....... or " when is a motorhome not a motorhome " I know a few people who have done DIY conversions on commercial vans and I've wanted to do one myself for a long while , and I now have more spare time for a project . Track day lovers often have a van which has been set up to be a basic place to sleep and cook , and also serve as a mobile garage . There is a big insurance advantage by having the DVLA change the vehicle type category from commercial to motorhome , but their " rules " appear to be vague and mysterious . Applying for change of vehicle use seems to be more successful if certain items are permanent fixtures , with photos to back up the application . Typical examples are the cooker ( and it's gas supply ) , bed , and a table . They clearly don't want to give people motorhome classification if the owner could just swiftly take stuff out and turn it back into a working van , but with much cheaper insurance . Does anyone have experience of this situation ? I'm curious to know ..... please share ! PS - I've heard that ferry companies have their own rules , independent of what DVLA say
Here’s the evidence needed: https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...van/converting-a-vehicle-into-a-motor-caravan This list describes the external features which are commonly seen in motor caravans, and it is intended to provide guidance on what DVLA expects to see when considering your application: 2 or more windows on at least one side of the main body (this does not include windows on the driver or passenger doors) to provide a reasonable amount of daylight into the living accommodation a separate door which provides access to the living accommodation of the vehicle (this excludes the driver and passenger doors); a window on this door counts as a separate window on the main body motor caravan-style graphics on both sides of the vehicle an awning bar attached to either side of the vehicle a high-top roof (this does not include a pop-top elevating roof) DVLA will need photographic evidence of the completed conversion. Mine fails as only one "window on at least one side of the main body”.
My panel van is pretty cheap to insure. It’s social, domestic and pleasure only. 6k miles per year. Transit Custom. C£230 I think.
The big advantage is you can do more speed in a camper than a van. So 60 dual carriageway becomes 70, national limit is 60 not 50. Saves speeding tickets
My wife works in insurance. Our vans just had its pop top fitted (VW T6 4M). Getting the DVLA to reclassify the van is a nightmare, there are lots of very informative threads on it on t6 forum. However, wifey looked into insurance and came to the conclusion, bearing in mind she is in the industry and has the contacts to ask, that our insurance (which is very reasonable) as a kombi van would likely be cheaper as it is than as a camper. The only downside is the 50mph limit rather than 60mph. But as I drive it like an old lady, meh. Its a van.
And that is bonkers. That rule needs to go. The drive, handling and brakes in my Caddy are easily as good as a normal car, but I can only do 60 on a dual carriageway. So on the A42 (dual carriageway)I can only do 50 but the first part of the M42 (2 lane motorway) I can do 70? Bonkers sorry for the thread hijack.
I believe it’s to allow a greater stopping distance when carrying a full payload (they are trade vehicles after all). Less of an issue on motorway where there are no junctions etc.
Just read an article about being over 70 and renewing your driving licence with category C1 on it, which is required for driving motor homes weighing over 3.5 metric tonnes. You can only apply by post and has to be renewed every 3 years. Andy
I'd heard that some campsites ( in Europe ? ) don't allow plain vans . I quite like the idea of "stealth campers " ..... but I think you can get magnetic plastic signage made up ? That might do the trick . Not at all ..... no need to apologise . I welcome a wider discussion on this topic !
Car derived vans iirc are 60/70 lime cars. It is funny that a motor home at the max weight carrying lots of stuff like gas bottles is allowed to drive faster than an empty transit
My diesel shed on wheels is positively terrifying at anything over 70 as it has squidgy suspendies that give it a floaty feeling, very sensitive steering and similar aerodynamics to a block of flats.
I trundle at 60 mph in my VW LT35 through Spain, France and Portugal with two bikes in the back plus a ton of gear. Fuel consumption declines from 35 to 30 mpg if I attempt faster progress, which adds cost on a 2,000 mile round trip. I have improved the “handling” with new front dampers, drop links and bushes and a third leaf in the rear “springs”.
My T6 is the full fat 4M with all the goodies. I took it over the ton once on ACC but I didnt like it. I prefer to waft at 60-70 on mway.
It’s 60 on a dual carriageway which would include the dual carriageway section on that stretch. 50 is on a single carriageway, I don’t recall the A42 along that section being a single carriageway?
It is also my understanding, possibly targeted at the 3.5tonne lunatics. Vans are quick but at max load take a lot to pull up. Hence back in the 90’s Mercedes Sprinters being restricted by their operators to sub 100mph was the rumour.
The speed limit rules changed a few years ago, it went from 40 to 50 on single carriageway, 50 to 60 on dual carriageway The A42 is a dual carriageway, therefore, 60mph
