VanLife Beacon

Maintenance & repair bodies and accreditation schemes

The trade bodies, accreditation schemes and inspection networks that sit behind van and motorhome maintenance — chassis servicing is handled by the ordinary vehicle-dealer network, so this directory focuses on the organisations specific to the habitation (living-area) side and to vehicle roadworthiness testing. UK-specific entries are marked as such; each entry links to the organisation, and status reflects when we last checked the source.

Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS)

UK accreditation scheme for habitation-check workshops, run jointly by the NCC, The Caravan and Motorhome Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club. Publishes a directory of approved workshops, a code of practice and an independent dispute resolution service (AWSIDRS).

Habitation-check accreditationWorkshop directory
UK Visit site →

NCC (National Caravan Council)

UK trade body for the caravan and motorhome industry. Co-runs the Approved Workshop Scheme and is the reference for the recommended 3-yearly EICR electrical check on NCC-badged vehicles.

Trade bodyHabitation-check accreditation
UK Visit site →

The Caravan and Motorhome Club

UK membership club for caravan and motorhome owners; co-founding partner of the Approved Workshop Scheme alongside the NCC and The Camping and Caravanning Club.

Membership clubHabitation-check accreditation
UK Visit site →

The Camping and Caravanning Club

UK membership club for camping, caravan and motorhome owners; the third co-founding partner of the Approved Workshop Scheme.

Membership clubHabitation-check accreditation
UK Visit site →

Gas Safe Register

The UK's official register of gas engineers and businesses, legally required for anyone working on LPG/gas appliances and installations. A habitation check's gas test must be signed off by a Gas Safe registered engineer — gas work is not a DIY job. UK-specific: other European countries use their own national gas-safety registration, not this one.

Gas safetyOfficial register
UK Visit site →

TÜV SÜD

One of Germany's main statutory vehicle-inspection bodies (alongside TÜV Nord and TÜV Rheinland). Carries out the Hauptuntersuchung (HU) roadworthiness test on the base vehicle — this covers the vehicle, not the habitation area.

Vehicle inspectionRoadworthiness test
DE (network also active in other EU markets) Visit site →

DEKRA

German-headquartered vehicle-inspection group, one of the designated Hauptuntersuchung (HU) providers in Germany and a technical-inspection operator in several other European countries. Covers the vehicle's roadworthiness, not the habitation area.

Vehicle inspectionRoadworthiness test
DE + other EU markets Visit site →

Sources

What this page is based on — every source is verified and links out so you can check it yourself.

  1. Approved Workshop Scheme — habitation checks (NCC · The Caravan and Motorhome Club · The Camping and Caravanning Club)verified · 2026-07 · VanLife Beacon
  2. Gas Safe Register — official UK gas engineer registerofficial · 2026-07 · VanLife Beacon