New DVLA classification ?

[MattBW]

This seems to be a strategy relating to the numerous LEZ zones and also to road tax. The road tax of a car is significantly higher on new vehicles of this size than it would be as a motorhome/camper. I am dubious about the legality of it but the DVLA do seem to be refusing conversions now not based upon the regulations but based upon some guidelines from the DFT. Legally a bit dubious.

 

[MattBW]

Here we go...

 

[Loz]

That seems to be the opposite to what is currently being seen/discussed, we are already motorhome/diesel car and campervan converters are being prevented from changing away from PLG.
It all seems to be in a bit of a mess.

 

[BeagleMum]

The uk gov website still states it’s a legal requirement to classify a vehicle as a Motorcaravan on the V5 if it has all the specified features of one such as cooker, table, wardrobe, side window etc.




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Received the V5 for our Beach last week, it states ‘motor caravan’

 

[Vandan]

So our dealer has just rung to say he’s been on the phone to dvla for an hour and the upshot is that his is not allowed to register the California ocean as plg or motor caravan - only what was originally indicated on their rav system- diesel car and mpv so there we have it

 

[2into1]

Here we go...

View attachment 47989

Not sure where they got the £2315 ved figure from. I've googled it and it only brings up that article.
Maybe used Cali prices will jump even higher!

 

[Digger]

Not sure where they got the £2315 ved figure from. I've googled it and it only brings up that article.
Maybe used Cali prices will jump even higher!

Probably based on new vehicle first year excise duty for emissions and cost new. Similar to Rande Rover which is a fortune for duty now. As usual hit the motorist.

 

[Loz]

Not sure where they got the £2315 ved figure from. I've googled it and it only brings up that article.
Maybe used Cali prices will jump even higher!

I expect it refers to the first 5 years before it drops to the 140/year (or whatever that lower figure is this year)

 

[rod_vw]

@Vandan have you thought of rejecting the vehicle outright as it will not be the vehicle that you ordered?
That will put the ball squarely in VWs court who will have much more clout than either yourself or the dealer.

 

[Loz]

So, we are due to pick up our new ocean from Poole breeze on Saturday and had written to Dvla in preparation to ask if the Cali ocean could be classified as motor caravan on body type.

Don't take this the wrong way, but why did you interfere with the registration process in the first place?
As surely if you left it to the dealer they would have registered it as a Diesel Car/Motorcaravan as all the other Oceans are?

 

[andyinluton]

This seems to be a strategy relating to the numerous LEZ zones and also to road tax. The road tax of a car is significantly higher on new vehicles of this size than it would be as a motorhome/camper. I am dubious about the legality of it but the DVLA do seem to be refusing conversions now not based upon the regulations but based upon some guidelines from the DFT. Legally a bit dubious.

Road tax on a cali is the same as a similar value car.

The campers getting away with cheap tax are those that were bought as vans under £40K & registered prior to conversion to a camper as they continue to pay the £260 van rate rather than the £465 that a new cali pays.

After 6 years though the cali drops to £140/yr whilst the van conversion carries on at £260

 

[andyinluton]

@Vandan have you thought of rejecting the vehicle outright as it will not be the vehicle that you ordered?
That will put the ball squarely in VWs court who will have much more clout than either yourself or the dealer.

You would get laughed out of court on that one. He's ordered a VW california & they've supplied a VW California all taxed & registered as road legal. So on what grounds are you going to try & reject it?

 

[Vandan]

Don't take this the wrong way, but why did you interfere with the registration process in the first place?
As surely if you left it to the dealer they would have registered it as a Diesel Car/Motorcaravan as all the other Oceans are?

No they said the dealer always register the calis as diesel car and MVP on this new computer system RAV - introduced a couple of months ago for dealers to first register- which they said was the only way they were able to register - we asked them when we ordered it and that’s when they told us- and that’s what set me off asking the DVLA themselves as it seemed so confusing re guidance on conversion reregistering.

 

[Gary&Heather]

Our new California ocean is classified as an MPV

 

[Scanacali]

So our dealer has just rung to say he’s been on the phone to dvla for an hour and the upshot is that his is not allowed to register the California ocean as plg or motor caravan - only what was originally indicated on their rav system- diesel car and mpv so there we have it

Reading through this thread, the general consensus appears to be that all new VW California Oceans will be registered by the dealer on delivery as body type MPV and that this will cause difficulty insuring an Ocean with specialist insurers such as the Caravan and Motorhome club who specifically state that the body type on the V5 must state 'Motor caravan'. Has anyone who has picked up their new Cali Ocean recently not had MPV put as the body type on the V5?

