Register your camper van with the DVLA

Registration

And finally you need to register the van with DVLA as a camper van, insurance is far cheaper but a lot of insurance firms don’t / won’t insure until it is converted and registered

You used to have to take the van to an MOT station and they would check everything was fitted, but nowadays you can send a letter to the DVLA with your V5 with photo evidence and a description of what you have done and they will register if happy with that

DVLA say…

“It is a legal requirement that all UK registered vehicles are classified correctly on the V5C log book. All campervans, motor caravans and motorhomes fall into the DVLA category of ‘motor caravan’. If you have converted a van into a motor caravan then you must return the V5C to DVLA for body type amendment. DVLA is required to record the details of vehicles for road safety and law enforcement. The body type information held on the vehicle record must describe what a vehicle actually looks like. This description, in addition to other distinguishing features, enables the police and other enforcement agencies to identify a particular vehicle. Therefore, the body type will not be changed unless the exterior of the vehicle actually appears to be a motor home. This document provides general guidance relating to the registering of DIY motor caravans. Every effort has been made to ensure that it is factually correct but recipients should check with the producers of this document if they are unsure about any of the content”

In order for a converted vehicle to qualify as a motor caravan it must have certain minimum features, as follows:

· a door that provides access to the living accommodation

· a bed, which has a minimum length of 1800mm or 6 feet. This can be converted from seats used for other purposes during the day but must be permanently fixed within the body of the vehicle

 · a water storage tank or container on, or in, the vehicle

· a seating and dining area, permanently attached to the vehicle. The table may be detachable but must have some permanent means of attachment to the vehicle. It is not good enough to have a loose table

· a permanently fixed means of storage, a cupboard, locker or wardrobe

· a permanently fixed cooking facility within the vehicle, powered by gas or electricity

· at least one window on the side of the accommodation If the vehicle has all of these features present, permanently fixed and installed properly, then it is a legal requirement to have it reclassified as a motor caravan on the V5C.

Basically this is to stop people throwing a mattress and portable stove inside the van and calling it a camper van to benefit from cheaper insurance

Registration

And finally you need to register the van with DVLA as a camper van, insurance is far cheaper but a lot of insurance firms don’t / won’t insure until it is converted and registered

You used to have to take the van to an MOT station and they would check everything was fitted, but nowadays you can send a letter to the DVLA with your V5 with photo evidence and a description of what you have done and they will register if happy with that

DVLA say…

“It is a legal requirement that all UK registered vehicles are classified correctly on the V5C log book. All campervans, motor caravans and motorhomes fall into the DVLA category of ‘motor caravan’. If you have converted a van into a motor caravan then you must return the V5C to DVLA for body type amendment. DVLA is required to record the details of vehicles for road safety and law enforcement. The body type information held on the vehicle record must describe what a vehicle actually looks like. This description, in addition to other distinguishing features, enables the police and other enforcement agencies to identify a particular vehicle. Therefore, the body type will not be changed unless the exterior of the vehicle actually appears to be a motor home. This document provides general guidance relating to the registering of DIY motor caravans. Every effort has been made to ensure that it is factually correct but recipients should check with the producers of this document if they are unsure about any of the content”

In order for a converted vehicle to qualify as a motor caravan it must have certain minimum features, as follows:

· a door that provides access to the living accommodation

· a bed, which has a minimum length of 1800mm or 6 feet. This can be converted from seats used for other purposes during the day but must be permanently fixed within the body of the vehicle

 · a water storage tank or container on, or in, the vehicle

· a seating and dining area, permanently attached to the vehicle. The table may be detachable but must have some permanent means of attachment to the vehicle. It is not good enough to have a loose table

· a permanently fixed means of storage, a cupboard, locker or wardrobe

· a permanently fixed cooking facility within the vehicle, powered by gas or electricity

· at least one window on the side of the accommodation If the vehicle has all of these features present, permanently fixed and installed properly, then it is a legal requirement to have it reclassified as a motor caravan on the V5C.

Basically my view is that this is to stop people throwing a mattress and portable stove inside the van and calling it a camper van to benefit from cheaper insurance