Modified Van - Insulated Body to Tipper???

Modified Van - Insulated Body to Tipper???

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Discussion

whatxd

Original Poster:

440 posts

108 months

Wednesday 1st June 2022
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Today, I went with my dad to look at a second hand van, Mercedes Sprinter, tipper. All appeared well, he loved it and put a deposit down.

He gets home and when trying to insure it, finds out that it used to be a regular van with an "insulated body" and has been converted to a tipper. The work was done by what appears to be a large company to the north of the Midlands around a month ago.

My parents are dinosaurs and just like everything to be correct out of the box and my mum is telling him to bin it off and find something else.

It didn't help that it appears it's still a box van in the eyes of the DVLA and his insurance company wouldn't say whether or not they'd insure it, they'd have to send it to the underwriters.

Does anyone know first of all how you get it registered with the DVLA as a tipper and which insurance companies will accept these kinds of modified vans?

grumpy52

5,717 posts

173 months

Wednesday 1st June 2022
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It's quite common for ex fleet vehicles to have body changes . Tippers and drop side bodies always seem to be popular conversions .
The vendor should be responsible for sorting the paperwork out .
The insurance companies tend to go on the information supplied by DVLA ,anything different tends to make them wary .
Have you had a full history check done on the vehicle ?
Could the vehicle be a previous write off due to the old body being damaged .

daydotz

1,752 posts

168 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
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Chances are it's a ex supermarket van shop around theirs some crimal mark ups on converted one's

whatxd

Original Poster:

440 posts

108 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
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Thank you both for your replies. I can confirm that the vehicle is not written off or anything out of the ordinary, the only problem is that the checks are still showing it as an insulated body. Would DVLA even update the records to show it as a tipper?

I may give the company who did the conversion a call and ask them how this paperwork is generally sorted. From the looks of their website, they specialise in tipper backs for vans and appear to be doing this all the time.

reddiesel

2,473 posts

54 months

Saturday 4th June 2022
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You simply notify the DVLA of the Bodywork Change , there is no big deal about this and the Insurer will have no issues .

944 Man

1,814 posts

139 months

Tuesday 7th June 2022
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This wouldnt bother me. Typically, undesirable bodies are removed from desirable chassis, and more saleable bodies are fitted.

The issue here is 'call centre' as well, possibly, as shoddy admin and paperwork by someone. When the correct body style is recorded it should not be an issue (and if it is then find better insurers).

808 Estate

2,240 posts

98 months

Friday 10th June 2022
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Check the weight limit for the van with the new bodywork. Some conversions still retain single rear wheels and therefore have reduced grosss vehicle weight.

whatxd

Original Poster:

440 posts

108 months

Tuesday 14th June 2022
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In the end the insurance were okay with the conversion and the dealer reassured us that he’s taken care of the paperwork and the new log book will have the updated body type.