possible worrying times for some?

[Roger King]

Who knows, Clive? It's a complete mess. All throughout the 2000s since SVA came in there has been complete inconsistency between DVLA offices. It wasn't an administrative error in any sense at all - it was a lack of policy and clear guidance from on high to government departments, who then acted as they understood the (unclear) legislation. For example, my car was registered following the SVA pass just 2-3 weeks before Alan Broadbent's, mine at Peterborough and his at Norwich. Same spec cars as I'd basically built both of them, or at least given guidance on components etc. Mine got historic, his didn't. This was happening all over the country and if they're going to start playing with retrospective legislation (which will set some very dangerous precedents) they're going to need some pretty hefty resources to sort it all out. And speaking as someone who is currently employed in a government agency, I can tell you that that is one thing they most definitely do not have. And I can tell you also that the lack of guidance on policy, or how to interpret standard operating procedures etc. is getting much, much worse rather than better. Just don't get me started on the SOP for admitting foreign clinicians to work in this country.

All this is therefore crystal-ball gazing, we do not know any of the answers, and at the moment neither do 'they'.

Roger

And frankly, if the BOC have been issuing VINs to new, built up cars (reconstructed classics in DVSA's terminology) and claiming they are historic, they deserve what they get. It would be incredibly unfair if this were to bring down other, more impecunious enthusiasts who enjoy their hobby without an eye on the values.

[amulheirn]

Interesting and slightly concerning. I have a few thoughts:

1. For the newbies here, could someone explain the difference between "registered as historic" and having an "age-related plate"? I've been looking at various .gov pages, but can't find anything that tells me what historic registration entails.

(Personally, my only main concern is getting an age-related plate so that the end result looks authentic. Are there benefits to being 'historic' that I don't understand?)

2. When building a component car using a donor car's major parts, is it not the case that we fall into the category of "7. Kit-converted vehicles" on this page? https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/overview

If so, as I understand it, there is no requirement to use the original chassis and body (unless you want to retain the original plate). There's also no requirement to use components older than 25 years, unlike the 'Reconstructed Classic Vehicle' category.


3. At the bottom of Gerry's PDF pricelist it says he's a member of STATUS (http://www.status.mmu.ac.uk/) which seems to be established in order to represent the specialist car industry to government. I wonder what Gerry and/or STATUS think (or might already be doing) about this? It might affect the industry somewhat.


Your thoughts would be appreciated!

Andy

[catsx11]

.

[Paul Blore]

Hi Alan,

That's not correct I'm afraid.

Technically, to get "Historic" status, the car has to be an original pre-197x vehicle in its entirety. You can't get Historic status on a "kit", regardless of how many components are pre-197x, other than by a technical mistake by the DVLA office.

Actually, I don't think you can "get" Historic status, a vehicle is or isn't Historic as far as the DVLA is concerned. The only exception to that is if you import an pre-197x vehicle from abroad, in which case, provided you have the necessary proof, the vehicle will be given Historic status.

The main benefit of having Historic status is that the annual road tax fee is zero.

As already stated, the different DVLA offices do occasionally make mistakes and some cars have been given Historic status when they actually shouldn't have.

Does that about cover it?

Paul

[clive]

Age related means the car has a registration year that relates to that of the donor vehicle, I'm not sure how many components are required from the donor now as this changed recently. You will not get the registration of the donor car, but an un-issued one from the same year but relating to the region where the car is registered. For example, my donor car was registered in Southampton, but I was issued a Dundee registration from DVLA.

Historic Status relates to a ruling brought in by the Tories in the 1970s which stated that any car over 25 years old did not pay road fund duty. This was recinded when the labour party came in to power, so effectively all pre 1974 cars qualified for this, but after that date any car has to pay road fund duty.

As far as having an authentic looking number plate, even if you get a new plate there is nothing to stop you buying a cherished number from one of the many websites or DVLA auction and using that, unless the car is on a Q plate when you cannot change the number.

[catsx11]

.

[Karl]

My car was first registered in 2009 and yes, I did get an age related plate (1974), based on three parts from the donor, from Derby (because the car was 2009 first time registered in Derby).
That had nothing to do with tax, I paid the normal tax all the years. Only the insurance company took the 1974 year into consideration and handeled it as an older car. Historic is (at least over here) a matter of 30 years old after first registration. And then still you have to pay a (fixed amount, 191 €) of tax every year.

[Paul Blore]

I understood it differently...https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration ... d-vehicles
Paul you think only a vehicle in it's entirety can have History Status, yet here it seems to imply 'parts' are acceptable…
Quote:

Get an age-related registration number
"You can apply for an age-related number if you can prove you’ve used 2 original major parts along with:

"- a new monocoque bodyshell, chassis or frame from a specialist kit manufacturer
"- an altered chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame from the original vehicle

"The registration number will be based on the age of the original vehicle."

May be Historic and Tax Free are two different things?

Hi Alan,

You appear to be confusing "age related" with "historic". The above quotes relate to age-related.

Paul

[Dale Bowman]

The main benefit of having Historic status is that the annual road tax fee is zero.Paul

Personally the Historic benefit is being able to keep the car looking right, in particular, the lights.

I would gladly pay the road tax if they'd still allow L52's, no fog light, no side repeaters etc etc. .... I know there are ways round it by "hiding" things away but not having to do this is my "thing".

[Paul Blore]

The main benefit of having Historic status is that the annual road tax fee is zero.Paul

Personally the Historic benefit is being able to keep the car looking right, in particular, the lights.

I would gladly pay the road tax if they'd still allow L52's, no fog light, no side repeaters etc etc. .... I know there are ways round it by "hiding" things away but not having to do this is my "thing".

Agreed.