spoke to a DVSA MOT tester (DVSA employed not a workshop employee) who insisted that it would have to be Class 5. That just goes to show how little their own staff know about such things.

Rod

 

[activecampers]

If the V5 states that it is a "motorhome" it will be class 4 MOT

Wrong - the V5 is irrelevant to the MOT type. The MOT centre does not see the V5 nor have access to the data.

The law states: Test as presented.

So if its a Van, Van with Windows, Chassis cab, ambulance or whatever on the V5 - if it is an obvious motorcaravan (bed/cooking/storage etc) it will be tested as class 4 MOT. No limits to weight - at least not up to 7.5t AFAIK

As an aside, even if it is a "motor caravan" on V5 yet comes in with loads of work tools, work bench; or a motorbike/tyres; or a gokart and tools etc - then it will not be a class 4 MOT as it will be deemed a race van or normal commercial van.


The v5 "body type" is always quoted wrongly for speed limits, road tax and MOT, but it has no bearing on anything other than a DVLA data field used for "cosmetic description". Its quoted so wrong it becomes internet fact which adds to the confusion. (TBH its used wrongly by some authorities via ANPR for tolls and automatic speed limits which is a major annoyance but can be argued successfully each time). Just a PITA

Not saying its right, IMO the law around motorcaravans is wrong and needs fixing in so many ways.

 

[pappajohn]

All motorhomes are class 4, even the really big 12 ton vans.
The only exception is if it's registered as a living van carrying goods not conducive to daily life....ie: a race van or horse box.

 

[activecampers]

Thank you karalal , icantremember , The Coops and Scottish Scrutineer that is exactly as I thought.

This all comes about after I spoke to a DVSA MOT tester (DVSA employed not a workshop employee) who insisted that it would have to be Class 5. That just goes to show how little their own staff know about such things.

Rod

On this forum, motorcaravans are top of the agenda and it a topic we all talk about, research and know (to a degree lol). For the rest of the world they are niche, and these outlying cases are even more niche, and people even in the trade do not know the details of these edge scenarios as they may never come across it so never considered it. Even police with regards to speed limits do not always know the exact details of the edge cases as its one of 1 zillion bits they need to know.

I was pally with an MOT tester on one of the forums who was very instructive/constructive to all MOT questions and provided the evidence each time from his manual. But facebook experts argued constantly with him, eg like your example told X by someone, he'd prove it was wrong and show the rules, but then given grief saying they'd been told otherwise etc etc. He also gave real life examples of MOTs and the abuse he got when motorcaravans clearly used for goods were refused for class 4 MOTs etc etc. He gave up helping after banging his head on the wall too many times.

 

[tacr2man]

Thank you karalal , icantremember , The Coops and Scottish Scrutineer that is exactly as I thought.

This all comes about after I spoke to a DVSA MOT tester (DVSA employed not a workshop employee) who insisted that it would have to be Class 5. That just goes to show how little their own staff know about such things.

Rod

It went wrong (further) in 2014 when VOSA became DVSA and lots of Vehicle Inspectors left(voluntary redundancy) and were replaced with Testers who did not require the same level of qualifications.

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[Jev88]

We are 7.5T - still Class 4.

 

[tacr2man]

no weight limit on motorcaravan all class 4

 

[Carpmart]

You can have one of the BIG Mortello Grand Empires at 20T odd and still be Class 4!

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

The v5 "body type" is always quoted wrongly for speed limits, road tax and MOT, but it has no bearing on anything other than a DVLA data field used for "cosmetic description". Its quoted so wrong it becomes internet fact which adds to the confusion. (TBH its used wrongly by some authorities via ANPR for tolls and automatic speed limits which is a major annoyance but can be argued successfully each time). Just a PITA

Not saying it’s right, IMO the law around motorcaravans is wrong and needs fixing in so many ways.

At risk of going off track, even more confusing/misunderstood in my view is the understanding of “dual-purpose vehicle” in regards to speed limits.