DVLA targeting Classic Cars?

[wantafaster1]

Mot ready

[Andrew1967]

No worries then

[spraybeateer]

Hope nobody minds me adding my recent experience to this thread as there seems to
be a few on DVLA going on.
As most on here will know I own a particularly rare Mini, which was first registered
07/01/1978 and has a build date of 01/02/1976, that makes it qualify for Historic
Vehicle Tax classification, and I know come April 5th it qualifies anyway, but as most
I don't like paying tax, so I decided to apply for Historic tax now ie from January,to
aid this I sent of the required paperwork to Swansea the vehicle is taxed at the moment
by the way, anyway what I sent off was the V5c, current MOT cert, the Heritage certificate ,
the relevant form, and a covering letter, on Friday 9th Feb got this from DVLA,

As can be imagined my brain went into overdrive and I thought and still do the worst
then I phoned DVLA at 1pm Friday and after the usual pass the buck, and being accused
of whether I did send the the Heritage certificate or not was told some DVLA person would
get back to me either that afternoon or first thing Monday morning! I waited till 12.30 today
still no phone call.
I then phoned them and got a bit of a run around again, but eventually got the person named
on the letter, proper jobs worth, his answer was that this is a big building and things go missing,
and as he could not process anything with out the Heritage certificate I would need to get a duplicate,
My answer to him was that in my last employment, the Workshop Manager for a large construction
Company, one of my tasks was to keep all the records and arrangements for Road fund tax ,Mots,
VOSA HGV tests ect for a fleet of 250 vehicles, all manually collated as my predecessors didn't like
computers, if I had lost any of the paperwork for them I would have had all the powers that be on
top of me and would have walked, his response well what ever. DVLA Government Dept.

The Count

[Pete]

A few lessons I've learnt over the years :

1. ALWAYS send documents you can't afford to lose by recorded delivery.

2. Always send copies if you can. If not always copy the originals first.

I remember sending a bunch of paperwork recorded delivery that they couldn't find weeks later, or didn't have a record of receipt until I called a couple of times...then they suddenly found it. Still unopened.

[Andrew1967]

Trouble is Pete, sending something by recorded delivery only really covers the envelope, not what's inside it.

[rich@minispares.com]

Always send stuff silver 12 as it's tracked all the way.

The orange lable signed for sticker isn't worth the cost as all it gives you is a signature once the item is actually delivered.

The silver service is next day as well. So it's well worth the cost

[spraybeateer]

The bit that is really upsetting is that they have all the paperwork that I sent including
the stamped addressed large envelope with do not bend on it, the only missing part
is the Heritage Certificate

[BLT]

Don't you just go to the post office to amend tax class to historic, then they send it off?

[spraybeateer]

Don't you just go to the post office to amend tax class to historic, then they send it off?

That is what it says on the DVLA website! when I went to the PO they said no it
needed to be sent to Swansea by me! for amendment. I then phoned DVLA they
agreed with the PO.

[Andrew1967]

Don't you just go to the post office to amend tax class to historic, then they send it off?

That’s what I did when I put the pick up back on the road last year. Although to be precise, I did have a V5C.

I used to have to go to the local DVLO office but when they closed them all it could be done at the PO. Since they closed those offices it’s been somewhat hit and miss and very inconsistent.

[Jamie]

I had the same with the DVLA when I sent my "receipt/covering letter" and docs for my engine change.

After a few weeks I had the letter back saying I hadn't sent the required receipt for the work....which I had!

I got the run around on the phone too - so I resent it and stapled it all together a couple of times and they managed not to lose it.

[Peter Laidler]

I wonder if they'd accept certified true copies of the docs, signed and stamped by your local solicitor or other noteworthy nob.

[mk1]

I wonder if they'd accept certified true copies of the docs, signed and stamped by your local solicitor or other noteworthy nob.

Legally a "notarised" copy is exactly the same as an original. Although whether it's worth spending £150.00 getting notarised copies is questionable.

[BLT]

Don't you just go to the post office to amend tax class to historic, then they send it off?

That’s what I did when I put the pick up back on the road last year. Although to be precise, I did have a V5C.

I used to have to go to the local DVLO office but when they closed them all it could be done at the PO. Since they closed those offices it’s been somewhat hit and miss and very inconsistent.

Spraybeateer had his V5C too, so why would the P.O turn him away when GOV.UK specifically says go to the P.O? Surely they're duty bound as long as they do vehicle tax. Just got to do mine in the coming months, so wondering what best route is to avoid the run around. I need an MOT first though right? ... the car was last taxed 1992 Cheers.

[spraybeateer]

The Person I spoke to in our local PO got the details up on screen and it said
that the tax classification was PLG and I would need to send to DVLA to have it
amended, to be fair to him? as the car was registered 07/01/1978 ie 40yrs old
it doesn't officially qualify for Historic Vehicle Tax till the start of the tax year
05 April, hence the reason for sending all the paperwork to DVLA, proof of
build date ie 07/02/1976, I would have applied earlier! but for 1 of the required
documents, namely the MOT certificate , all the paperwork was sent the same day
that it passed 22 Jan 2018. The car had been on SORN since 2010.
As said I still wonder that only the Heritage Certificate was missing

[Polarsilver]

Dear Count.. thanks for your post to open my eyes as i also have a July 1978 ( GT) and only just realised i need to change my V5c to Historic .. just couple of questions ..
1. What DVLA form do i need to fill in to get the V5C changed to Historic Vehicle ?
2. Why do i need to include a Heritage Certificate when the DVLA are anyway aware of the cars original date of registration?
Many Thanks.

[spraybeateer]

Dear Count.. thanks for your post to open my eyes as i also have a July 1978 ( GT) and only just realised i need to change my V5c to Historic .. just couple of questions ..
1. What DVLA form do i need to fill in to get the V5C changed to Historic Vehicle ?
2. Why do i need to include a Heritage Certificate when the DVLA are anyway aware of the cars original date of registration?
Many Thanks.

The form seems to be a bit of a problem I did get it from DVLA site but now can't seem to find it
The reason I sent the Heritage Certificate was to prove the build date( so as to get the Historic Vehicle
classification changed before the tax year date 05 April).I think you won't need to!
To be quite honest I now wish I had just waited .
As they say there are two certain things in life Death and Taxes,One we can do nowt about ! to get some of the
other back is always a bonus.

The Count

[Supersonic]

There seems to be a pattern now with the DVLA. Vehicles changing hands seem to trigger questions from what we see over here. Some years down the road when age changes ownership of dubious / doubtful Minis and all the shady current owners are gone what will happen? We need to educate young people that this minefield must be avoided at all costs

Alan

[Andrew1967]

Dear Count.. thanks for your post to open my eyes as i also have a July 1978 ( GT) and only just realised i need to change my V5c to Historic .. just couple of questions ..
1. What DVLA form do i need to fill in to get the V5C changed to Historic Vehicle ?
2. Why do i need to include a Heritage Certificate when the DVLA are anyway aware of the cars original date of registration?
Many Thanks.

Unless it's changed, I don't think a July 78 car will be eligible for tax exemption until April 2019, unless it was built in 77.

My late 75 pick up only became eligible in April 2016.

[Polarsilver]

Andrew .. good advice thanks .. for your 75 Pick-Up did you have to apply to DVLA to change the V5c to say Historic Vehicle?