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How Can A Camera Tell What This Is?
They all look the same, my Gran always said, bless her. So, is this a Caravelle, Transporter Panel Van or Transporter Window Van based DIY camper conversion? Or is it an ex-works California Freestyle? Is it petrol or diesel, does it have 4-cylinders or 5, is it manual or automatic? Is it two wheel drive or four wheel drive? Is it Euro 2 or Euro 3 compliant? Is it rated F or G in the current car tax bands or does it qualify as a Goods Vehicle or a Dual Purpose Vehicle that can carry both people and goods, as defined in the Road Traffic Act 1988?
The vehicle's registration or log book holds the key to this conumdrum as your license plate number is cross referenced with the DVLA database.
The V5 Registration Document
All relevent information should be on the V5 registration document (log book) and it is the owner's responsibility to ensure that all the details are present and correct. The information held at DVLA, Swansea determines which car tax band or Vehicle Excise band your vehicle falls into, whether it is LEZ exempt and, in some boroughs, how much a residential parking permit costs.
Particular attention should be made to:
Although the Revenue Weight should only apply to WV1 and some WV3 chassis numbers, I have listed all models here as new Motor Vehicle Emission Groups kick in on 1st September 2009 and WV2 Window Vans and some Caravelles appear to be registered as Light Goods Vehicles. These new emissions rules cancel out all previous categories but, as the rules currently stand, there may be implications for some Motor Caravan owners whose vehicles exceed 2000kg Unladen Weight.
The Revenue Weight will remain on the V5 if you are submitting the registration document to DVLA to register your panel van or window van (and Caravelle) as a Motor Caravan. Ex-works Motor Caravan published weights tend to be given either as Dry Weight or Mass In Running Order (MRO - whatever that is supposed to mean) and Gross Vehicle Weight or Gross Vehicle Weight and Payload, from which the unladen weight can be deduced.
For the Motor Caravan specific weights click here.
Published Manufacturer Unladen Weights* and Gross Vehicle Weights specific to the T4 (figures for lwb models are shown in brackets).
T4a January 1990 to December 1995 (base models only)
WV1 Panel Van
WV2 Window Van
WV1 Panel Van
WV2 Window Van
It may be possible to downrate the gross vehicle weight, for LEZ purposes...
http://www.svtech.co.uk/motorhomes.html
Footnote:
Production Codes for payload
OJ1 - vans/Caravelles with reduced payload and lowered suspension (800kg)
OJ2 - normal payload (1000kg)
OJ3 - increased payload (1200kg)
OJ4 - 3300kg chassis cab
OJ5 - vans/Caravelles with additional payload capacity (over and above OJ3)
Chassis Number
Is this a WV2 Caravelle or a WV2 Transporter Window Van (nee Kombi)? It is in fact a 1993 5-cylinder Caravelle Syncro.
The T4 Range
WV1
Some Transporters, Caravelles and Motor Caravans may have been adapted to fulfil "Specific Social Needs".
Definition Of A Motor Caravan
Minimum requirements to reregister and insure a newly completed, or soon to be completed, Motor Caravan are:
WV3
The WV3 chassis range includes the "Powercab" (PR code OJ4), which is just the T4 front end with no rear chassis - and sometimes without doors, roof or windscreen. This allows for alternative chassis' to be bolted onto the cab, such as the 3300 tonne GVW Alko Chassis (which is popular with Motorhome coachbuilders) shown here. Specialist manufacturer's fit sprung or unsprung chassis to meet specific requirements - but a WV3 chassis can either be grouped as a Goods Vehicle or a Passenger Vehicle (including Community Buses).
Engine Number
Euro 3 Compliant Engines (production code OGE)
from July 1999
With T4's built from July 1999, production codes OGD (Euro 2) or OGE (Euro3) will be present on the data card found behind the fuse box or inside the front cover of the service book. If neither are present with your vehicle, VW Customer Services, or your nearest dealer, will be able to tell whether or not your T4 is Euro 3 compliant from the chassis number.
