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Converting a Van into a people carrier
Mr Whippy - 15/3/18 at 12:39 PM

Although I've been told by several folk it requires an SVA. Putting seats in a van to turn it into a people carrier does not seem to require an SVA or anything particularly special according to this government site especially if the seat are no more than 8 (then becomes a minibus). I was thinking of buying a panel van and putting 2-3 seats in the back as a large people carrier...


link y

nick205 - 15/3/18 at 12:59 PM

Not read the link, but surely it has to have suitable mounting points for the seats and seat belts?

Mr Whippy - 15/3/18 at 01:05 PM

no doubt check during an MOT it says -


Do I need to fit seatbelts in the rear?

There is no legal requirement for seatbelts to be fitted in the rear of a van. However, our advice is that the safest way for passengers to travel is in a proper seat with seatbelts fitted and, if you intend to carry children aged 12 years or under, the seatbelt wearing regulations require them to wear a suitable child restraint at all times.

When fitting seatbelts, they must comply with the latest British or European standards and be marked accordingly with either the ‘e’, ‘E’ or BS ‘Kitemark’. The seatbelt anchorage points should also be designed so that they will be capable of withstanding the high forces of an impact. We strongly recommend that seatbelts and anchorages are professionally installed by qualified persons (such as a commercial garage or seatbelt specialist).

Mash - 15/3/18 at 02:08 PM

Converted my Mk7 Transit SWB using a row of removable seats from a Tourneo a while back.

They come up cheap on Ebay but make sure you get the floor brackets, and make sure you put some solid plate underneath so the bollts don't pull through. middle rows come with seat belts attached, rear rows come with everything but the outside two receivers, so I got some of the bay and welded them to the frame. Not worth risking it without them.

Mine are removable in about 10 minutes so I can still get sheets of 8 x 4 in when I need to (although the backs also tip forward some I can get stuff in on top of them).

Tell your insurance company, they may put up the premium, although Plan were really good. I have windows in the SLD and the opposite panel as well.

Never been a problem for the MOT, and it does comply with the regs.

obfripper - 15/3/18 at 04:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
no doubt check during an MOT it says -


Do I need to fit seatbelts in the rear?

There is no legal requirement for seatbelts to be fitted in the rear of a van. However, our advice is that the safest way for passengers to travel is in a proper seat with seatbelts fitted and, if you intend to carry children aged 12 years or under, the seatbelt wearing regulations require them to wear a suitable child restraint at all times.

When fitting seatbelts, they must comply with the latest British or European standards and be marked accordingly with either the ‘e’, ‘E’ or BS ‘Kitemark’. The seatbelt anchorage points should also be designed so that they will be capable of withstanding the high forces of an impact. We strongly recommend that seatbelts and anchorages are professionally installed by qualified persons (such as a commercial garage or seatbelt specialist).


This only applies when it is still visually a van, if it is glazed and seated in the rear then it would be tested as presented which would be a passenger vehicle/minibus depending on number of seats.
https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/m4s05000102.htm

Changing the v5 vehicle type should be simple, alike a campervan conversion, photographic evidence may be required by the dvla. Once done, car speed limits/toll costs etc will apply.

If you look at section 5.3 of the mot manual, there are guidelines for seat/seatbelt installation (It's for minibuses/coaches, but the same principles apply to class iv but are not tested at mot).
Some vans do come with the brackets/mountings to directly install seats/seatbelts as fitted to their factory minibus/mpv versions, but quite a few do not, or lack the reinforcing plates in the panelwork to support seatbelt loads.


Dave

Bladerunner - 16/3/18 at 04:03 PM

Just check with the Tax Office, Vans normally come at a lower price, it used to be the case that the Tax Man would charge you extra for the windows. Have a chat with the DVLA

DAN@ADRIAN FLUX - 16/3/18 at 08:59 PM

Hi,
If you need any help with insurance at all then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.