I trailered my car to my local DVLA office today to get it inspected so that they could issue a chassis number.
Took all my receipts, donor logbook with matching and original numbers, full photographic build record, expecting a formality.
Unfortunately not.

The car has a book chassis and suspension built by myself (for which I have receipts for materials), together with engine, gearbox and back axle from my donor Escort. To my mind age related plate.

She looked at the engine number and said, "You know this will be a Q don't you?"

"No" said I, "New chassis and more than 2 components from donor is age related plate."
"Not so." says she, and quotes INF26 (Guidelines for the registration of rebuilt or radically altered vehicles and kit cars), which says.

If a new monocoque bodyshell or chassis from a specialist kit manufacturer is used (or an altered chassis/bodyshell from an existing vehicle) together with two major components from a donor vehicle, an age related mark will be assigned.

"Specialist kit manufacturer" is the problem. Despite the fact that chassis is new I'm not a specialist kit manufacturer, so it'll be a Q plate.

Same office has previously issued at least 3 age related plates on book built locosts that I am aware of.

Needless to say I argued the toss, after which she concluded that INF 26 did not cover my situation, and after telephoning DVLA has sent all my receipts and some of my photos to Swansea for a decision.

I'll see what they say, but at the moment I'm a bit miffed.

David

[Edited on 16/9/05 by DavidM]

Create your own make beleive chassis company, write yourself e receipt for the chassis - problem solved. All done legit, just attacking the problem from a different angle.

Hope this helps,

Mike

Thanks Mike but I'm not sure if they would accept that part way through the process. I'll wait and see what Swansea say and take it from there.
It's not that I particularly mind a Q plate, it's the fact that during the build a lot of the decisions I made in relation to specification were solely to qualify for an age related plate. If I'd have known they'd issue a Q I'd probably have put a different engine and box in from the start.

Does anyone know if there are any implications at SVA time, particularly in relation to emission requirements?

David

This process you're going through is only to obtain a chassis number isn't it?

Once you've got the number, get it SVA'd and take it somewhere else to be registered (after getting a receipt from a Specialist Kit Manufacturer)

Whether its eventually on a Q plate or age related plate, this will have no implications for SVA

I don't know if each area is different, but, the only way you would get an age related plate (in Surrey), is, if you had the V5 of the donor in your name, where it states the engine number (that you have used in your build), along with of course, the gear box and/or major parts from that same donor.
Just saying that they are from the same donor is not enough
ATB Fozzie

assuming this is northampton dvla you need to speak to andy or andrew, he is the one who normally looks after kits and he took over from brian brumfeild..(ask for him if the name andy dont work)

he did my kit and seems ok

dave

Hi David
It sounds as if you have a bit of hassle, the guy I spoke to was standing in for the proper examiner and was very accomadating his name was Geoff something but as he didnt know much about kit registrations i basically told him what i required., i also spoke to a woman there on the phone and she did sound like a jobs worth.I am fairly sure that you will get the age related plate from Swansea as a home built car does not fit the other catorgorys either.After all you are the chassis manufacturer even if you only build the one car and why should it make any difference.
They lost all my paperwork at Swansea for over three months after i registered the car so i would ring them regularly and hassle them.
Paul.

quote:

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Originally posted by dave r
assuming this is northampton dvla you need to speak to andy or andrew, he is the one who normally looks after kits and he took over from brian brumfeild..(ask for him if the name andy dont work)

he did my kit and seems ok

dave

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quote:

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Originally posted by Fozzie
I don't know if each area is different, but, the only way you would get an age related plate (in Surrey), is, if you had the V5 of the donor in your name, where it states the engine number (that you have used in your build), along with of course, the gear box and/or major parts from that same donor.
Just saying that they are from the same donor is not enough
ATB Fozzie

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You are having a bad time! Yes, down here (Surrey), the chassis itself does have to be made by a 'known' manufacturer...one of the many reasons why I opted to buy just the chassis, as I wanted an age related plate. I did have to show the people at Wimbledon DVLA my receipt for the chassis as proof.
I cannot see why, if a car can get through the SVA, and you have the relevant donor documentation, it should be on a Q plate.. it doesn't make sense to me either.
I hope you get a satisfactory result, and if not. a plausable explanation!
Keep us posted on the outcome! Good luck!
ATB Fozzie

Or from another angle:

Were you advised as to how many chassis' have to be built before it is recognised as a 'specialist kit car?

Argueably, this *could*be the first car from the 'new' company...



But TBH, unless you have a private number plate that you want to use, what's the problem with a 'Q'? You can't see the plates from the driving seat...

[Edited on 17/9/05 by Stu16v]

quite right, just stick anything on it as long as it means that you can drive it!