The Model Year vs Registration Letter
The reasons for the model year not marrying with the UK registration letter are many
WV1 ZZZ 70 Z _ H xxxxxx
Model Years ran from August in the preceeding year to July of the year indicated until 2001 model year which started in May 2000 in the preceeding year.
T4a
Summary
Unless your T4 is a Motor Caravan, the amount of car tax you pay and whether you are liable for the daily LEZ charge depends entirely on the data held at DVLA.
Depending on where you live, it may be in your best interest to leave your log book alone (rightly or wrongly, after all this must be a classic postcode lottery), rather than change it. However, if your van or Caravelle has a Euro 3 compliant engine and was sold before 1st March 2001 you will be quids in, if you do change your log book, or let Transport For London know (should you wish to drive into London or around it's suburbs)...

The vehicle's registration or log book holds the key to this conumdrum as your license plate number is cross referenced with the DVLA database.
The V5 Registration Document
All relevent information should be on the V5 registration document (log book) and it is the owner's responsibility to ensure that all the details are present and correct. The information held at DVLA, Swansea determines which car tax band or Vehicle Excise band your vehicle falls into, whether it is LEZ exempt and, in some boroughs, how much a residential parking permit costs.
Particular attention should be made to:
- the vehicle's Revenue Weight [Y], which only applies to Goods Vehicles (i.e Panel Vans and Chassis Cabs), should correspond with the Gross Vehicle Weight printed on the chassis plate;
- the first three digits of the VIN / chassis / frame number (E) - WV1, WV2 or WV3 - as mistakes were made when some T4's were initially registered. For instance, my WV1 Panel Van did have WV2 printed on the log book...
- the CO2 emissions (V7 / V1) figure - only relevent if the vehicle was registered on or after 1st March 2001 - click here for a comprehensive list of CO2 and fuel economy data.
- the engine number (P5) provides the only clue to the emissions standard that your vehicle complies with.
- it is worth noting that the model year will not necessarily marry with the registration date (which can never be changed).
Although the Revenue Weight should only apply to WV1 and some WV3 chassis numbers, I have listed all models here as new Motor Vehicle Emission Groups kick in on 1st September 2009 and WV2 Window Vans and some Caravelles appear to be registered as Light Goods Vehicles. These new emissions rules cancel out all previous categories but, as the rules currently stand, there may be implications for some Motor Caravan owners whose vehicles exceed 2000kg Unladen Weight.
The Revenue Weight will remain on the V5 if you are submitting the registration document to DVLA to register your panel van or window van (and Caravelle) as a Motor Caravan. Ex-works Motor Caravan published weights tend to be given either as Dry Weight or Mass In Running Order (MRO - whatever that is supposed to mean) and Gross Vehicle Weight or Gross Vehicle Weight and Payload, from which the unladen weight can be deduced.
For the Motor Caravan specific weights click here.
Published Manufacturer Unladen Weights* and Gross Vehicle Weights specific to the T4 (figures for lwb models are shown in brackets).
