You may think you can just convert a van into a campervan and that's it But unfortunately its not quite that simple.
There are in fact quite a few rules that you must abide by to successfully register your freshly converted campervan before you can legally take it on the road.
The DVLA will only consider changing the body type to a campervan (motor caravan) if the body type shown on your V5C registration certificate is currently one of the following:
ambulance
box van
goods
insulated van
light goods
light van
livestock carrier
Luton van
minibus
MPV (multi-purpose vehicle)
panel van
specially fitted van
special mobile unit
van with side windows
This list describes the external features which are commonly seen in campervans (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)
The DVLA will need photographic evidence of the completed conversion.
For a vehicle to be recognised as being converted to a campervan it must meet all 4 categories shown below:
Category 1: Seats and table (1 example for both)
The seats and table must have the following features:
they shall be an integral part of the vehicle living accommodation area, mounted independently of other items
a table mounting arrangement shall be secured as a permanent feature, although the table top may be detachable
permanently secured seating must be fixed to the floor or sidewall and available for use at the table.
Category 2: Sleeping accommodation
The sleeping accommodation:
shall be an integral part of the vehicle living accommodation area
can be either beds, or beds converted from seats
must be secured as a permanent feature, either with the base structure of the vehicle floor or to the side wall, unless the sleeping accommodation is provided over the driver’s cab compartment.
Category 3: Cooking facilities
Your conversion must have a minimum of a single ring cooking facility or microwave, which shall be secured directly to the vehicle floor or side wall as a permanent feature.
If the cooking facility is fuelled by an on-board gas supply:
the fuel reservoir must be secured in a storage cupboard or the reservoir secured to the vehicle structure
If the cooking facility is fuelled by gas having a remote fuel supply:
the fuel supply pipe must be permanently secured to the vehicle structure.
Category 4: Storage facilities
The storage facilities:
can be a cupboard or locker
form an integral part of the vehicle living accommodation, mounted independently of other items, unless incorporated below the seat, sleeping accommodation or cooker
must be secured permanently to the vehicle floor or side wall except when the storage facility is over the driver’s cab compartment.
Evidence needed to support your application
You must include the following evidence to support your application:
a completed motor caravan conversion checklist
a V5C showing one of the applicable body types as above
interior photos of each one of the required features with the bed and table in the use position, the photos must show that there are 2 or more windows providing daylight into the main living accommodation on at least one side of the main body
exterior photos from the front, both sides and rear with the registration plates clearly visible
a photo showing the vehicle identification number (VIN) or the chassis number stamped on the plate attached to the original chassis or vehicle body shell
On the back of each photo, write a description of what the photo shows, the date and the vehicle registration number.
Photographs will not be automatically returned - if you want your photographs returned you must request this in your application.
If you have a new style V5C with multi-coloured numbered blocks on the front cover, fill in section 1.
If you have the older style V5C, fill in section 7.
Make any other changes, if you need to, and send the V5C with the required evidence to:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BA
DVLA will consider all the information provided. Then they will either decide that the body type must stay the same, or allocate an appropriate description based on the changes made to make sure the recorded body type accurately reflects the vehicle’s external appearance in traffic.
Your vehicle may also require a DVLA inspection. DVLA will cover the cost of the inspection, but any costs associated with transporting the vehicle to the inspection will not be reimbursed. If the vehicle cannot be inspected, the application will be refused and no further action will be taken.
You must provide clear evidence that the vehicle you have converted will permanently be a ‘motor caravan’ and it meets the requirements for the internal and external features.