Will Left Hand Drive Vans become less popular?

If a project fear scenario that will be longer queues at the ports that might put some off going to Europe
 
Otter Spotter said:
Knew that, what else ?
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If you head South for Dover , or Harwich especially Harwich across the water from Felixstowe please wear a Mask , Social Distance and wash you hands regularly if getting out of van !!(y)

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Well folks, we ordered a new L/H Hymer at the Oct 2019 NEC show and took delivery in July this year. The order was placed as after enjoying touring on the content so much in 2019 we thought a L/H drive was the way to go for further adventures. I have to say it felt a bold decision as I signed that order form even with no sight or dreams of Covid on the horizon. Covid arrived and the decision felt even bolder! However, here we are in Italy having been away a month of our planned two month trip. I have to say the bold decision is without any doubt the right decision for us and have no regrets. I was told by the dealer when buying that there is always a market for second hand L/H drive motorhomes and you may not get quite as much as the R/H drive equivalent but that is not always the case as there are less L/H drives available generally. In summary my advice is if your intending to do the majority of your motorhome expeditions on the continent why have a R/H drive for that short trip from home to the ferry or tunnel! Covid of course is another discussion but it won’t last for ever and if your going to travel abroad our experience is of feeling safe in our own self contained vehicle.
 
FlowerandSausage said:
Is it silly question weekend 🤔
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The increase in interest in MHs - and prices has come from 'newbies' wishing to holiday in the UK.

Why would a newbie, staying in this country buy a LHD vehicle?

So many on here have said they will not go to Europe this year.

I have been to Europe 4 times this year in my MH.

The first time was bringing it back for MOT in March from Bilbao and that was the only time there were a normal amount of motorhomes and caravans.

Since then I have returned to Bilbao, crossed from Newhaven Dieppe and back twice and a few weeks ago crossed from Harwich to Holland and back on the Tunnel.

On some of the ferries I have been the only MH, seeing hardly any British vehicles of any sort.

If seasoned motorhomers won't go there at the moment newbies aren't likely to either.

I considered swapping my RHD motorhome for a newer LHD version and think I could get a really good deal just because mine is RHD.

I have decided not to - because I love the van I have ! - and I don't find driving a RHD a problem.

How many LHD British vans are going to Europe this year? - or next? - If they don't go values will drop....
 
LHD? RHD?. It`s really a question of perception, and to a limited extent where you are planning to use it most?. For near 20years I had R-V`s, which are LH drive. You soon get used to the driving experience and how to cope with the differences. In the UK, roundabouts probably give the most issues to "newbies". but you learn that once you position correctly on the road, even without a spare pair of eyes in the outside seat you can manage it in safety. Also whilst not perfect a Fresnel lens can be useful. With the advent of cheaper camera systems, they can even be mounted on a mirror to give a view of the oncoming traffic. something I did not have. I dont think newbies will be buying LHD vehicles though as most will use them in the UK.?. Seasoned Travellers are another story?.

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Barclaybasher said:
The increase in interest in MHs - and prices has come from 'newbies' wishing to holiday in the UK.

Why would a newbie, staying in this country buy a LHD vehicle?

So many on here have said they will not go to Europe this year.

I have been to Europe 4 times this year in my MH.

The first time was bringing it back for MOT in March from Bilbao and that was the only time there were a normal amount of motorhomes and caravans.

Since then I have returned to Bilbao, crossed from Newhaven Dieppe and back twice and a few weeks ago crossed from Harwich to Holland and back on the Tunnel.

On some of the ferries I have been the only MH, seeing hardly any British vehicles of any sort.

If seasoned motorhomers won't go there at the moment newbies aren't likely to either.

I considered swapping my RHD motorhome for a newer LHD version and think I could get a really good deal just because mine is RHD.

I have decided not to - because I love the van I have ! - and I don't find driving a RHD a problem.

How many LHD British vans are going to Europe this year? - or next? - If they don't go values will drop....
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Quite a few if and buts in your blog. Time will tell but from my perspective LHD makes no difference at all.
Phil
 
bobandjanie said:
:think: I did hear that after January 1st, 😉 European manufacturing companies are no longer building on RHD chassi because the market is so small. 😁 Bob.
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Cannot see that happening.? Sound like something from an old brxxxxxt post?. The Germans sell well over here. Or at least there are plenty about?
 
LHD/RHD, what's the problem? If you own a RHD moho you have a problem on the continent but not at home, if you own a LHD moho you have a problem in the UK, I have owned both but have to admit that I swapped my LHD for RHD, but only because I liked the make and layout of the van. How many people holiday only in the UK or only on the continent. The problems I can see after Brexit are no green card (E111) therefore you will require insurance and boy will the cost go up, as for the 90 days, we have spent 3 months in France and Spain and we covered a lot of ground, no worries.
 
The European market in motorhomes is much bigger than the UK market and they tend to be LHD which is OK for European trips but not so good for the UK only bearing in mind that most insurers load the premium. The habitation door is as for LHD but then a lot of the RHD ones of continental origin have habitation doors on the drivers side. If this worries you the option is to live with it by ensuring you only get out the van through the UK passenger side door while in the UK and use the habitation doors in Europe. This is they way we live with ours having the door as above. Personally, having lived in an LHD country for a while it bothers me not a lot but it does present an issue when selling. Horses for corses.

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My Mobilvetta A class has two cab doors and a hab door (on the offside) which is unusual.
I remember looking at a RHD Burstner Aviano that only had the one drivers door and hab door - both on the offside - not safe, in my view - but safe in Europe - but RHD :doh:
 
I bought a left hand drive 3 years ago because I was always going to spend my drive time outside of the UK in European countries that generally offer a much warmer, drier climate and where motor-homers are considerably better catered for and far more welcome than is generally the case in the UK. COVID hasn’t changed that one bit. Indeed having spent the last two months plus driving around Italy and France (which countries seem to have a far more proactive approach towards managing COVID than the UK) and 5 months before that driving the Balkans and Greece I’m surprised that more people in the UK aren’t looking at Left Hand Drives but, hey, do I care if the price of LHD comes down😂?
 