T4a January 1990 to December 1995 (base models only)
WV1 Panel Van
- 4-cylinder 800kg "reduced" payload - 1520kg ULW / 2320kg GVW
- 5-cylinder 800kg "reduced" payload - 1595kg ULW / 2395kg GVW
- 4-cylinder 1000kg "normal" payload - 1520kg (1570kg) ULW / 2515kg (2565kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder 1000kg "normal" payload - 1595kg (1645kg) ULW / 2590kg (2640kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder 1200kg "increased" payload - 1520kg (1570kg) ULW / 2725kg (2750kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder 1200kg "increased" payload - 1595kg (1645kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
WV2 Window Van
- WV2 4-cylinder 800 "reduced" payload - 1520kg ULW / 2320kg GVW
- WV2 5-cylinder 800 "reduced" payload - 1595kg ULW / 2395kg GVW
- WV2 4-cylinder 1000 "normal" payload - 1520kg (1570kg) ULW / 2515kg (2565kg) GVW
- WV2 5-cylinder 1000 "normal" payload - 1595kg (1645kg) ULW / 2590kg (2640kg) GVW
- WV2 4-cylinder 1200 "increased" payload - 1520kg (1570kg) ULW / 2725kg (2750kg) GVW
- WV2 5-cylinder 1200 "increased" payload - 1595kg (1645kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg)
- 4-cylinder "normal" payload - 1565kg (1665kg) ULW / 2515kg (2565kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder "normal" payload - 1640kg (1740kg) ULW / 2590kg (2640kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder Caravelle with lowered suspension - 1565kg ULW / 2465kg GVW
- 5-cylincer Caravelle with lowered suspension - 1640kg ULW / 2540kg GVW
- 4-cylinder Caravelle "increased" payload - 1565kg (1665kg) ULW / 2725kg (2750kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder Caravelle "increased" payload - 1640kg (1740kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder - 1705kg ULW / 2465kg GVW
- 5-cylinder - 1780kg ULW / 2540kg GVW
- 4-cylinder "normal" payload - 1315kg (1340kg) ULW / 2465kg (2515kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder "normal" payload - 1390kg (1415kg) ULW / 2540kg (2590kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder "increased" payload - 1315kg (1340kg) ULW / 2725kg (2725kg / 3225kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder "increased" payload - 1390kg (1415kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg / 3300kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder "normal" payload - (1460kg) ULW / (2515kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder "normal" payload - (1535kg) ULW / (2590kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder "increased" payload - (1460kg) ULW / (2725kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder "increased" payload - (1535kg) ULW / (2800kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder "normal" payload - (1590kg) ULW / (2515kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder "normal" payload - (1665kg) ULW / (2590kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder "increased" payload - (1590kg) ULW / (2725kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder "increased" payload - (1665kg) ULW / (2800kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder "normal" payload - 1470kg (1520kg) ULW / 2465kg (2515kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder "normal" payload - 1545kg (1595kg) ULW / 2540kg (2590kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder "increased" payload - 1470kg (1520kg) ULW / 2725kg (2725kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder "increased" payload - 1545kg (1595kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
WV1 Panel Van
- 4-cylinder 800 "reduced" payload - 1580kg ULW / 2380kg GVW
- 4-cylinder 1000 "normal" payload - 1580kg (1630kg) ULW / 2575kg (2625kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder 1000 "normal" payload - 1655kg (1705kg) ULW / 2650kg (2700kg) GVW
- TDI 1000 "normal" payload - 1685kg (1735kg) ULW / 2680kg (2730kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder with lowered suspension - 1580kg ULW / 2525kg GVW
- 5-cylinder with lowered suspension - 1655kg ULW / 2600kg GVW
- TDI with lowered suspension - 1685kg ULW / 2630kg GVW
- 4-cylinder 1200 "increased" payload - 1580kg (1630kg) ULW / 2785kg (2800kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder 1200 "increased" payload - 1655kg (1705kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
- TDI 1200 "increased" payload - 1685kg (1735kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
WV2 Window Van
