Left Hand Drive (LHD) Motorhomes - No Longer Acceptable for UK Registration?

[Hymer Life]

A very well known dealer in the UK is telling me that I cannot now order a new LHD vehicle for UK delivery from them as the CoC's being provided by EU manufacturers are not acceptable to UK authorities.

Can anyone confirm or challenge this, please?

 

[Lenny HB]

My Belgium dealer told me from January a European C of C will not be recognised by the UK. It's not much of a problem just means you need to have an IVA check before you can register the vehicle.
No way I would want to go back to RHD I prefer LHD even in the UK.

 

[Hymer Life]

Thanks, Lenny.
An IVA check? I'll have to look that up

 

[Lenny HB]

Costs £200 but there are only a few test centres with long waiting lists.

Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA): forms and guidance

Forms and guidance to apply for Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) if you’re making or importing a single vehicle or a very small number of vehicles.

www.gov.uk

 

[Gellyneck]

My Belgium dealer told me from January a European C of C will not be recognised by the UK. It's not much of a problem just means you need to have an IVA check before you can register the vehicle.
No way I would want to go back to RHD I prefer LHD even in the UK.

Chauffeur and one of these should fit the bill for you.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[cyberyacht]

There are advantages to both, I would think. RHD less likely to be stolen whilst abroad perhaps. It depends on how much "fiddly" driving you do in the UK I suppose. Never found RHD an impairment over there. Might be more of an issue if I was driving solo.

 

[Lenny HB]

There are advantages to both, I would think. RHD less likely to be stolen whilst abroad perhaps. It depends on how much "fiddly" driving you do in the UK I suppose. Never found RHD an impairment over there. Might be more of an issue if I was driving solo.

RHD doesn't work with an A Class as if you have the option of a drivers door it's on the passenger side.

 

[tonka]

RHD doesn't work with an A Class as if you have the option of a drivers door it's on the passenger side.

MINE DOES...

RHD and a door on both sides.... Boasts the smug Burstner owner...

 

[cyberyacht]

What do I want get out for?

 

[pandas]

RHD doesn't work with an A Class as if you have the option of a drivers door it's on the passenger side.

don't you just get out the other side? Or in our case 99% of the time we use the habitation door. As the UK is not the best place to drive we much prefer a RHD where everything is familiar - not an issue driving a RHD in Europe where there is far less traffic

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[EuroTrotters]

I prefer LHD. Thats what we have now.

IVA can be a PIA, I know, I imported a car myself and did everything myself. No wonder they have signs in VOSA suggesting bad language will not be tolerated.

If you are buying new from Europe, make sure you get a COC anyway.

I have been trying to force money into the hands of a Mercedes Dealer in the UK. No deal yet. But apparently Mercedes want a written statement from me as to why I am requesting a UK build but with LHD. For F S , just do it.

 

[jongood]

There are advantages to both, I would think. RHD less likely to be stolen whilst abroad perhaps. It depends on how much "fiddly" driving you do in the UK I suppose. Never found RHD an impairment over there. Might be more of an issue if I was driving solo.

Quite a few German layouts work better as LHD. We couldn't buy our layout as RHD. Imo its a bit crazy that we are the only country on the whole continent to drive on the left.

 

[Lenny HB]

Quite a few German layouts work better as LHD. We couldn't buy our layout as RHD. Imo its a bit crazy that we are the only country on the whole continent to drive on the left.

Yep we should have changed in '66 when Sweden did. Easy for them most of their cars were LHD anyway.
The postmen have RHD in rural areas so they can drop mail in mail boxes without getting out of the van.

 

[Wack]

Costs £200 but there are only a few test centres with long waiting lists.

Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA): forms and guidance

Forms and guidance to apply for Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) if you’re making or importing a single vehicle or a very small number of vehicles.

www.gov.uk

I bought a brand new RHD transit from Belgium in 2001 , because I'd imported it I had to take it for an IVA check
It was ridiculous , it had the mileage I'd driven it home on the clock 250 maybe and was the same as every other transit in the UK but they checked it like I'd built it in my shed

Unsurprisingly they found nothing untoward

 

[funflair]

A very well known dealer in the UK is telling me that I cannot now order a new LHD vehicle for UK delivery from them as the CoC's being provided by EU manufacturers are not acceptable to UK authorities.

Can anyone confirm or challenge this, please?

Sounds strange Peter as we know people with new M on order that won’t turn up till 2023 and they have not said anything.

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[WESTY66]

LHD is better for me too, even in the U.K.!
But having just done my maiden voyage in my LHD Carthago and it’s soooo much easier over there

 

[nicholsong]

Some of you may have seen elsewhere the struggle I have had with registering my RHD MH in Poland.

The government lost a case in the European Court of Justice in 2008 but only changed the law for ,5t, which ours is not.

I have now got Polish registration as a 'historic' vehicle, because there is no age definition of such, and historic can be LHD or RHD.

Hoops are to be jumped through.!

After its initial 'MOT' there is never another.

Geoff

 

[gus-lopez]

Sounds strange Peter as we know people with new M on order that won’t turn up till 2023 and they have not said anything.

If through a UK dealer perhaps he is doing it?
On the other hand perhaps he doesn't realise?

 

[funflair]

If through a UK dealer perhaps he is doing it?
On the other hand perhaps he doesn't realise?

Could be either to be fair but I would have thought that the manufacturer could easily sort paperwork that suited the UK market.

 

[Hymer Life]

I bought a brand new RHD transit from Belgium in 2001 , because I'd imported it I had to take it for an IVA check
It was ridiculous , it had the mileage I'd driven it home on the clock 250 maybe and was the same as every other transit in the UK but they checked it like I'd built it in my shed

Unsurprisingly they found nothing untoward

Could that be Mr Jobsworth maybe?

