Bus Conversion and driving licence

trevskoda said:
Who would want to go into London,besides i dont own a bowler hat.:lol-053:
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I look forward to the day they make it £500 a day to go into London....
It'll mean its no longer cost effective for work to send me to the festering bumhole of a place....

In fact I'll extend that to most other city centres too.
 
vwalan said:
trouble can be if you convert a bus to a motor caravan then its not a bus etc . so you are restricted to 7.500kg gvw.
there was a thing that in 1991 if you had been driving buses not for hire and reward you could have kept d on your licence . many did keep it . you required a medical , a proof you had driven them and pay twenty quid .
that could cover it.
but d1 as more restrictions .
also the uk gvt then made the rule of motor caravans over 7,500kg you require group c .
Driving a motorhome - GOV.UK
be careful what bus you buy for conversion . check gvw.
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IIRC we might have had this conversation on another forum some years ago when I had the opportunity to purchase a US Class A with 10 travel seats. The definition of a "minibus" iaw the 1986 Construction and Use Regs is "a vehicle constructed or adapted to carry between 9 and 16 passengers in addition to the driver". The coach had a GVWR of 18,000 lbs -- just over 8 tonnes -- and so couldn't be driven on a C1 licence. However, since the definition of a minibus does not specify a weight, I considered that the coach (having 10 travel seats) met the definition and that I could legally drive it on my D1 (not for hire or reward) licence. I contacted DVLA but couldn't get a straight answer as to whether they would accept my interpretation and one DVLA operative went as far as to say that its primary purpose was a motorhome, not a bus, and so I'd need a full C licence. We never did get agreement and it appeared I'd have to be prepared to test my interpretation in (more than one) court (and risk being guilty of driving without a licence) if I wanted to take the matter further. In the end, the opportunity went away when someone else bought the coach.
 
trevskoda said:
You know your stuff,very few on mainland understand the nonsense here,bit like morrice dancers,i never got that .
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Given the choice, I would much prefer an encounter with a Morris Dancer than an Orangeman!




(You can hear the Morrismen from a distance and take avoiding action sooner :lol-053: )
 
wildebus said:
Given the choice, I would much prefer an encounter with a Morris Dancer than an Orangeman!




(You can hear the Morrismen from a distance and take avoiding action sooner :lol-053: )
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Come and see the 12 parades,seamus wont be there.:scared::lol-053::lol-053::lol-053:
 
You sound like people who might be able to give us some good advice, as we are struggling to work out what we are allowed to do! We have bought an iveco daily iris bus and have taken out all but 3 seats and removed the tail lift, which we were hoping to sell, but maybe not having read this thread!
We are looking to convert her to a camper and a mobile events space, providing shelter and warm food out in the wilds. We need to get her mot'd and get new insurance and we are struggling to decide on the best way forwards. We aren't sure what class of vehicle she is for the mot and whether that would change if we reregister her as a camper. We were told if she is registered as a camper you can drive a vehicle of any weight regardless of what licence you have? And then what are we insuring her as?!? Sorry lots of questions! Any advice gladly received.
 
I'm pretty sure that if re registered as a motorhome, then provided it is below 7.5 ton it can be driven on a normal license so long as you have grandfather rights, Wanting to use it as a mobile events space may well mean it will have to be registered as a commercial vehicle,
 
Welcome to the website.
I'm sure someone will be happy to give advice
Good luck.
 
@ecokez if you are going to carry anything on it that is not directly related to living in the vehicle eg as you say
" a mobile events space, providing shelter and warm food" then it cannot be registered as a motorcaravan but if over 3500kg mam will be a living van , and will be subject to hgv testing .Between 3000kg and 3500kg it needs a class 7 mot . Re D/L what it is classed as does not allow you to drive anyweight If you look here Driving a motorhome - GOV.UK. HTSH :)
 
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My converted lib bus comes in at 6.3 ton and reg as a motorcaravan,standard car mot and im on grandfathers rights with licence,under the above you cannot serve food or carry a motor bike or push bike inside<except a mobilty scooter>,but you can carry one on the back.
If you wish to serv food then its a goods veh and requires a full hgv test,it will also require a hygene inspection and cert.
 
I have heard that DVLA are currently refusing any re-classifications to "Motor Caravan". Requests for changes to panel van conversions are having their V5's returned with the re-classification as "Van with windows" instead. Not sure what they would change it to from a bus.
 
Caz said:
I have heard that DVLA are currently refusing any re-classifications to "Motor Caravan". Requests for changes to panel van conversions are having their V5's returned with the re-classification as "Van with windows" instead. Not sure what they would change it to from a bus.
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Excellent point I have witnessed the same comments the vehicles concerned all having beds tables etc

Channa
 
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