 

[rod_vw]

You would get laughed out of court on that one. He's ordered a VW california & they've supplied a VW California all taxed & registered as road legal. So on what grounds are you going to try & reject it?

Because many insurers will not insure unless the V5 shows body type as Motor Caravan.

 

[Digger]

Reading through this thread, the general consensus appears to be that all new VW California Oceans will be registered by the dealer on delivery as body type MPV and that this will cause difficulty insuring an Ocean with specialist insurers such as the Caravan and Motorhome club who specifically state that the body type on the V5 must state 'Motor caravan'. Has anyone who has picked up their new Cali Ocean recently not had MPV put as the body type on the V5?

I spoke with an underwriter and maybe an issue with some conversions but definately not with manufacturer models like California and MP. If an insurer is awkward maybe they just don't want to insure and an easy excuse.

 

[Pdqsoft]

Having just purchased my California Ocean, I obviously had to insure it and as such contacted Comfort insurance. I was very pleased with their quote and service but one thing unexpectedly came to light, the lady stated that my California was showing as an MPV on their database and not a campervan ( or motor caravan, can’t remember fully ) as it should be.The insurance database is based on the DVLA details and as such she advised me to get in touch with the dealership to rectify the mistake.
I contacted my VW dealership and highlighted the issue and they then found that three California’s that they had registered new this year were also shown as MPV and queried this with VW HQ. Below is the reply -

“The California’s are now classed as Body Type MPV they do not use CamperVan, please see below L

Vehicles registered with body type 96 will have MPV on the V5. This is not an internal issue, DVLA have changed the rules in terms of what body types can be used for tax class DC and PC. Historically, vehicles could be registered with body type 27 motor caravan in tax class DC & PC but DVLA have stopped this. As such the California model is now registered with body type MPV not motor caravan.”

Before I go back to Comfort Insurance and update them, has anyone else had this raised with them ? Is it correct ? Has anyone had a California registered as new since January this year and what is its classification ?

Sorry if this has previously discussed but I couldn’t find any info on here. Thanks

Our ocean was registered at the end of March as an mpv.

 

[Meoncoast]

Our van is registered 2016 as a Motor Caravan/home but looking and to check CMC renewal quote, the bellow question I entred no then you get the reply - phone for help.


*Is this vehicle registered with the DVLA as a 'Motor Caravan'?

• Is this vehicle registered with the DVLA as a 'Motor Caravan'? -No

Unfortunately we cannot provide an online quote, but please call us on 0345 504 0337 as we should be able to help you get the right cover for your vehicle.

 

[Scanacali]

Just rang Comfort Insurance. Asked the question about 2019 VW California Oceans now being registered as MPV on DVLA logbook to see if any change in comfort terms has occurred recently. Comfort still insist that for them to insure a VW Ocean, it must be registered as body type 'Motor Caravan' and if it is not it must be changed to 'Motor Caravan' or a 'Van with Windows' before they will insure it. This is the same policy that the underwriters are taking with Marco Polo's which are also registered as body type MPV. Having checked the body type on dealer pre-registered 2019 VW Ocean's, they were all shown as MPV. I am not too keen on insuring a new Ocean as a car with a regular insurer.

 

[Scanacali]

Also just rang the Caravan & Motorhome club insurance team and they told me the same thing. They will only insure if the Ocean is body type 'Motor caravan'. So they will insure a December 2018 VW Ocean as that would be body type 'motor Caravan', but would not insure a February 2019 VW Ocean as that would be classified as an MPV. (Both would be MY19 models)

 

[Ch1pbutty]

It's worth calling 'JustKampers' insurance, as when I reinsured my old T4 Bilbo conversion they went through exactly what was fitted in the van over the phone, and then went out to brokers & called back...They seemed far more interested in taking the business and the end quote was £100 cheaper than the previous insurance that was thru Comfort for exactly the same cover.

 

[Jabberwocky]

We have just changed our Ocean. The out going was classified as a Motor Caravan the new one (my19) is classified as an MPV.
Insurance was and is with Comfort - very easy to change from old vehicle to the new (7 months remaining). A phone call, £25 admin charge, no change in insurance premium. 5 minutes, job done.
As for Camsites getting all uptight about V5C classification, please! Lets just not let them have our money and go to another site. Life is short enough.........!

 

[MattBW]

DVLA are now rejecting pretty much every request to change the V5 for conversions even from professional converters, seems to be something going on within the DFT.

MPV will be cheaper on the tunnel maybe I should get it changed

 

[WelshGas]

The Insurance companies will change their tune when they see the impact on their business, unless of course DVLA make a U turn.