Is it a van?

[oldbury863]

I know there has been a fair bit of discussion about this already and my 73 plate Berlingo XTR is not classified as an MPV even though these vehicle are commonly used as taxis.
I was told by the dealer at the time of purchase that this was because Stelantis had lost type approval when they ceased manufacture of ICE versions. When they built some more due to demand, they added the bulkhead and tagged it onto the existing type approval for the Berlingo van. Simply a cost cutting exercise and nothing more. 
I recently looked on the DVLA site and found a classification for a 'Car derived van' (CDV) Now on the face of it, that would appear to be the best of a bad bunch in describing what I have. However, even that classification isnt correct for the Berlingo because mine also has rear seats, seat belts and fully opening rear windows. So on that basis, mine is more closely a car or MPV than it is a CDV. There are plenty of 'vans' out there, some of which have a bulkhead and some of which dont but ithey are all classed as vans! The really odd thing is that my V5 records my vehicle as a 'Van with windows'!! Surely that cant be correct? Even my insurance company (SAGA) is confused by all of this and contacted me with their concerns when an internal audit showed my vehicle described as a van, and that they do not insure vans! The bulkhead is another can of worms, it is fairly common for me to remove the bulkhead in order to carry longer loads to the tip etc as its only a few bolts and not part of the structure of the vehicle. I dont class that as a modification but others may disagree. If the bulkead is the only 'reason' my vehicle is classified as a van will my insurance be valid when it is in, or out, or not at all? They said I will continue to be insured for the remainder of this period but could not say beyond that. i would be interested to know if the owners of any similar age / model to mine have the same classification.  What a total mess!

[evdama]

The dealer is correct
It was produced under the type approval as a van,and also registered as one.
It has to be taxed and insured as one.
It can be dressed up as a car by removing bulkheads and adding windows but its still a van according to the manufacturer and therefore the dvla,and insurers.
Prior to 2019 it was relatively straightforward to get a vehucle reclassified as a car but since then it has become a ballache.

My b9 is a van although I specifeid glass windows in the barn doors and could have had glass in the sliding rear doors too
But its still a van.

[jj9]

If your vehicle is registered as a van be aware that the speed limits are lower than a "Car" on Single & Dual Carriageways!


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[oldbury863]

Just to highlight this crazy situation further, when I first purchased the vehicle (and knowing it said 'Van with windows' on the V5) I attempted to insure it with a company that insures vans. They replied that it wasnt a van and therefore they wouldnt insure it. 'Car' insurer No2 said they wouldnt insure it because it is a van. Insurer No3 accepted the insurance application based on the reg number. And now, more than a year on, they too are querying it!

[evdama]

Just to highlight this crazy situation further, when I first purchased the vehicle (and knowing it said 'Van with windows' on the V5) I attempted to insure it with a company that insures vans. They replied that it wasnt a van and therefore they wouldnt insure it. 'Car' insurer No2 said they wouldnt insure it because it is a van. Insurer No3 accepted the insurance application based on the reg number. And now, more than a year on, they too are querying it!

Sell it 
Let someone else get their knickers in a twist 
Life is too short

[oldbury863]

It gets worse! After having insured the vehicle since 2024, Saga have just emailed me to say that unless I contact the DVLA and get the classification changed (!), they will cease the policy! This is after they had previously said that worst case scenario I would at least remain insured for the remainder of this policy period. (ends in October). It may well have to go. This 'issue' isnt going to go away is it.

[jw4821]

I’ve never heard of a “Van with windows”. Your V5 will show the vehicle category.

M1 - cars
M2 – minibus
N1 and N2 – commercial vehicle

Vans/LCV’s also have a flat rate tax (up to 3.5T) of £345. Think it went up a fraction in April. Unlike a car it’s not emissions based and it’s not the old flat rate of £200 or whatever it was.

From the above you’ll be able to work out if you have a car or a van.

A car derived van has incredibly strict criteria and none of the Berlingo’s fall into this category.

[oldbury863]

I can assure all that read this that my V5 clearly states 'VAN / SIDE WINDOWS' as the category. I have also just had confirmation back from Citroen customer services stating "We would like to confirm that the categorisation of your vehicle as a van is correct. The vehicle has been homologated in this category at the factory and therefore cannot be changed". They go on to say that each insurance provider "determines their own quotation criteria independently therefore we are unable to guide, influence or intervene in their decisions". Not at all helpfull. I have attempted to get Van insurance quotes from 2 'comparison sites' and one 'direct' site and on all 3 occasions had the message 'We cannot find a van with that registration" so I'm stumped from the outset. All I can hope for, for now, is that someone else out there with a vehicle of the same age as mine (and hence the same categorisation) can inform me who THEY are insured with....

[oldbury863]

I can assure all that read this that my V5 clearly states 'VAN / SIDE WINDOWS' as the category. I have also just had confirmation back from Citroen customer services stating "We would like to confirm that the categorisation of your vehicle as a van is correct. The vehicle has been homologated in this category at the factory and therefore cannot be changed". They go on to say that each insurance provider "determines their own quotation criteria independently therefore we are unable to guide, influence or intervene in their decisions". Not at all helpfull. I have attempted to get Van insurance quotes from 2 'comparison sites' and one 'direct' site and on all 3 occasions had the message 'We cannot find a van with that registration" so I'm stumped from the outset. All I can hope for, for now, is that someone else out there with a vehicle of the same age as mine (and hence the same categorisation) can inform me who THEY are insured with....

I have attached the V5 to confirm the category: