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REGISTRATION Ombudsman criticises DVLA over campervan registration confusion
Communication failures by the DVLA about what a campervan is are leaving people confused and is a failure of its role, according to the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman (PHSO), which investigated two cases brought by people who converted vans into campervans, but had multiple applications to change their vehicle's log book rejected by the DVLA.
Having a vehicle registered as a van with windows rather than a motor caravan (the term ‘motor caravan’ is used by the DVLA for both campervans and motorhomes) means the owner can face a number of issues: higher fees on toll roads, costlier MoTs, having to abide by different speed limits and having difficulty gaining insurance.
Ombudsman, Rob Behrens, said, “People expect and deserve clarity and openness from public bodies like the DVLA. When they don't receive it, they feel let down and frustrated, especially in cases like these where they are likely to have spent a lot of time and money trying to meet requirements that remain unclear. We hope that these issues will now be rectified.”
David Hollingsworth and Maddy Muffett complained to the ombudsman separately after they had built their campervans following guidance on the DVLA website.
During the investigation, the DVLA admitted it knew at the time that
