Argument with DVLA - who to complain to?

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guydewdney

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The DVLA faceless organisation that they are have decided that my motorhome isnt a motorhome.

Now - it is clearly defined as to what is and isnt a MH internally - it must have a bed, cooking etc. It complies to all of these requirements, and my local office has been satisfied, and sent me a replacement tax disc (ironically increasing my cost) as a 'PHGV' - private HGV. (Its 7.5 tons)

In the meantime, some department, who I cant talk to, has decided its a 'bus/coach' body type - and thus cannot be a PHGV as it 'looks like a bus'

All this arguing and back and forth for months is annoying, and arguably makes my insurance invalid (V5 says its not a motorhome, its a coach).

And more annoyingly, I have a private reg for it, which runs out in 8 days.

No one can tell me why its a 'coach' not a 'motorhome' - its not fully glazed like any bus I know, but then again its plain white and not gold and glitzy like an american RV / winnebago

heres a pic - is that a coach or possibly a MH? yes - its bloody huge :rolleyes:

the carp photoshopping is just for me - the black bits are white plain panels, no windows.
 

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hahhaha - sorry - thats just our nickname from the last vehicle - which was a 'bus' (airport transfer bus) - and only hippies drive converted busses, so it must be a hippy bus!
 
I know it's not what you want to hear but it looks like a converted coach/bus. I think you would have the same issue if you decorated the inside of a artic lorry like a house. They would still class it as a class1 HGV
 
So is it a converted bus then?
 
Would VOSA be able to help if you took it to your local inspection centre for a classification inspection? I think that then gets passed to the DVLA for PHGV classification :D

We use this type of vehicle ex bus or coach as race transporters for race cars the front is kitchen living etc the rear designed to hold a race car and then doubles as a workshop when car is not loaded, these are classed as PHGV

Hope that helps
 
I know it's not what you want to hear but it looks like a converted coach/bus. I think you would have the same issue if you decorated the inside of a artic lorry like a house. They would still class it as a class1 HGV

Surely it doesn't matter what it was or looks like, it isn't a bus anymore as it can't carry passengers.

A lot of motorhomes start as van/bus or lorry bodies. Does that mean they can't be registered as motorhomes?

Looks like a bus too, but is a motorhome.

http://www.southdownsmotorhomecentr...iner-940g-man-tgl-10-240-motorhome-u2681.html

Van or motorhome?

http://images.clickedit.co.uk/8689/car_id_28_1.jpg
 
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Go to your local DVLA office and sort it out there. They know the system inside out & backwards and are surprisingly helpful

Go early and make sure you take all your documents, photos, licence, insurance, etc, etc

Nick Froome
 
So is it a converted bus then?


No - its never been a 'bus' or 'coach' - it was built in 1997 as a NHS mobile clinic (a mini doctors surgery) for £150,000 :eek:

It only ever had 5 seats at a maximum - it now has 4 or five, depending.

still looks like an american RV (albeit in white) to me.

DM - thats exactly my point - what it looks like isnt what it IS - theres loads of 'stealth' MH's out there that look like vans but are in fact MH's

eg - on gumtree
$T2eC16ZHJF0E9nmFSuE7BQ9crqIiFw~~48_80.JPG
 
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What was it's original registration type?

Too slow......... :(
 
Bus/Coach - but taxation class NHSV (which is free)

i dont think they bothered to argue it, as it didnt matter
 

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