California Vehicle Classification & VW UK

[Jabberwocky]

Had same std reply but no updates. Have written to VWCS this morning telling them that this matter is not closed. I will be interested in their reply.
Frankly after spending thick side of £60k to be fobbed off with a std letter which makes ref to their marketing strategy that I never queried make my blood boil. Obviously looking after VW not its customers.

 

[homerorchid]

Spent £74,250 on an MPV

 

[Sandyvan]

Spent £74,250 on an MPV

Yes but its a very nice MPV.

 

[homerorchid]

LOL Sandyan, yes it is, I love it.

 

[Sandyvan]

LOL Sandyan, yes it is, I love it.

Same here with ours, but I do share your frustration.

 

[WelshGas]

I think it is all down to DVLA clamping down on 3rd party Converters who are avoiding the £40,000 luxury vehicle taxation by buying a base vehicle for less than £40k converting it and selling for more than £40k and registering it as a Motorhome/Motor Caravan. Since May they can only be registered as Van with Windows. These are N1 commercial base vehicles.
But, the Marco Polo and VW Ocean are M1 vehicles and so can't be Van with Windows and the closest is MPV.
Converters that purchase an unregistered base vehicle and convert have to go through a different vehicle registration process and the vehicle will be liable for the £40,000 luxury tax if registered as M1 Motor Caravan.
Mercedes and VW have not gone through this special registration process and hence the problem.
If the Insurers and other organizations that insist on a V5c with Body Type Motor Caravan/Motorhome change their requirements then no problem. If not then Mercedes and VW need to sort it.

 

[homerorchid]

Do you think all of this is going nowhere, and do people think it still remains something to persue

 

[Sandyvan]

The problem is who to pursue, then is there an appetite for it. then if so who's going to collectively be the lead.

 

[Gary&Heather]

The other problem is it does not affect all the members so unless we stand together those who are affected stand no chance.

 

[Sandyvan]

The other problem is it does not affect all the members so unless we stand together those who are affected stand no chance.

As everything in life, the French would not stand for it, but us Brits just roll over for a good old tummy tickle.

 

[Sandyvan]

As everything in life, the French would not stand for it, but us Brits just roll over for a good old tummy tickle.

I'm all for camping at VW HQ, at least the staff will see what they actually make. Can you imagine the conversations as they look out of the top floor windows at the travellers in the carpark. "Are those Ford Transits" but they have a VW badge on them, but is that a new or old VW badge?

 

[B J G]

Not sure you can buy a RHD transporter with a driver's side rear sliding door on its own. I think Cali's are unique in this aspect. It's impossible to fake a genuine Cali

Never mentioned building a cloned Cali just that a prospective buyer might be put of by MPV body description especially if they are looking for a 'Motor Caravan'..
Remember that prospective buyers may have little Cali spec. knowledge. ie differences between 5 - 5.1 - 6 - 6.1 Beach - Coast - Ocean - SE.
In reality if there's money to be made then someone will do a LHD van conversion.

 

[SimonK]

I wonder what the Grand will be registered as?

I wondered this as well, so did a vehicle check on a couple of the press vehicles doing the rounds. Both were classified as MPVs. Senseless.

 

[Sandyvan]

I wondered this as well, so did a vehicle check on a couple of the press vehicles doing the rounds. Both were classified as MPVs. Senseless.

Could be the police identification argument that DVLA was bounding about. But if so then as long as everything is classed that way going forward, then we will get used to it. Its when there's inconsistencies then issues present themselves.
If you think about it the Campervan in essence is an MPV, its just we have been used to the dull definition of an MPV, before SUVs became more popular. the only way round it would be for DVLA to introduce a new classification i.e. Campervan.

 

[Jester]

Ok received this as the main person to complain to if you feel like it!!!

Dear Mr ——-///

Following our recent telephone conversation, please see the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Managing Director’s details as follows:

Name: Carl Zu Dohna
Contact email: Customercare@vwcv.co.uk
Address: Volkswagen Group UK, Yeomans Drive, Blakelands, Milton Keynes, MK14 5AN

On the call you also asked why the Volkswagen California Beach was classified as a motor home. I would advise speaking with the DVLA direct on 0300 790 6801 as they should be able to answer any questions in relation to the classifications on vehicles.

Kind regards


Kerrie Tunstall
Customer Relations Manager
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

T 0800 783 4909
E customercare@vwcv.co.uk
Internet: www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

 

[andyinluton]

As everything in life, the French would not stand for it, but us Brits just roll over for a good old tummy tickle.

Its not really people just rolling over though. Theres a 3 way split in attitude:
1. Having it registered as an MPV is the end of the world
2. Being an MPV makes no difference
3. Being an MPV is an advantage.

