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aultymer

Found the email from VOSA:-

"A `living van' is "a vehicle, whether mechanically propelled or not, which
is used for living accommodation by one or more persons and which is also
used for the carriage of goods or burden which are not needed by such one
or more persons for the purpose of their residence in the vehicle". Living
vans are classed as goods vehicles and, depending on their weight, are
therefore in either class IV or VII within the MOT test scheme or are
subject to HGV plating and testing.

Some of the items you mention would probably not be considered as
'reasonably necessary to provide mobile living accomodation'- such as a
canoe,dinghy and motor cycles. Such a vehicle would deemed to be a 'living
van' for testing purposes.

A private HGV would require a HGV test. A V112G is a DVLA form used to
claim exemption from testing.
A Motor Caravan, Living Van and a private HGV all require a test.
There has not been any recent changes to legislation relating to the above.

Ian Byrne, Enquiry Unit"

Don't shoot the messenger just get in touch with this guy at :- enquiries@vosa.gov.uk

SaddleTramp

Hi, Have taken your post to the guy at Sheffield Testing Station and shown it him, He says if you want your vehicle testing with a dinghy in the back take it to him and he will test it you, He catagorically states that the "Goods" description is for hire or reward, ie to earn money from, He says that he has tested MH with Boats on not just dinghys, "dont know what he means there" another statement he made is that a dinghy has NEVER been goods and has always been leisure, BUT he says if you were selling the dinghy then it would be goods.

Ps I Agree, Dont shoot the messenger.

It just goes to show how wide open a subject this is and that the rules are open to personal translation.

I have just used a Law dictionary to look up the meaning of the word "Goods" and the following is the statement it makes:-

"goods" Law Definition n

Items of personal property offered or sold in commerce.

cyclops

i can add a word of caution to this subject, if you are a driver of a motorhome over 3500kgs, and like me, have been regularly using vehicles above this weight and passed his test well before 1997, just reached 70 years of age and your doctor declares you fit to drive, the licence you will be automatically issued with will not have c1 or d1 entitlement! my advice to anyone aproaching 70 is to get the relevant information from the DVLA and then pay your doctor for a full medical (including eye test). mine cost me £80.00. if you do not retain the entitlement to c1 and d1 you have to then go through the whole system of taking a full test again. hope this helps to anyone in this situation

geraldandannie · Moderator

Hi Cyclops, and welcome to MotorhomeFacts.

Good advice there. Thank you.

Incidentally, I know of several motorhomers who have had to give up their large (>3.5t) vans and 'step down' due to illnesses or medical conditions on reaching 70. I wonder what makes you unsafe on reaching the golden age of 70, and yet you're fine to drive at 69? And with the general improvement in health of the over 50s / 60s, will this arbitrary age limit be lifted? I'll bet not.

Gerald

viator