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Registrations
and MOT's
When it come to registering a vehicle, one of the most off-putting things for a lot of people is the paperwork. Since the inception of the VHRA we have been issuing letters of authentication for barn finds, imports, reconstructed classics and all sorts of vehicles with or without identity. The service also runs to helping with the form filling too.
There are a number of requirements from the DVLA when it comes to confirming the age of a vehicle. If you have old documentation supporting the vehicle registration that clearly shows the chassis number, such as a buff log book, then the application is made via a V765 form. For this you will need a club on the V765 register, of which the VHRA is one, to authenticate what you have. To qualify, cars do need to be complete and in one piece.
In an effort to stay aware of any changes in legislation, the VHRA is a a member of the FBHVC, and we make every effort to keep this page up to date with current legislature. To find out more about the FBHVC
click on the logo below.
If the vehicle is bereft of any old UK registration paperwork, such as an import or a barn find, you need to apply using a V55/5 form, which you can find by clicking the form above. You will also need supporting evidence of age, and in the first instance a foreign title or registration document is preferred by the DVLA. After that, a letter from the manufacturer is seen as the next best thing. However, a number of manufacturers don’t have records going way back, Ford is one of those, and that’s where owners clubs come in. The VHRA are able to assist in the dating of a vehicle as long as it meets the DVLA requirements and we have records of the make and model in our library. This means that vehicles must be close to original, constructed of parts all from the same marque, of the same or very similar vintage, and in a complete, roadworthy condition.
For the VHRA to issue a letter, we firstly need to see a series of photographs of the car in question, which will then be followed up with a physical inspection if we consider it necessary. The photographs must include one of the chassis number, one of the engine number if it has one, one of the engine in place, and photographs from around the car showing the major components to enable us to date the vehicle correctly. The major components that the DVLA outline in their rules are;
The original unmodified chassis or monocoque bodyshell
Suspension (front and back)
Steering assembly
Axles (both)
Transmission
Engine
Written confirmation of the numbers and specification of the car are also required to make sure everything tallies up. Whilst cars do need to be roadworthy, they do not need an MOT to prove it. Letters start at £30 for members, £60 for non-members. If a physical inspection is required, (which is the case for all V765 applications for an original number plate), and we to travel to you, both time and travel costs would be at your expense, which starts at £150 and is payable in advance.
That then brings you to actually completing the V55/5, which in DVLA speak is the “Application for first vehicle tax and registration of a used motor vehicle”. As this form covers all used vehicles, including six month old grey imports and the like, there are a number of very confusing questions contained within its two pages that have no relevance to antique vehicles. In an endeavour to help streamline things, we have have compiled an easy to understand guide when it comes to registering a vehicle of the age VHRA members prefer. Follow this and you won’t go far wrong. If the box number isn’t in the list below, just leave it blank on the form.
We’ll start from the top of the form and work our way through the numbers. This will all make a lot more sense with the V55/5 in front of you.
2 - Historic.
3 - 12 months.
4 - £55.
6 - The make of vehicle, eg: Ford, Chevrolet, etc.
7 - The model of vehicle, eg: Model A, Model 40, 3100, Bel Air, etc.
8 - Bodystyle, eg: coupe, sedan, sports, etc.
9 - 2 axle rigid.
10 - The colour of your vehicle.
17 - The number of places there are to sit.
24 - If the title only shows a year, put it as 01/01/year, otherwise put the date in full.
25 - Year of manufacture as noted on the title or dating letter supplied by the owners club.
26 - Either use the date you are completing the application, or mirror that of box 30.
30 - Date for tax to start, usually the first of the month, either the current month or the following one.
31 - Fuel type, petrol, diesel, etc.
32 - Chassis number, again as confirmed on the dating letter.
33 - Engine number, don’t worry if you don’t have one, it’s not essential. If it’s there it must be included.
34 - Engine size in cc’s. The DVLA do like the figure to be accurate, not rounded up or down.
At the top of the page, there are a couple of boxes without numbers. One is the country the vehicle came from, the other is a lhd/rhd selection. Be sure to fill these in.
To the second page…
70 - Name and address.
71 - Date of birth. (Optional)
72 - Write “Exempt due to age”.
73 - Optional, but it won’t hurt to put the mileage.
Then the declaration at the bottom, which needs to be signed and dated.
