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Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 6:36 am
by Koojo
Hi all,

Is there a 3 seat conversion with belts etc... That is insurance friendly for the vans?? Maybe a company doing it who do certain things that the insurance company's deem 'acceptable' I think the vw t5 panel vans can get this done.
Even better has peeps had this done and don't mind sharing your experience and cost??

Cheers
Baz

Re: Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 7:16 am
by bud the spud
Touran middle row seats can be fitted

Re: Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 8:03 am
by drw42
Had all sorts of questions and worries about this before doing it but had no option as it is my 'car" and I have to secure the kids in the back. I contacted DVLA and asked what would happen, and if there was any reason why I might not be allowed. They simply said make the ammendment on the V5 and send it to them. It came back a month later changed. I already had the insurance at that point (Brentacre) and I told them I was going to do the conversion when I took out the insurance. They are content for any changes as long as you tell them, and it dosn't affect the engine (there is a premium inctrease for these).

If your insurance company is sniffy then perhaps look for another. Rather than insurance however I would have thought that the MOT was a more significant factor, and the seats and belts need to be secure enough to pass this.

If really concerned you might get caddy life seat conversion which obviously some caddys are fitted with out of the shop , i.e. OEM and have them professionally done. There are links on the forum about this (Sirius I think)

A better conversion in my opinion is the Touran rears but they need a bit more fettling and faffing to get in, much more flexible when done though. I guess it comes down to personal tatse.

Hope that helps Woody

Re: Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 2:31 pm
by bud the spud
There is a 3 seats conversion from touran in the for sale section

Re: Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 9:18 pm
by Koojo
I'm seriously scanning the adds as I'm now 'van less' and I need wheels not only to get my youngest 2 around but also a 'van esque' motor for work but it's essential I have a minimum of 3 seats for now....
I can pick up a 2 seater caddy fairly easily but I would need the rear conversion done ASAP to fit my needs.
So I may end up buying a stop gap motor rather than rush buying something that turns out to be unsuitable or a lemon !?

Cheers
Baz

Re: Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2014 10:08 pm
by cav1449
Mot wise if the van has windows it must have belts fitted & will be tested, if the van has no windows but has a rear seat it doesn't need seat belts & would pass as belts aren't required if the van has no rear glass.
What a crazy world we live in! :shock:

Re: Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 7:15 am
by Koojo
cav1449 wrote:Mot wise if the van has windows it must have belts fitted & will be tested, if the van has no windows but has a rear seat it doesn't need seat belts & would pass as belts aren't required if the van has no rear glass.
What a crazy world we live in! :shock:

Really?? That's bizarre lol
I'm borrowing a t5 kombi at the moment and the kids love it but they are fortunes for what they are.

Cheers
Baz

Re: Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 6:29 pm
by Sitys
cav1449 wrote:Mot wise if the van has windows it must have belts fitted & will be tested, if the van has no windows but has a rear seat it doesn't need seat belts & would pass as belts aren't required if the van has no rear glass.
What a crazy world we live in! :shock:
Can you tell me where it says this please, as Iv not got round to putting seat belts in yet and won't let anyone get in the back....thx..Si

Re: Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 9:26 pm
by cav1449
Local mot station told me . :shock:
I have two kids and wouldn't dream of having them in any vehicle with out them being belted up.

Re: Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:31 pm
by mrfaststu
Just got my log book back after doing colour change and put 5 seats on it came back all ok, job done :-)

Re: Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2026 4:11 pm
by Noel
Hi im currently updating my v5 to send off i have printed some photos of the conversion and photo copied the receipt for the install

Just curious as to what changes this has on the road tax if there is no rear windows installed?
or would i have to have install windows to change the tax category 1.6 tdi maxi 2011

Re: Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2026 6:23 pm
by Andrew5
When I did my rear seat conversion I didn’t send photos with the v5 do they require this now ? And as far as I no there is no way of changing the tax classification no matter what is done regarding the rear seats whether it has windows or not if it was comericial tax when new it will be always be commercial tax

Re: Rear seat conversion and insurance friendly?

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2026 6:52 am
by STP
Exactly. If converted professionally to a full camper, this is the only way to remove the LGV classification for tax, otherwise it's a no go and LGV stays on there.