DVLA reclassification - Have I got what I need?

Ron Bones

Guest
Hey all.

Just insured my van yesterday through AIB, following recommendations on here and a fantastic quote!

They've given me four weeks to get my van reclassified as a motor caravan on the V5. I'd actually forgotten that I needed to do so.

I've gone through the info online and taken the relevant pictures, or so I think, but just wondered if anyone would care to check that I have everything I need before I post them.

Thanks in advance.

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Sorry they're all in portrait, I'd changed them for printing.

I think I've covered everything;

Front and rear shots displaying number plates.
Back doors open
Fixed bed and fixed seating
Fold down fixed table
Cooker
Storage space
Water storage
Side door giving access to living area

Anything I missed?
 
View the official requirements here.
Personally, I'd remove the blue light, especially as it's illegal unless you are licenced to operate an ambulance. I'd also cover the red crosses.
 
What steve said it has to look like a camping car to re classify :lol-049: sstan
 
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Thanks Steve, pretty sure I meet al the requirements according to that list.

The blue light's an odd one, I did a lot of research when I imported the vehicle and according to the DVLA and the local police it is seen as a 'common sense law'. Clearly the van is not in service and as a vehicle of historic interest (to some people) it's ok to leave it on. I am going to have a sticker made that covers the majority of it saying 'not in service' just to be safe. But I like the history of the vehicle and don't want to take it off, or the crosses. I will crop the images that show the light though, just to be on the safe side.
 
Just to be safe, I'd take out the tool chests from the locker at the back and put in some more hobby looking stuff like bits of bikes or some rucksacks. You don't want to be accused of having a dual-purpose van. Yes, I know it's borderline, but it'll help if you get a jobsworth doing the assessment.
 
I tried to get XOX reclassified but DVLA said that externally it did not look different enough from a standard Defender and would not do it even though the inertia met all of there qualifications. It appears that the police need to be able to see at a glance that it is not a standard vehicle. My insurance company (NFU) agreed after a bit of hassle to insure it for its true value but not without a lot of toing and froing.

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XOX said:
I tried to get XOX reclassified but DVLA said that externally it did not look different enough from a standard Defender and would not do it even though the inertia met all of there qualifications. It appears that the police need to be able to see at a glance that it is not a standard vehicle. My insurance company (NFU) agreed after a bit of hassle to insure it for its true value but not without a lot of toing and froing.

View attachment 28806
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The requirement to have the 'external appearance of a motor caravan' was dropped a few years ago. Mine is an ex-MOD Land Rover Defender ambulance and I had no trouble to get the V5C changed.
 
maybe you should remove the "german style" number plates? Not sure how DVLA is taking this if you display a registration mark not to the UK standard?
 
Ron Bones said:
Thanks Steve, pretty sure I meet al the requirements according to that list.

The blue light's an odd one, I did a lot of research when I imported the vehicle and according to the DVLA and the local police it is seen as a 'common sense law'. Clearly the van is not in service and as a vehicle of historic interest (to some people) it's ok to leave it on. I am going to have a sticker made that covers the majority of it saying 'not in service' just to be safe. But I like the history of the vehicle and don't want to take it off, or the crosses. I will crop the images that show the light though, just to be on the safe side.
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The reason I believe it's illegal is that Witham SV, where I bought my Defender ambulance, say they have to remove all blue lights unless the vehicle is sold to a licenced ambulance operator. It's also against ebay rules to sell a vehicle with flashing blue lights attached.
I can fully understand you wishing to keep your ambulance as close as possible to original. Most blue lights are easily removed; I believe they are a push fit with some sort of spring clip to keep them from accidentally becoming detatched.
Recently it was reported in the media that a soldier was found guilty of impersonating a police officer, "using blue flashing lights he bought on eBay."
 
Teutone said:
maybe you should remove the "german style" number plates? Not sure how DVLA is taking this if you display a registration mark not to the UK standard?
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They look like standard EU style ones to me, complete with 'GB'.
 
You might want to cover up the vegan and I love tofu sign's, they might think you are rent a mob, we all know how narrow minded some people are? :lol-053::lol-053::lol-053:
 
When we took our LHD Burstner for its first MoT last September it was a failure because the front headlights dipped the wrong way and the rear fog light was on the wrong side. For UK the fog light must be on the right hand side of the vehicle.

Whilst these MoT issues are "important" they should not cause you any problems with the reclassification.
 
Channelcrosser said:
When we took our LHD Burstner for its first MoT last September it was a failure because the front headlights dipped the wrong way and the rear fog light was on the wrong side. For UK the fog light must be on the right hand side of the vehicle.

Whilst these MoT issues are "important" they should not cause you any problems with the reclassification.
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If you bought it new from a UK dealer then it should never have been sold to you without the necessary alterations being done to make it UK legal.

If you imported it yourself or bought it secondhand then the problem is yours i`m afraid.
 
Teutone said:
They are german aluminium plates and the letters are the wrong font. I am not saying that this will cause an issue but some picky DVLA jobsworth may not like it that it's shows "foreign" lettering

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/359317/INF104_160914.pdf
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No specific font is stipulated, other than 'standard', but I grant you the font doesn't appear to meet the requirements, particularly item 3:

  1. Characters must be 79mm tall
  2. Characters (except the number 1 or letter I) must be 50mm wide
  3. The character stroke (the thickness of the black print) must be 14mm
  4. The space between characters must be 11mm
  5. The space between the age identifier and the random letters must be 33mm
  6. The margins at the top, bottom and side of the plate must be 11mm
  7. Vertical space between the age identifier and the random numbers must be 19mm

I see several vehicles each day with number plates that don't meet the exact requirements, so it's unlikely to be an issue.
 
That may be correct for current regulations but these number plates would have been correct at the time of the original registration. So I would think the should be OK and left as they are they suit the age of the vehicle.

Alf



Steve121 said:
No specific font is stipulated, other than 'standard', but I grant you the font doesn't appear to meet the requirements, particularly item 3:

  1. Characters must be 79mm tall
  2. Characters (except the number 1 or letter I) must be 50mm wide
  3. The character stroke (the thickness of the black print) must be 14mm
  4. The space between characters must be 11mm
  5. The space between the age identifier and the random letters must be 33mm
  6. The margins at the top, bottom and side of the plate must be 11mm
  7. Vertical space between the age identifier and the random numbers must be 19mm

I see several vehicles each day with number plates that don't meet the exact requirements, so it's unlikely to be an issue.
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looks fine,and as i assume you have an MOT on it,then VOSA think so too. i imported a big 4wd german army lorry,sent 6 photos with a note saying'' this vehicle has now been converted to a motorhome,as shown in the pics, please change the v5 accordingly, thank you'' sorted
 
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