DVLA Regulations: thinking of converting your van?
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:15 am
Guidance has been out a few months, but there has been little discussion on here about the ramifications of the 'new' regulations? I may be wrong on that.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... or-caravan
The rules on registering/classifying a vehicle as a motor caravan/camper appear to have changed, so if your van is not already registered as a motor caravan and you are thinking of re-registering with a conversion etc the page above may be useful.
DVLA have decided to regulate ('clarify') that UK camper van owner's have to now dispaly motor caravan 'graphics' on both of the sides of their vehicle (!) and that a pop top is no longer allowed as a qualifying external feature anymore it has to be a hi-top..and an 'awning bar' (figure of 8?) is fitted along the whole of one side..apparently this is so that emergency services are able to ascertain quickly that you are driving a camper van (like I believe that given they say a van can still be used as a camper just not re-registered as one!).
"The body type of your vehicle will not be changed unless its exterior looks like a motor caravan in traffic."
Obviously your van can be converted and used as a camper but if it does not meet the new requirements then it cannot be re-registered as a motor caravan; as many on here have testified the insurance savings for a Bongo as a 'motor caravan' are considerable. Not sure how this is playing out with converters/importers of Bongo's?
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... or-caravan
The rules on registering/classifying a vehicle as a motor caravan/camper appear to have changed, so if your van is not already registered as a motor caravan and you are thinking of re-registering with a conversion etc the page above may be useful.
DVLA have decided to regulate ('clarify') that UK camper van owner's have to now dispaly motor caravan 'graphics' on both of the sides of their vehicle (!) and that a pop top is no longer allowed as a qualifying external feature anymore it has to be a hi-top..and an 'awning bar' (figure of 8?) is fitted along the whole of one side..apparently this is so that emergency services are able to ascertain quickly that you are driving a camper van (like I believe that given they say a van can still be used as a camper just not re-registered as one!).
"The body type of your vehicle will not be changed unless its exterior looks like a motor caravan in traffic."
Obviously your van can be converted and used as a camper but if it does not meet the new requirements then it cannot be re-registered as a motor caravan; as many on here have testified the insurance savings for a Bongo as a 'motor caravan' are considerable. Not sure how this is playing out with converters/importers of Bongo's?