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Hi would really appreciate some urgent advice. We looked at a camper van today. The vehicle is registered as a panel van, not a motor home.

The seller (trade) says that the back was put on the chassis of the van as the original camper chassis was shot. He only mentioned this after we questioned the mycarcheck report. He says that he will get the logbook changed when we buy it. He implied this would be no problem. It has an MOT, but don't know if this was done after the conversion or not.

Should we wait for the log book to be changed before we hand over any money or is this just a formality. We have put down a deposit, but are worried that dvla might reject it and we would be left with a worthless vehicle.

Could any one advise us on our legal psition if we but it without the logbook being changed.

Thanks for your help

buy it on condition the logbook is changed by the seller.

Normally there is no problem getting the change from dvla despite what you may hear it is an easy thing to get done .

Why dont you agree to go ahead with the purchase but take delivery of the vehicle when the logbook is returned to the trader showing the changes .

Delboy

One more thing welcome to the forum.

Delboy

Thanks for the reply and the welcome! Sorry I didn't introduce my self, I was in a bit of a tizzy!. Have lurked on these forums a good long while now but yep that was my first post.

We have put a deposit on the vehicle but maybe don't want to give him any more money until logbook changed. The dealer says he will change it when he  sends off the logbook after purchase. Of course by then if there's any probs he's got our cash.

To be honest the vehicle is pretty cheap, it does seem a bit of a bargain, and it is a bit of a dodgy back street garage. There was stuff I wasn't happy about, him not telling us the details of the change, the fact he was after a much bigger deposit than I was prepared to give, cash only sale etc.

 To be honest all the basic rules of buying a vehicle went out the window for some reason, We were so chuffed to find what we wanted in our price range we just handed over the money. It was that old 'someone coming down from london for it, if you don't take it now' line, but I'm afraid it worked. 

Anyway were going back today with a mechanic and our sensible heads on, so fingers crossed!

I think your doing the right thing. a mechanic should be able to see if this job has been done correctly.

also a uick call to dvla or would it be vosa? to find out just what you should be asking to check if the job has been done correctly.

im not sure if its the same but i had seats fitted in a van (basicaly converted a panel van into a minibus.) it had to be taken to a place in notts and undergo several tests (yes this was mainly on seats and seatbelts but still checked the whole van over)

i'ld sooner be asking the .gov reps the questions now rarther than after you have spent £xxxx

but on the other hand i dont see this to be a problem providing its been done correctly

it takes about 10/14 days to get the v5 (logbook) changed so get the dealer to do it now before you take delivery.

Then you have no worries and you get what you want a cheap motorhome.

Delboy

Thanks for the replies. Having took the mechanic to look at it I'm reassured. All the chassis no, vin no etc match, and hanging on for the logbook seems sensible.

Interestingly he found that the supports and outriggers at the back were completely rotten. There was no way they should have passed an MOT. We are in the lucky position of being able to get the work done, and we did manage to negotiate more money off the vehicle.

I think Wineciccio your advice was sound, we're lucky to be able to get the work done cheaply, but someone else could have got burned with a potentially dangerous vehicle.

Dont worry about insurance thats an easy one to resolve .

Lots of companies will insure a camper thats been converted by home proffesionals i do them regularly.

What is the vehicle, when was it done.

Delboy

It's transit chassis, not exactly sure what the back is off. Having read round the internet the main problems with changing the logbook is if the DVLA don't think it is a full time motor caravan, or if it doesn't look like a camper. Neither of these will be an issue in this case.

I was wondering if I went directly with the documents to the local DVLA office they could sort it out over the counter?

I'm assuming someone somewhere will insure it! I was thinking about joining the caravan club to get insurance from them, but would be grateful for any suggestions. Our last van has been on classic for the last couple of years but before that it was a bit of a pain to find insurance.

Well,going by my experience of DVLA,it could go either way.

I think it all depends on who you happen to speak to..

They may just want a few photos..on the other hand,seeing as the body came off something else,I wouldn't be suprised if they insist on inspecting it or ask for some form of engineers report...

...as I say,I think it all depends on who you speak to... 

I'm assumimg that you're satisfied that the body has been mounted okay?...and that it is water tight...?..and the gas and everything electrical(leisure battery charging,12v lighting/fridge etc)is working okay..?

Personally,unless it's an absolute steal or you know the bloke who's done the work,I'd be VERY careful..especially as you've already found rotten outriggers(..which you admit yourself wouldn't have passed an MOT  )

Yeah it is really cheap! To give the seller his due, he's not trying to rip anyone off like that, its more a case of yes, its really cheap, but its up to you to find out why!

The guy who looked at it for us is fab. He went over it with a fine tooth comb, and has basicly told us that theres a lot of stuff that needs doing, but he'll take it and give it us back sorted. He's a star!

 I know were going to have a roadworthy vehicle at the end. I'm really most worried that through some beaurocratic (sp) problem we'll end up with something we're not legally allowed to use!

Quote: Originally posted by curlew on 24/3/2011

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...The guy who looked at it for us is fab. He went over it with a fine tooth comb, and has basicly told us that theres a lot of stuff that needs doing, but he'll take it and give it us back sorted...

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Will that be after he's finished taking his kids to the coast over Easter?..

Well,if the money's right..and it's not going to cost you much to sort,go for it!

I wouldn't be worrying that you'd be ending up with a vehicle you couldn't legally use though...it's just that sometimes DVLA can be,shall we say..slightly inconsistent,in the way they deal with things...

(..we had about 6-8months of being messed about by them,when we had an incorrect GVW weight entered on the V5...)

I'm sure everything will be fine..have fun with it!