Frequently Asked Questions

Legal Status of Side-Facing Seats

Side-facing seats are not illegal in the UK. However, they are strongly discouraged by both government and industry bodies:

At Vanarack we would never install side facing seats into a camper van, the support offered in a crash scenario would not offer any real level of protection.

According to Regulation 100 of The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986, any modification must not cause danger to passengers or other road users.

This includes the manner in which passengers are carried, which applies directly to sideways seating 

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) advises that passengers are safest in forward- or rearward-facing seats 

???? Why Side-Facing Seats Are Discouraged
Crash Safety: Seatbelts in side-facing seats do not offer adequate protection in frontal collisions, which are the most common type of accident.
Child Safety: If you plan to carry children, UK law requires suitable child restraints.

These are not compatible with side-facing seats.
Insurance & MOT: Some insurers may refuse cover or increase premiums for vehicles with side-facing seats. MOT testers may also flag them if they appear unsafe or improperly installed.

????️ Industry Practice
Companies like Vanarack Automotive specialise in forward-facing rear seat conversions for vehicles like the Land Rover Defender and Discovery.

Our kits are:

Safety tested
Installed by approved fitters
Issued with a certificate of conformity for insurance and legal compliance
There is no mention in their communications or product offerings of side-facing seat installations, reinforcing the industry preference for safer configurations

✅ Best Practice Recommendation
If you're converting a camper van for passenger use:

Opt for forward-facing or rear facing rear seats with three-point seatbelts
Ensure installation is done by a qualified professional
Obtain a certificate of conformity
Notify the DVLA and your insurer of the modification