Do I need to register my van as a campervan?

Your van conversion is complete. The plumbing and lights are in and you’ve fitted the curtains. But before you hit the road, it’s worth ensuring that all your paperwork is in order. Which might leave you wondering, “Do I need to register my van as a campervan?”

If you’ve converted your van into a campervan (or a motor caravan, as the DVLA calls it), you don’t have to formally reclassify your vehicle with the DVLA. There’s a process to follow if you choose to do so, but it can be rather cumbersome.

Let’s explore the ins and outs of this exercise. What are the steps involved? What are the benefits? And are there any challenges to be aware of before you begin?

First up, how does a van qualify as a campervan?

Your van becomes a campervan when it isn’t just a mode of transport, but also has sleeping and living facilities installed in it. A campervan can be purpose-built or it can be a regular van that has been converted to become a campervan.

The DVLA has a number of criteria that it uses to classify vans that have been converted into motor caravans. For starters, the body type of the original vehicle in your vehicle’s V5C logbook has to be one of the following:

• Ambulance
• Box van
• Goods
• Insulated van
• Light goods
• Light van
• Livestock carrier
• Luton van
• Minibus
• MPV (multi-purpose vehicle)
• Panel van
• Specially fitted van
• Special mobile unit
• Van with side windows

The DVLA will also look for certain external features, including:

• Two or more windows on at least one side of the main body, excluding windows on the driver or passenger doors
• A separate door that provides access to the living accommodation of the vehicle, excluding the drive and passenger doors
• Motor caravan-style graphics on both sides of the vehicle
• An awning bar attached to either side of the vehicle
• A high-top roof, excluding a pop-top elevating roof

And the DVLA will also look for the following internal features:

• Seats and a table
• Sleeping accommodation which may be converted from the seats
• Cooking facilities
• Storage facilities
• Additional internal features

What do I need to do to register my van as a campervan? A step-by-step guide

Again, reclassifying your campervan with the DVLA isn’t mandatory, but if you choose to do so, this is the process to follow. While it’s relatively straightforward in principle, in practice, the outcome can be frustrating and cases are often rejected. We’ll look into this a moment. For now, let’s explore the steps involved:

Step 1: Complete your V5C logbook

Start by completing section 1 of your V5C logbook if you have a new-style logbook with the multi-coloured numbered blocks on the front cover. If you have the older style V5C, fill in section 7. When filling this out, you’ll want to change the “body type” to “motor caravan”.

Step 2: Collect your supporting documentation

The DVLA will need evidence that your conversion meets their requirements. You should provide:

• A completed motor caravan conversion checklist
• A V5C showing one of the applicable body types listed above
• Interior photos of each one of the required features, with the bed and table displayed as they would be used
• Exterior photos from the front, both sides, and rear with the registration plates clearly visible
• A photo showing the VIN or the chassis number stamped on the plate attached to the original chassis or vehicle bodyshell

The DVLA will request that you write a description of what the photo shows, the date, and the vehicle registration number on the back of each photograph. Note that your pictures won’t be automatically returned to you, though you can request this in your application if you wish.

Step 3: Send in your application

Post your completed V5C form and all supporting documentation to the DVLA at:

DVLA

Swansea

SA99 1BA

The DVLA will review your application and typically respond within six to eight weeks. If successful, they’ll send you a new V5C showing your vehicle as a motor caravan. If they need more information, they’ll contact you explaining what else is required.

How much does it cost to register my van as a campervan?

Updating your V5C logbook to change your vehicle’s classification to a motor caravan is completely free. The DVLA doesn’t charge for processing this type of change.

There might be some supplementary costs involved. For example, you might need to pay for photographs to be printed, for documents to be photocopied, and for all your information to be posted to the DVLA. If your vehicle has to be inspected, you’ll need to cover the cost of transporting it. But the actual paperwork required to reclassify the conversion is free.

What are the benefits of registering my van as a campervan?

While it’s not strictly mandatory to reclassify your converted van, there are several compelling reasons to do so.

• It can lower your insurance premiums: Your insurer might offer you a lower insurance premium since they typically view campervans as lower risk than vans. Leisure vehicles tend to be driven more carefully than commercial vehicles and often cover fewer miles.
• There can be speed limit advantages: If your vehicle weighs less than 3.05 tonnes, it will follow the same national speed limits as cars, rather than vans. This means you can drive at 70mph on motorways (instead of 60mph), 70mph on dual carriageways (instead of 60mph), and 60mph on single carriageways (instead of 50mph). Note that this doesn’t apply to heavier medium or large campervans.
• It might be easier to MOT: When they’re MOT’d, campervans are tested as Class 4 vehicles rather than Class 7 vehicles. This can be beneficial as Class 4 testing stations are more common and often less expensive. The testing criteria are also more suitable for leisure vehicles rather than commercial ones.
• Your ferry and toll charges will likely be lower: Many ferry companies and toll roads charge lower rates for campervans compared to vans of the same size. This can lead to significant savings, particularly if you travel frequently or plan to take your vehicle abroad.
• There are parking advantages: Campervans are often permitted to park in designated areas at beauty spots, national parks, and other tourist locations that might otherwise be restricted to commercial vehicles. Some car parks also charge lower rates for campervans than vans.

Are there any challenges you should be aware of?

Van conversion experts Nohma have written a detailed review on how the DVLA responds to campervan reclassification applications. Their research and direct engagement with the DVLA has revealed that:

• Between August 2019 and December 2020, the DVLA only approved 5% of the campervan conversion applications it received. Of 14,942 applications submitted, 806 were accepted and 14,136 were rejected.
• While these figures have changed slightly in recent years, results from research conducted between 2021 and 2024 suggest that the likelihood of an application being approved still only sits at 20%.

The reasons for this are difficult to understand. Common consensus seems to be that some of the criteria on the DVLA’s checklist is rather vague and open to misinterpretation. Even campervan owners who feel they can tick every item on the list have had their applications rejected.

However, a rejection isn’t ultimately material. Even if the DVLA doesn’t approve your reclassification, this doesn’t prevent you from using your converted van as a campervan. It simply means it will remain classified as a van on your documentation.

At the end of the day, the DVLA is really concerned with establishing a vehicle’s external appearance. It wants to be able to ensure that authorities, such as the police, are able to recognise your vehicle for what it is. This body type classification doesn’t indicate how a vehicle is constructed or what its intended use is.

Quickfire summary

If you convert a van into a campervan, you don’t legally have to reclassify it as a campervan with the DVLA. There is a process for doing so if you would like to follow it, but the DVLA’s stringent criteria means that there is a high likelihood your application will be rejected.

This doesn’t ultimately matter — don’t be discouraged if your application isn’t successful. You can still enjoy your converted van as a campervan regardless of its official classification, provided its external appearance matches what’s on your V5C.

Adequately insuring your new home on wheels is arguably more important. To ensure you’re properly protected, chat to the team at Howden. We’ll evaluate your conversion, weigh up what it’s worth, and find the most competitive price for you. Contact us today.

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Also read:

● Do you need specialist insurance for a campervan?

● Lost V5C: How to get a replacement log book

● Alarming rise in caravan and campervan theft

READ MORE OF OUR CAMPERVAN INSURANCE GUIDES