The Government body responsible for maintaining driver and vehicle records has relaxed it's own rules, which is going to make a huge difference for people who own vehicles such as the VolksWagen T6 and T6.1 that have been converted into campervans.
This really applies to pre-registered campervans. In other words, anything that’s essentially been built on a commercial vehicle where the V5C states ‘panel van with windows’.
The new guidance means owners with a V5C with that categorisation can effectively recategorise their campervan as a ‘motor caravan’ – the legal and administrative term for a campervan or motorhome.
In effect it’s a small relaxation of the rules that can make all sorts of differences when it comes to the practicalities of ownership.
You’ll find helpful links to the official DVLA information at the end of this blog.
These changes have only just been announced, so this is important news for anybody who owns a T6.1 conversion, for example, from CamperKing.
Just to give you a clearer idea of what's happened here, on the 19th of October the DVLA updated its online guidance called Converting a Vehicle into a Motor Caravan. It contains some new requirements for anyone who wants to resubmit their vehicle for evaluation to get a new V5C.
Traditionally, the DVLA has always said that in order to recategorise a vehicle as a ‘motor caravan’ on the V5C, it needs to have a high-top roof. What appears to be the main change here is that DVLA officials have now added “or a pop-top elevating roof”.
A lot of campervans constructed on previously registered commercial vehicle chassis, like the T6.1, will have been categorised on the V5C as panel vans with windows. That's a direct byproduct of having been built on a pre-registered chassis.
The change here is that it appears to open up the possibility for people who own one of these vehicles, where their V5C currently says ‘panel van with windows’ to have that changed to ‘motor caravan’ if they wish.
There are some requirements and evidence that you need in order to submit an application to the DVLA to recategorise your vehicle on its V5C.
The vehicle needs to have:
Two or more windows on at least one side of the main body. This does not include windows on the driver or passenger doors. The windows must provide a reasonable amount of daylight into the living accommodation.
A separate door providing access to the living accommodation of the vehicle, excluding the driver and passenger doors. The DVLA says a window on this door counts as a separate window on the main body.
A high-top roof or a pop-top elevating roof.
And that last point is the crucial bit for CamperKing vans.
These are the internal features that are seen in special purpose M category vehicles that are constructed to include living accommodation:
Seats and a table.
Sleeping accommodation, which may be converted from seats.
Cooking facilities.
Storage facilities.
The DVLA states that the equipment must be “rigidly fixed to the living compartment” though the table may be designed to be easily removable. With that in mind, CamperKing’s Pursuit model is unlikely to meet the criteria as it has been designed more as a day van and does not have a fixed kitchen.
The DVLA will require photographic evidence of the completed conversion.
As part of your application to have your V5C changed, you will need:
A completed motor caravan conversion checklist. There’s an example available on the DVLA website here.
Interior photographs of each of the required feature listed in the completed checklist, including the bed and table in their positions for use.
Photographs showing that two or more windows provide daylight into the main living accommodation on at least one side of the body.
Exterior photographs from the front, both sides and the rear, with the registration plates clearly visible.
A photograph showing the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or chassis number, stamped on the plate attached to the original chassis or vehicle body shell.
On the back of each photograph applicants will need to write a description of what the image shows, the date and vehicle registration number. And if you want your photos returned, you will need to request that in your application.
So as you can see, there’s quite a bit of evidence needed to make this application successful. But it’s clear the DVLA is now considering these cases involving campervans built on pre-registered chassis – and that’s important news for owners.
While this won’t necessarily affect things like insurance premiums or speed limits, which are always topics of conversation around this particular subject, what it can affect is how simple it is to arrange insurance for your campervan.
Let’s say your insurance provider is requesting that your campervan is registered as a ‘motor caravan’ before they’ll comfortably insure you. Well, there's a reason to do it right there.
It may also be easier to sell your campervan. The paperwork will align much more closely with what you’re actually presenting to a potential buyer, making a sale that much simpler.
It’s really about the ease of the administrative arrangements surrounding the campervan, and that’s why this is going to be important.
If you’ve previously tried to go through this process, the updated guidance relaxes the rules slightly. So if you’ve previously been refused a change from ‘panel van with windows’ to ‘motor caravan’, I think these new rules and criteria will improve your chances of a successful recategorisation with a second application.
The DVLA states you need to fill in section 1 of your V5C if you have a new style document, or section 7 of the older style.
The V5C and required evidence then needs to be sent to: DVLA, Swansea SA99 1BA.
The DVLA will then make a decision on the application, and it may also require a DVLA inspection.
There’s more information about the application process on the links to the DVLA’s website below.