- 4-cylinder 800 "reduced" payload - 1607kg ULW / 2430kg GVW
- 4-cylinder 1000 "normal" payload - 1607kg (1649kg) ULW / 2600kg (2600kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder 1000 "normal" payload - 1682kg (1724kg) ULW / 2700kg (2700kg) GVW
- TDI 1000 "normal" payload - 1712kg (1754kg) ULW / 2700kg (2700kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder with lowered suspension - 1607kg ULW / 2520 GVW
- 5-cylinder with lowered suspension - 1724kg ULW / 2620kg GVW
- TDI with lowered suspension - 1712kg ULW / 2620kg GVW
- 4-cylinder 1200 "increased" payload - 1607kg (1649kg) ULW / 2700kg (2700kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder 1200 "increased" payload - 1682kg (1724kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
- TDI 1200 "increased" payload - 1712kg (1754kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder "normal" payload - 1780kg (1820kg) ULW / 2600kg (2600kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder "normal" payload - 1855kg (1895kg) ULW / 2700lg (2700kg) GVW
- TDI "normal" payload - 1885kg (1925kg) ULW / 2700kg (2700kg) GVW
- V6 "normal" payload - 1885kg (1925kg) ULW / 2620kg (2700kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder with lowered suspension - 1780kg ULW / 2520kg GVW
- 5-cylinder with lowered suspension - 1855kg ULW / 2620kg GVW
- TDI / V6 with lowered suspension - 1885kg ULW / 2620kg GVW
- 4-cylinder "increased" payload - 1780kg (1820kg) ULW / 2700kg (2700kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder "increased" payload - 1855kg (1895kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
- TDI "increased" payload - 1885kg (1925kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
- V6 "increased" payload - (1925kg) ULW / (2800KG) GVW
- 4-cylinder - 1840kg ULW / 2600kg GVW
- 5-cylinder - 1915kg ULW / 2700kg GVW
- TDI - 1945kg ULW / 2700kg GVW
- 4-cylinder with lowered suspension - 1840kg ULW / 2520kg GVW
- 5-cylinder with lowered suspension - 1915kg ULW / 2620kg GVW
- TDI / V6 with lowered suspension - 1945kg ULW / 2620kg GVW
- 4-cylinder - 1375kg (1400kg) ULW / 2785kg (2785kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder - 1450kg (1475kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
- TDI - 1480kg (1505kg) / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder - (1520kg) ULW / (2785kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder - (1595kg) ULW / (2800kg) GVW
- TDI - (1625kg) ULW / (2800kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder - (1650kg) ULW / (2785kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder - (1725kg) ULW / (2800kg) GVW
- TDI - (1755kg) ULW / (2800kg) GVW
- 4-cylinder - 1530kg (1580kg) ULW / 2785kg (2785kg) GVW
- 5-cylinder - 1605kg (1655kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
- TDI - 1635kg (1685kg) ULW / 2800kg (2800kg) GVW
- High roof panel van + 50kg (lwb only)
- Motor Caravan Elevating Roof + 60kg
- Motor Caravan High Roof + (swb)
- Motor Caravan High Roof + (lwb)
- Syncro All Road Transmission + 100kg (manual only)
- Automatic Transmission + 30kg
- plus the weight of driver for T4a WV2 models
It may be possible to downrate the gross vehicle weight, for LEZ purposes...
http://www.svtech.co.uk/motorhomes.html
Footnote:
Production Codes for payload
OJ1 - vans/Caravelles with reduced payload and lowered suspension (800kg)
OJ2 - normal payload (1000kg)
OJ3 - increased payload (1200kg)
OJ4 - 3300kg chassis cab
OJ5 - vans/Caravelles with additional payload capacity (over and above OJ3)
Chassis Number

The T4 Range
WV1
- Panel Van - short wheel base, long wheel base and long wheelbase with hightop. These vehicles are classed as Light Duty Goods Vehicles and are included in Motor Vehicle Emission Groups N1-1.
- Conversions to fulfil "Specific Social Needs" - this group can include some minibuses and vans adapted to carry wheelchairs, both of which will have windows cut into the sides. These vehicles should have been Type Approved by their respective coachbuilders and reclassified from N1 goods vehicles to M passenger vehicles.
- Motor Caravan - most Camper Vans that were either not built by Volkswagen partner companies (i.e. companies that may not comply with BS5750 or ISO9001 / 9002 quality standards) or DIY conversions. These should be reregistered as Motor Caravans to be included in the M passenger vehicle category - the Taxable Weight may remain on the V5 document as a reference to the base vehicle.