Peter and Julie said:
I have been back in the UK since July, prior to that I've been in France for over 3 months (also back and forth since looking for property)..It's not just a 'postal address' as I pay for utilities. I intend to apply for the carte de séjour:

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In order to apply for a Carte de Sejour you will have to register for healthcare and also income tax and have proof of your income .
 
spitfire said:
In order to apply for a Carte de Sejour you will have to register for healthcare and also income tax and have proof of your income .
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Not a problem. I'm self employed, proof of income via accountant reference + accounts is easy

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Peter and Julie said:
Not a problem. I'm self employed, proof of income via accountant reference + accounts is easy
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Just remember to register for tax and healthcare . If you can’t register for healthcare yet then you need complete private policy . Also with tax if you haven’t been here long enough to d’éclate you need to go to tax office and request a fiscal number and then they will send you a tax form to complete at the correct time . Oh and there is a form sorry can’t remember the number to remove yourself from UK tax . Completed by tax office here and they send on to the UK to prove your are paying your tax to France .
System is going on line now and live from 19 October but think it might crash as there is a huge amount waiting to complete their application as they were stopped way back !Also us with permanent cards must renew but simple process as no paperwork needed . Just a scan of present card for new card .
Good luck lots of paper but you will find the French love paperwork lol
 
For anyone needing healthcare in a EU country, who is receiving UK State Pension(or other benefits) this is the way to get into the host country system.

You have to be registered as resident in the host country before 31st Dec 2020

Apply for form S1 to NH Overseas Healthcare Services by telephone +44 (0) 191 218 1999

They will send it to your host country address. Mine arrived in 2 weeks.

You then need to lodge it with the host country health service - see local information for how to do this or visit www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-in-[country]

You will receive a certificate which will entitle you to healthcare the same as a local Citizen. This will continue beyond 1st Jan 2021.

You will also be entitled to a locally issued EHIC card and retain access to NHS in UK.

I think, but not sure, you will have to apply before 31st Dec, so get on with it - it only needs phone call to Newcastle with NI details, then lodging form locally, all done.

Geoff
 
nicholsong said:
For anyone needing healthcare in a EU country, who is receiving UK State Pension(or other benefits) this is the way to get into the host country system.

You have to be registered as resident in the host country before 31st Dec 2020

Apply for form S1 to NH Overseas Healthcare Services by telephone +44 (0) 191 218 1999

They will send it to your host country address. Mine arrived in 2 weeks.

You then need to lodge it with the host country health service - see local information for how to do this or visit www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-in-[country]

You will receive a certificate which will entitle you to healthcare the same as a local Citizen. This will continue beyond 1st Jan 2021.

You will also be entitled to a locally issued EHIC card and retain access to NHS in UK.

I think, but not sure, you will have to apply before 31st Dec, so get on with it - it only needs phone call to Newcastle with NI details, then lodging form locally, all done.

Geoff
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You won’t get one here unless you register completely as a resident . Ie tax etc
 
At tip for driving RHD vehicles in Europe if you're happy to spend a few bob is to have and ''omnivue'' system fitted - the all-round camera system. We got one and I have to say that I find my RHD van no problem at all in Europe - the cameras eliminate all blind spots. We also fitted an extra, forward-facing, camera on the left hand side of the van so I can see perfectly well to overtake. Not that we overtake much in a motorhome, but it's handy when we do.
 
spitfire said:
You won’t get one here unless you register completely as a resident . Ie tax etc
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Not here in Poland. May be different in France - they like to ignore rules.

I do not yet have Polish Residency Permit. I do not have to file a tax return until end of this year, but all income and tax is in UK.

All I had to tell NHS was that I am living in Poland. All I had to give the Polish health was my address and PESEL (Insurance No.). My health cert. came back quickly.

I can now travel EU with cover as locals in countries I visit, including Covid. Very useful.

Geoff

[P.S. Even in France, I doubt whether they could tax me(unless the rate is higher than UK) because HMRC have first claim to tax all my income. I could be wrong]

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nicholsong said:
Not here in Poland. May be different in France - they like to ignore rules.

I do not yet have Polish Residency Permit. I do not have to file a tax return until end of this year, but all income and tax is in UK.

All I had to tell NHS was that I am living in Poland. All I had to give the Polish health was my address and PESEL (Insurance No.). My health cert. came back quickly.

I can now travel EU with cover as locals in countries I visit, including Covid. Very useful.

Geoff

[P.S. Even in France, I doubt whether they could tax me(unless the rate is higher than UK) because HMRC have first claim to tax all my income. I could be wrong]
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Will dépend if they have a double taxation agreement with the UK . We must declare tax here if resident . Some are taxable in UK under the agreement but all must be declared here . Everything is linked up on computer here . Health , wealth etc
 
Otter Spotter said:
Knew that, what else ?
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It has to be a HUMAN passport not a pet one ... :giggle:
AC/DC said:
It all boils down to your *wingman* If a LHD in Uk then wingman does additional safety check before maneuvers on restricted views and vice versa when abroad just make sure you use understood communication no *Go* or *No* but positive reinforcement.* Safe to pass*, or *,Not able* and keep to it!
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Much better to say Yes or No as Go can easily be mistaken for No.
 
jongood said:
If I'm relying on the passenger its usually only for difficult junctions and they can be either side. A53 at Loggerheads is much easier in lhd.
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Were you at loggerheads before or after that turning? :giggle:
 

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