I have got an Escort Mk2 'donor' car. 1300. What I have done over the years is to do an engine change on the donor car V5C to get the correct engine number and capacity on the new car.

So sent V5C to Swansea change of capacity to 1600 and change of engine number so it becomes a 'donor 'item for the kit car.

DVLA have returned it, change not implemented. They have told me to tax the car as a 1300 first, then change the engine number and capacity, they will then charge me more tax, as they say the engine change affects the rate of duty. This is a 1980 car. Not something I have come across before.

Obviously I cannot tax the car as is , cos it is a scrapper!!

Any ideas? Or shall I just accept a Q plate.

Colin

It's probably because the car tax bands split at 1549cc and you're switching from one to the other that's causing this issue.

You dont have to use the engine to retain the donor reg, it can be 2 of any of the main components (gearbox, axle, steering etc.)

why not just build the locost as a 1300 and then when IVA'd change capacity to 1600 then as kit will be a runner??

We had this once with a kit car registered as 1300 x flow but running a 2 litre pinto, for us it was a project that we worked on then sold on without wanting to put it on the road I got involved with a woman at the DVLA who gave same mesage as you have . We could seethe lunacyinthe systemeven if they couldn't!
Eventually got to speak to her on the phone and pointed out that you could see the problem if someone said they were fitting a smaller engine so less tax for the DVLA but going the other way to get a car honestly registered and to pay more tax seemed to be getting made harder by the rules, she saw sense and accepted the changes, no engineere report or photos required,

click of a button,

so give it a go - best voice , very polite, very patient.....
good luck !

atb
Mike