The DVLA are currently charging £55 to process an application. When sending in the documentation you will also need to include proof of address and ID, for this a copy of your photocard driving licence will suffice. If the vehicle is more than forty years old and meets MOT exemption rules, no MOT is required. If the car is recently imported, you will need to complete a NOVA declaration, which should be done at the time of import. If it has been imported but kicking about for a while, you will need proof of duty paid in the shape of a C&E389 if commercially imported, or a C&E386 for a private import. This needs to be presented to HMRC so they can get the car onto the NOVA system before submitting an application to the DVLA. If you have no import paperwork, a call to the NOVA offices can set you in the right direction, and will be followed by a bit of form filling. They are very helpful and it is unlikely that they will seek to charge you any duty, at least not where our old hot rods are concerned, anyway. They can be contacted on 0300 322 7071. When you have everything together, send it to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BE.
For more information on registering a vehicle, go to the DVLA website. www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration
V55/5 forms can be obtained from the DVLA website by clicking HERE.
If you need any assistance from the VHRA with registering a vehicle, email us with the details at info@vhra.co.uk. Before contacting us, remember that cars do need to be mostly original, complete, roadworthy, (if applying via V55/5), and constructed from parts all of the same make and of a similar age. If new parts, or parts from different makes are used, this goes against DVLA regulations and we won’t be able to assist with the registration. It’s also worth noting that the Structurally Modified Vehicle rules do not apply at first registration, that only applies to vehicles that are already registered. Thanks to some rather diligent campaigning by the FBHVC, some replacement bodies are acceptable when applying for a period registration. To meet the DVLA rules, it must be a body that could have been placed on the frame from the outset, or is of a style which historically has become associated with the marque.
MOT EXEMPTION
We would like to thank the FBHVC for their tireless efforts in getting the DfT to pay attention to the needs of historic vehicle owners.
What follows is a condensed verison the guidance provided by the Department for Transport. Further reading can be found by following this link:
Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT exemption criteria
The VHRA are on the FBHVC list for giving advice for MOT exemption, but it is only guidance, with the final responsibility of whether to MOT or not solely in the hands of the owner.
Guidance
Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT exemption criteria.
MOT exemption eligibility:
A vehicle does not need an MOT if:
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it was built or first registered more than 40 years ago
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no substantial changes have been made to the vehicle in the last 30 years
This includes vehicles previously exempted on the basis of being first registered before 1960.
Such vehicles are known as vehicles of historical interest (VHIs).
You will need to declare that your vehicle is exempt from the requirement for an MOT when you apply to tax it. You must tax your vehicle even if you do not have to pay.
Your vehicle must be roadworthy whether it is exempt or not, you may wish to voluntarily undertake an MOT test anyway.
Your vehicle must have an MOT if it:
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has been substantially changed
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is a large vehicle being used commercially
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has a registration number with a ‘Q’ prefix
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is a kit car constructed from components from different makes or models
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is a kit conversion where a kit body, chassis or monocoque is added to an existing vehicle or vice versa
However, if a vehicle meeting one or more of these criteria is taxed as a ‘historic vehicle’, and it has not been modified during the previous 30 years, it is exempt from needing an MOT.
If you cannot confirm that a vehicle has not been substantially changed, you must not claim MOT exemption.
This guidance is only intended to determine the testing position of a substantially changed vehicle, not its registration.
Telling DVLA of changes made to a vehicle:
What counts as a substantial change:
A vehicle alteration is a substantial change if the technical characteristics of the main components have changed in the previous 30 years, unless the changes fall into the acceptable alterations category.
The main components for vehicles, other than motorcycles are:
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chassis or frame: replacements of the same pattern as the original are not considered to be a substantial change
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monocoque bodyshell: of the same pattern as the original are not considered to be a substantial change (including any sub-frames)
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axles and running gear: alteration of the type or method of suspension and steering is a ‘substantial change’
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engine: alternative cubic capacities of the same basic engine and alternative original equipment engines are not considered to be a substantial change
Further arrangements for motorcycles may be introduced, including if core testing standards are considered further internationally.
There are exceptions that do not count as substantial changes to the main components.
Acceptable changes: exemptions:
It does not count as a ‘substantial change’ if:
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changes are made to preserve a vehicle because the original type parts are no longer reasonably available
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they are changes of a type which can be demonstrated to have been made when vehicles of the type were in production or within 10 years of the end of production
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axles and running gear have been changed to improve efficiency, safety or environmental performance
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changes were made to vehicles that were previously used as commercial vehicles, and you can prove the changes were made when the vehicle was used commercially
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engine – alternative cubic capacities of the same basic engine, or alternative original equipment engines - where the number of cylinders is different, this is typically (but not always) non‑original equipment
