What makes a van a motorhome?

cant be a dayvan or living van at 3.7t though so it'd need to be plated etc an then taken to be tested by dvsa?

Living vans are classed as goods vehicles

and, depending on their weight, are therefore in either class 4 or 7

It’s all here
www.gov.uk/government/publications/registering-a-diy-caravan/converting-a-vehicle-into-a-motorhome

This is in the testing guide, Vehicle definitions

An ‘ambulance' is a motor vehicle which is specially designed and constructed (and not merely adapted) for carrying as equipment permanently fixed to the vehicle, equipment used for medical, dental, or other health purposes and is used primarily for the carriage of persons suffering from illness, injury or disability.

A `motor caravan' is "a motor vehicle (not being a living van) which is constructed or adapted for the carriage of passengers and their effects and which contains, as permanently installed equipment, the facilities which are reasonably necessary for enabling the vehicle to provide mobile living accommodation for its users". Motor caravans are not classed as goods vehicles for MOT test purposes and are therefore in Class 4 or 5 depending on their seating capacity but regardless of their size or weight.

A `living van' is "a vehicle, whether mechanically propelled or not, which is used for living accommodation by one or more persons and which is also used for the carriage of goods or burden which are not needed by such one or more persons for the purpose of their residence in the vehicle". Living vans are classed as goods vehicles and, depending on their weight, are therefore in either Class 4 or 7 within the MOT test scheme or are subject to HGV plating and testing.

A ‘coach' is a motor vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than 16 seated passengers, with a DGW of more than 7,500kg and a maximum speed in excess of 60mph.

could it be classed as a motor caravan ?

I recently had an ex minibus present as a motorhome & therefore class 4 , BUT was 4100kg plated weight & split load area . Simply it's a day van & subject to HGV testing

This links tells you exactly what is required to be classed as a motorhome . I keep a printed copy for anyone who decides to discuss / argue their case . Not got time for arguing & last man read and accepted the written evidence . HE is busy making sure it meets the criteria

www.gov.uk/government/publications/registering-a-diy-caravan/converting-a-vehicle-into-a-motorhome

Motor caravan minimum features

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

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.

Have you read the info booklet. Converting a vehicle into a motorhome, the first paragraph quotes "It is a legal requirement that all UK registered vehicles are classified correctly on the V5C log book" that's why you should ask to see the logbook, 2nd page section 4 vehicle details item J vehicle category, will indicate the test class eg:- IV/M1, VII/N1, etc. Don't test out of class just because a DIY presenter try's to convince you by adding a few items. Testing out of class is serious, its just recently DVSA emailed testers about this issue.

Test the vehicle and not the paperwork!!!

Test as presented and/or let the presenter sort it out. If unsure of the class you're testing don't test it until you are sure! Don't forget that if you test a vehicle that you shouldn't - it might be wrong for weight, size or testing class - you will get 500 points.

And the van/mini-bus/motorhome owner will be long gone and will leave you with it.


Now we're coming into the season yet again the same goes for trikes for us that do class 3's (especially the weight bit).

But there again the dgw is 3700 which puts it over the limit (3500 DP) which means it’s
HGV