Notifying DVLA of change to weight of campervan converion

[fford allan]

I recently purchased a Ford Transit 460 minibus that's been converted to a campervan. The original weight of the vehicle as detailed in the V5C was 4600Kg. However with the removal of the seats etc, I'm told that the weight has been reduced. The vendor has given me a certificate from his local weighbridge stating that it now weighs 3340Kg.
The DVLA guidance states that I need to update the VC5 with the new weight. It goes on to say....

"Change of weight of a larger vehicle
If you change the weight of a large vehicle (for example, a campervan or goods vehicle), you’ll need to provide either:

• a plating certificate
• a design weight certificate"

Can anyone advise how I might go about getting one of these? There seems to be very little clear information about these certificates and what there is seems to be about lorries and trailers.
Is there a good reason why I should go ahead and change the V5C record?

Any help or advice gratefully received.

 

[SandraL]

If it weighs 3340kg empty by time you add people, food, clothes, bikes , water etc you will be over 3500kg, so unless your licence is only to 3500 kg why bother downplating?
To upplate you need the design weight certificate from an approved engineer, sv tech or van weight engineering.
To downplate a weighbridge cert showing it is workable at 3500 kg and a letter to explain to DVLA what you want to do.
I.m sure about the uplating, you ought to take more advice about downplating!

Edit,, road tax will be cheaper over 3500kg, speed limits a little lower,

 

[Orion]

…. road tax will be cheaper over 3500kg, speed limits a little lower,

My understanding is that reduced speed limits for motorhomes are based on a maximum unladen weight exceeding 3050 kg, not on the gross vehicle weight. So it is possible to have a GVM exceeding 3500kg and still keep to the same national speed limits as cars.

Speed Limits

 

[Lenny HB]

My understanding is that reduced speed limits for motorhomes are based on a maximum unladen weight exceeding 3050 kg, not on the gross vehicle weight. So it is possible to have a GVM exceeding 3500kg and still keep to the same national speed limits as cars.

Speed Limits

Only in the UK all other countries go by MAM, if over 3500kg lower limits apply.

 

[Lenny HB]

Agree at 3340kg empty it will not be able to run legally at 3500kg.

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[SandraL]

My understanding is that reduced speed limits for motorhomes are based on a maximum unladen weight exceeding 3050 kg, not on the gross vehicle weight. So it is possible to have a GVM exceeding 3500kg and still keep to the same national speed limits as cars.

Speed Limits

But op has said his unladen weight is 3340kg so will not be included as over the 3050 kg unladen weight.

 

[Orion]

But op has said his unladen weight is 3340kg so will not be included as over the 3050 kg unladen weight.

Yes, but others will and what was said appeared as a blanket statement so wanted to clarify the U.K. situation.

 

[pappajohn]

The 4.6 ton is the maximum the van can weigh....that's including any goods, fixtures & fittings and people.
You weighed it empty but that weight isn't really applicable.
You need to load the van in holiday trim, tank of fuel, some water plus any passengers and go to a weighbridge.

 

[pappajohn]

Out of interest, do you have category C1 on your licence?
Test passed pre 1997...yes
Test passed post 1997...no.
if you don't have C1 you can't legally drive it

 

[fford allan]

Out of interest, do you have category C1 on your licence?
Test passed pre 1997...yes
Test passed post 1997...no.
if you don't have C1 you can't legally drive it

Yes l do have a cat. C1 on my licence so thankfully that's not an issue. I'm just wondering if there's any point in going through the hoops of getting the weight corrected on the C5V? I'm already thinking of not applying to have it redesignated as a campervan (or whatever the official jargon calls it). I don't really need any corny slogans ("adventure before dementia?!") or go faster decals if I can avoid it.

Thanks all for the feedback and replies.

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[jp11]

If your 460 minibus (which I believe has 17 seats) has been changed to a campervan and is in effect no longer a minibus, you will have to tell DVLA. They may change it to a van with windows. To drive a 460 minibus you actually need a D1 licence (not a C1).
You may be able to get lower insurance using it as a campervan, but you'll pay higher tax.

 

[jp11]

I should also have said, if you do change it to a 460 van, the license requirement will be C1.

 

[Headrush]

If your 460 minibus (which I believe has 17 seats) has been changed to a campervan and is in effect no longer a minibus, you will have to tell DVLA. They may change it to a van with windows. To drive a 460 minibus you actually need a D1 licence (not a C1).
You may be able to get lower insurance using it as a campervan, but you'll pay higher tax.

You don't need a D1 unless you're driving it with people in, for hire or reward. If you take one seat out, you will not need D1 anyway unless you are for hire or reward.

 

[Headrush]

fford allan
If the van is at 4600, leave it like that. That leaves you 1260 payload. You would probably never have to worry about your gross weight during normal motorhome usage.
Plus the tax is cheaper, we paid around £165 last year.
Have a look at private heavy goods on this page.

Vehicle tax rates

Tables showing the rates for vehicle tax for different types of vehicle.

www.gov.uk

 

[Jamesh]

The 4.6 ton is the maximum the van can weigh....that's including any goods, fixtures & fittings and people.
You weighed it empty but that weight isn't really applicable.
You need to load the van in holiday trim, tank of fuel, some water plus any passengers and go to a weighbridge.

No you don't!

You go as it is empty this is then your weight you submit to DVLA or vwe / svtech.

This is then shows it's usable to dvla / vwe / svtech.

If you don't need it for your license don't bother? Cheaper tax!

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[Itsmcb]

No you don't!

You go as it is empty this is then your weight you submit to DVLA or vwe / svtech.

This is then shows it's usable to dvla / vwe / svtech.

If you don't need it for your license don't bother? Cheaper tax!

If you want to downplate you would weigh it empty to prove it could be below the 3500kg limit but that would be of no use to the Op. He really needs to weigh it fully loaded to see what his real weight would be. I agree if he has the C1 then 100% leave it as it is and have the ability to load almost anything he fancies