- Window Van - short wheel base, long wheel base and long wheelbase with hightop. Window vans may not have any side windows or passenger seats fitted (although the fitting points will be present), but they will still be classed as M1 passenger vehicles for emissions purposes from 2009.
- Caravelle - short wheel base (Class M1 passenger seats = 5,6,7 or 8) and long wheel base (Class M1 passenger seats = 8 or Class M2 passenger seats = 9, 10 or 11).
- Multivan - short wheelbase only; 5 passenger seats.
- Motor Caravan - any ex-works Motor Caravan built by a Volkswagen Partner company, or any other conversion on a WV2 chassis (which should still be reregistered as a Motor Caravan).

Definition Of A Motor Caravan
Minimum requirements to reregister and insure a newly completed, or soon to be completed, Motor Caravan are:
- at least one side window (preferably an opening one).
- some form of permanently secured bed - a bed/seat will require seat belt attachments (on vehicles over 2500kg GVW, from April 2012).
- a useable fixed water vessel (either a tank or large bottles equaling at least 27litres/6 gallons) that can pump water.
- a means of cooking with at least two burners and it's own fuel supply that can be stowed in a cabinet.
- a useable table that must have a permanent mounting point that corresponds to a seating position.
- a means of clothes storage - under the bed will suffice.
WV3
- Cab with Chassis - short wheel base and long wheel base.
- Double Cab with Chassis - long wheel base only.

Engine Number
Euro 3 Compliant Engines (production code OGE)
from July 1999
- TDI - 111kw (150bhp) red "I" engine code AXG
- TDI Automatic - 75kw (102bhp) engine code AUF
- TDI - 75kw (102bhp) engine code AYC
- TDI - 65kw (88bhp) blue "I" engine code AYY
- TDI - 75kw (102bhp) engine code AXL
- TDI - 75kw (102bhp) engine code ACV (from engine number 266252)
- TDI - 65kw (88bhp) engine code AJT (from engine number 058063)
With T4's built from July 1999, production codes OGD (Euro 2) or OGE (Euro3) will be present on the data card found behind the fuse box or inside the front cover of the service book. If neither are present with your vehicle, VW Customer Services, or your nearest dealer, will be able to tell whether or not your T4 is Euro 3 compliant from the chassis number.
The Model Year vs Registration Letter
The reasons for the model year not marrying with the UK registration letter are many
WV1 ZZZ 70 Z _ H xxxxxx
Model Years ran from August in the preceeding year to July of the year indicated until 2001 model year which started in May 2000 in the preceeding year.
T4a
- 1990 model year - L - from August 1989 = G prefix
- 1991 - M = H
- 1992 - N = J
- 1993 - P = K
- 1994 - R = L
- 1995 - S = M
- 1996 - T = N
- 1996 - T = N
- 1997 - V = P
- 1998 - W = R
- 1999 - X = S to end of February 1999, March 1999 on = T
- 2000 - Y = T to end of August 1999, Septmeber 1999 = V to end of February 2000, March 2000 = W
- 2001 - 1 (starts May 2000) - W to end of August 2000, September 2000 = X to end of February 2001, 1st March 2001 = Y Reg (i.e new CO2 tax bands).
- 2002 - 2 = Y to end of August 2001, September 2001 = 51 to end of February 2002, March 2002 = 02
- 2003 - 3 = 02 to end of August 2002, September 2002 = 52 to end of February 2003, March 2003 = 03
- 2004 - 4 = 03 to end of August 2003, September 2003 = 54 Reg
Summary
Unless your T4 is a Motor Caravan, the amount of car tax you pay and whether you are liable for the daily LEZ charge depends entirely on the data held at DVLA.
Depending on where you live, it may be in your best interest to leave your log book alone (rightly or wrongly, after all this must be a classic postcode lottery), rather than change it. However, if your van or Caravelle has a Euro 3 compliant engine and was sold before 1st March 2001 you will be quids in, if you do change your log book, or let Transport For London know (should you wish to drive into London or around it's suburbs)...