‘8 Alterations You Must Complete To Legally Change Your Van Into A Campervan’
Firstly you must consider what requirements the DVLA will need to be able to consider reclassifying your vehicle. There are a few features that are a ‘minimal’ requirement and you must include them in your conversion before they will change a van to a camper (motor caravan).
Door
Your van must have a door which give direct access into the living quarters, this is easy to achieve as most van have a side access door.
Bed
You are required to have a bed which has a minimum length of 1800mm or 6 feet. The bed can be converted into seats during the day but must be fitted to the body of the vehicle, so throwing a mattress in the back in not an option! Most converters go for a ‘rock and roll’ seat which folds down into a bed at night.
Water Storage
You must have a tank or container on or in the vehicle. There are two option, some prefer to bolt the tank under the vehicle which give you more space in the living quarter or you can store the tank in the living quarter which is cheaper and easier to install.
Seating and dinning
You are required to have a dining area with seats that are permanently fixed to the body of the vehicle. If you opt for a ‘rock and roll’ seat/bed system, then you only need to have a table. The table is required to have a permanent fixture to the vehicle, but the table itself can be removed and stored somewhere when traveling or not in use.
Storage
The vehicle needs to have a permanently fixed means of storage which would include either a cupboard, locker or wardrobe.
Cooking
the vehicle will also require a means of cooking which is permanently fixed in place, this could either be powered by gas or electricity.
Windows
You are required to have at least one window on the side of the living quarters.
legal requirements
If your vans has all these alterations then you MUST inform the DVLA legally. There are benefits from doing so one of these are that the change in classification reduces the road tax banding of the vehicle
The Process
To help the DVLA complete the re-classification on the V5C, you are required to provide photographic evidence of the completed conversion, showing all changes to the vehicle. This should be submitted with a description of the work carried out, it’s also good to include any receipts of work or equipment purchased.
The vehicle should be finished, clean with all the features in place and easily seen. Exterior photographic should show the registration at the front and back. On the interior photographs write a description of what is shown in the photograph, each of the above alterations should be photographed.
caddy campers 
It’s further advisable to have all cookers, sinks, tables and lights etc fitted in the “on” position whilst filming, if swivels are fitted to the cab, turn them round, set the table as if for dinner, show bed up/down and with duvet on, if curtains are fitted draw them, most of all that will get you a straight through change to V5 is to have a pop top fitted, again if fitted show it both up and down, if a side awning is fitted retract it, set up a table and chairs and again set the table, got a bike rack or roof rack for canoes or kyaacks them place them on, has it a towbatr? Then show it.
Having completed many conversions in my time I can honestly say the value is significantly different if it’s logged as a “motorhome” preferably by campervan is I believe the more common choice in some parts of the country what you really have to do is set it up like you would a house for sale !! Show its potential. Ensure its completed clean and roadworthy and you should fly through the system and have a new V5 in no time at all
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Hi,
Thanks for the comment and the additional information. Welcome the support!
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