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[WESTY66]

Are they putting the euro emission status on the V5 from January then? My euro emission status is only apparent on the CoC I’ve got with the vehicle, otherwise I wouldn’t have proof.
Could it be that you would still get a CoC with the vehicle, regardless whether the Uk recognises it or not. Some on here have obtained the German green sticker with just the V5, I had to send a copy of the CoC with euro status on it to obtain one from Berlin

 

[Hymer Life]

Sounds strange Peter as we know people with new M on order that won’t turn up till 2023 and they have not said anything.

Hi Martin,

It could be that this dealer is simply being unhelpful or selfish in that they don't want to have to go through this process every time waiting for the VCA inspections to be completed prior to the sale being completed. As LHD are likely to be a large part of their business I would think this must surely change.

Based on the info the dealer gave me, I was going to settle for a RHD version but I actually prefer LHD on our MH, so will simply order from an EU supplier and deal with the paperwork here.

As for the Morelo imports, I'm confident the UK dealer will happily complete the paperwork for his customers; it's just a shame others are not like that.

 

[WESTY66]

Hi Martin,

It could be that this dealer is simply being unhelpful or selfish in that they don't want to have to go through this process every time waiting for the VCA inspections to be completed prior to the sale being completed. As LHD are likely to be a large part of their business I would think this must surely change.

Based on the info the dealer gave me, I was going to settle for a RHD version but I actually prefer LHD on our MH, so will simply order from an EU supplier and deal with the paperwork here.

As for the Morelo imports, I'm confident the UK dealer will happily complete the paperwork for his customers; it's just a shame others are not like that.

The same dealer could possibly do it for his other marques too, my LHD Carthago came brand new from premium too (but I didn’t buy it new) I believe the previous owner ordered it LHD.

 

[599]

our first m/h was an imported hymer 564 1989 f reg lhd we bought in 1999 & only had 1 door i think we paid £12,000 a lot of money in those days . we tried to sell it private with no luck people didn't like the idea of a lhd so we traded it in for a brand-new caravan .
cant find where bill has filed the photo but here is the same just seeing the picture brings back happy memories OUR FIRST M/H
& well built they didn't bother about weight in those days or payloads

 

[Lenny HB]

I bought a brand new RHD transit from Belgium in 2001 , because I'd imported it I had to take it for an IVA check
It was ridiculous , it had the mileage I'd driven it home on the clock 250 maybe and was the same as every other transit in the UK but they checked it like I'd built it in my shed

Unsurprisingly they found nothing untoward

As it was RHD it shouldn't have needed a check. The first Hymer I imported in 2008 was RHD I just registered it at the local DVLA office no checks, didn't even have to pay the vat for a month, those were the days.

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[funflair]

The same dealer could possibly do it for his other marques too, my LHD Carthago came brand new from premium too (but I didn’t buy it new) I believe the previous owner ordered it LHD.

That was before Brexit though and the suggestion is that things have changed and the existing CoC will not be valid anymore.

 

[Westbarn1]

We have owned first, RHD (Hymer semi integrated) and then LDH (Hymer A Class) and with most of our mileage out of the UK come to the conclusion that I really don't mind driving R or LHD. However, it made sense to buy LHD and imported a nearly new, previously German registered, last December. Unfortunately, we/I decided that I preferred driving the OE cab of a semi integrated, with the safety of metal construction ahead of me, 2 doors and a windscreen that could be easily sourced/replaced. Whilst in Germany, at the end of Summer I visited several dealers and found that there was no enthusiasm for PX'ing our now UK registered Hymer.
In conclusion, whilst I would have gone for another LHD, with the aggravation of a personal import, not being able to easily sell now in the EU marketplace I have ordered a new RHD Hymer from Southdowns.

 

[nicholsong]

Are they putting the euro emission status on the V5 from January then? My euro emission status is only apparent on the CoC I’ve got with the vehicle, otherwise I wouldn’t have proof.
Could it be that you would still get a CoC with the vehicle, regardless whether the Uk recognises it or not. Some on here have obtained the German green sticker with just the V5, I had to send a copy of the CoC with euro status on it to obtain one from Berlin

Do not raise that question with the DVLA - they are confused enough about vehicles as it is.


But more seriously this topic does show that the DfT are not getting to grips with the division of responsibilities between DVSA and DVLA.

DVSA are responsible for technical acceptance of CoC and IVA, and also regulation of the MOT system.

DVLA main functions are registration of vehicles and revenue collection. Over decades they seem to be little interested in entering the technical information of a vehicle on a V5c and will enter anything, or nothing, they are told, as long as they have the information for taxation.

At present it seems that the V5c form has little value as it is NOT

1 Proof of ownership

2 In many cases proof of Max Weight, unless a foreign policeman knows that in UK law that 'Revenue Weight' is based on Max weight.

3 Is now not proof of emissions, if the information was based on a recent European CoC which is now not being accepted in UK

4 Is not proof that the tax they want has been paid - that is on a computer.

So it boils down to proof that this a certain vehicle is in the name of a 'Registered Keeper' which may or may not be the legal owner, e.g. lease situations. What does 'Registered Keeper' mean to a Slovakian policeman?

The V5c is well out of step with other countries' recognised international documents.

It is time the the Ministry for Transport reviewed its Agencies, their responsibilities, including its international obligations, its functions and documents.

Geoff

[Maybe this should be sent to the Minister - any comment or modifications if I do, please]

 

[gus-lopez]

If CoC's are now not accepted for motorhomes how are they still selling new cars& vans without sva's?

 

[Lenny HB]

If CoC's are now not accepted for motorhomes how are they still selling new cars& vans without sva's?

The problem is with LHD vehicles, RHD will have been homologated to UK standards.