What to do if the DVLA rejects your motor caravan application
If you’re converting a campervan, then at some point you’ll need to think about whether or not to get it reclassified as a motor caravan with the DVLA.
In October 2019, the DVLA’s criteria for motor caravans changed to include external features. This means lots of self-builds that would previously have been eligible for reclassification aren’t any more. There’s a common misconception that this means the van won’t be insurable, but this isn’t necessarily the case.
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What’s the point of reclassifying a van as a motor caravan?
Technically if your van conversion meets the DVLA’s criteria, then it’s a legal requirement to get it reclassified as a motor caravan. Beyond that, it’s up to personal choice really. Some people argue that insurance premiums are cheaper for motor caravans, while others simply have their sights set on reclassification as an end goal.
See our step-by-step guide to how to apply to have your campervan reclassified with the DVLA.
Reclassification criteria
Prior to October 2019, the DVLA had only set out internal criteria for getting a van reclassified as a motor caravan.
The internal criteria is 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
However, in May 2019 a large proportion of applications started being rejected for not looking “in the spirit of a motor caravan” externally. On 21 October 2019, the DVLA finally published their long-awaited update clarifying the new external requirements.
The new external requirements are as follows:
- 2 or more windows on at least 1 side of the main body to provide a reasonable amount of daylight into the living area (not including windows on the cab doors, but can include a window on the rear side door)
- A separate door providing access to the living accomodation (excluding the cab doors, but this could be the rear sliding door or the back doors)
- Motor caravan-style graphics on both sides of the vehicle (so there’s no getting away from it…. if you want reclassification, you now need graphics)
- An awning rail attached to the outside (on either side)
- A high top roof, excluding pop-up roofs (this is an interesting move as it means that popular VW Transporters with pop tops will no longer be eligible for reclassification)
Apparently the reason for the new external criteria is to ensure the police can easily recognise the vehicle as a motor caravan on the road.
If your van doesn’t meet the DVLA’s criteria, then there’s no onus on you to reclassify it and it is guaranteed to be rejected if you try. If it does meet the internal criteria, but not the external criteria, be aware that it could come back as a “van with windows” instead of a motor caravan.
Can I still get insurance if my van isn’t reclassified as a motor caravan?
One of the primary concerns people have when their application is rejected is whether their insurance will be invalidated. If you’re worried about this, the first thing you should do is to speak to your insurer.
It’s unlikely that they will refuse to insure your van without the reclassification, but if they do you’ll need to find an alternative insurance provider who will. Make sure you cancel your policy yourself though, don’t let your insurance company cancel the policy as this could affect your premium in the future.
Many of the well-known insurers are sympathetic to the recent changes, while a number of others simply don’t mind whether your van is reclassified or not. You should be able to find someone who will agree to insure your campervan regardless of whether it’s registered as a motor caravan, a van with windows or a panel van.
Throughout our conversion and before our van was reclassified, it was insured by Just Kampers Insurance as a camper in conversion. Other popular insurers for self-builders include Adrian Flux, Brentacre, A Plan and Greenlight, who all seem to insure campers regardless of classification. Give one of these providers a go and you should be alright!