I would suggest the worst possible outcome for anyone that currently has one registered as an MPV is to persuade VW / DVLA that they are wrong & all future registrations reverting to Motor Caravan.

In all probability anything already registered would not get changed as DVLA don't normally do anything retrospectively. This would leave a few "abnormal" calis registered as MPVs.

On the other hand if all calis are now to be MPVs the specialist insurance companies etc will eventually recognize that & the perceived problem will no longer exist.

 

[Sandyvan]

Its not really people just rolling over though. Theres a 3 way split in attitude:
1. Having it registered as an MPV is the end of the world
2. Being an MPV makes no difference
3. Being an MPV is an advantage.

I would suggest the worst possible outcome for anyone that currently has one registered as an MPV is to persuade VW / DVLA that they are wrong & all future registrations reverting to Motor Caravan.

In all probability anything already registered would not get changed as DVLA don't normally do anything retrospectively. This would leave a few "abnormal" calis registered as MPVs.

On the other hand if all calis are now to be MPVs the specialist insurance companies etc will eventually recognize that & the perceived problem will no longer exist.

As said above if its taken in context the Cali is an MPV, Swiss army knife. Its just the way it was done that leaves the bitter taste.

 

[Mr T]

Update on gov.uk regarding "converting vehicles" to motor caravan.
Looks like a pop-top doesn't do it anymore.

"Motor caravan external permanent features
This list describes the external features which are commonly seen in 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)

DVLA will need photographic evidence of the completed conversion."

Full details here:

Converting a vehicle into a motor caravan (motor home)

www.gov.uk

 

[Sandyvan]

Update on gov.uk regarding "converting vehicles" to motor caravan.
Looks like a pop-top doesn't do it anymore.

"Motor caravan external permanent features
This list describes the external features which are commonly seen in 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)

DVLA will need photographic evidence of the completed conversion."

Full details here:

Converting a vehicle into a motor caravan (motor home)

www.gov.uk

That's the sound of the goalposts being moved.

 

[Neil_L]

Just to add to the length of the thread (but little else)...I have just got my Ocean about 2 weeks ago and the registration document says MPV, Diesel Car...also Number of Seats: 5! Clearly this is the Beach/Ocean mixup...

 

[Bellcrew]

Just to add to the length of the thread (but little else)...I have just got my Ocean about 2 weeks ago and the registration document says MPV, Diesel Car...also Number of Seats: 5! Clearly this is the Beach/Ocean mixup...

If you van is not 4WD then it will have the centre floor rail and therefor can take the 5th seat. The quoted capacity is correct even if you chose never to fit such a seat.

 

[Borris]

Just to add to the length of the thread (but little else)...I have just got my Ocean about 2 weeks ago and the registration document says MPV, Diesel Car...also Number of Seats: 5! Clearly this is the Beach/Ocean mixup...

I thought it had been established that the reason for this MPV designation is that the California looks like a van to the average bod in the street, also that there has been no Beach/Ocean mixup!

 

[Borris]

I have also come up against resistance to insuring our new Beach but only from one organisation. I have been insured through the Caravan and Motorhome club for the last four years. When I rang up last week to get a quote for our new Beach, the MPV issue came up. They said that if the V5 (when it turns up), says MPV then they, Devitt Insurance, won't be able to insure it. I then pointed out that they have insured our previous Beach for the last three and a half years and that the new van is to all intent and purpose, exactly the same. At that point the underwriters were brought into the conversation. The net result is that I have to sent them photos of the new van. This is the only thing that has slightly irked me about this issue. They are an insurance company whose business it is to insure vehicles. Why do they need photos? They should know what a California Beach is! It isn't as if they are a new design that has never been seen on our shores before. Anyway, I will send them some photos and see what transpires. If they don't want the business there are others that do.

As for the MPV designation, well so what! The DVLA can call it what they want as far as I'm concerned just so long as it doesn't restrict my use of it. Actually, calling it an MPV enhances it's flexibility as places such as seaside promenades and new built housing developments that have restrictions preventing Motorhomes and Campervans will now find it more difficult to enforce their rulings. After all half the country now own an MPV of some description or other and they don't have such restrictions.

 

[Neil_L]

OK - 5th seat clarified. Thanks
Probably been answered before but with MPV classification it seems the max speed on single/dual carriageways is -10mph lower than cars and motorhomes (of less than 3.05 tonnes unladen).
Is this correct?

 

[MartG]

Probably been answered before but with MPV classification it seems the max speed on single/dual carriageways is -10mph lower than cars and motorhomes (of less than 3.05 tonnes unladen).
Is this correct?

No, as long as your vehicle class is M1 your speed limits are same as cars (or motorhomes), only N1 (goods vehicles / vans) have a reduction (or you're towing or above 3.05 tonnes). MPV body classification does not change the limits.