If someone had asked what the most difficult part of building a car was i would think, well there's:

Engine mounts to design and build
Gearbox to engine conversion plate to engineer.
Cluth hybride system to develop
Brake balance to sus out.
Chasis to design and weld (not me)
Suspension geometry.
Blahh,blahh blahh.

But no its blo@dy red tape, miles and miles of it!

Having suseccfully passed a SVA test and having spent 6 visits to the local DVLA office (which you can't phone direct), having had two inspections, yes two, by the DVLA on the vehicle.

I was allocated a reg number and told to submit an insurance cover note so a licence could be issued.
So once again I travell 40 miles to their office and wait, letter in hand.
Only to be told, "thank you, but we cant issue the licence yet as there are a few things still to sort out" But if you give me your cheque and the original copy of your insurance cover note we will send it to you when we have completed the neccessary things.
So they now have my insurance and cheque wich will probably pay for October Tax and i wont recieve the Disc untill November.
Dont get me wrong the people have been pleasent and freindly but it just seems to go on and on and Onnnn
Reminds me of the Python parrat sketch.

Plese let this be the end!!!!


Advice for future : Buy a pre registerd Kit, strip and rebuid.


Rant Over

I know how you feel. My local office seem equally incompetent. Fortunately mine is only 5 miles away, but I still think the DVLA will be the biggest barrier to getting on the road.

Stu

But the real problem is not "the red tape", but the fact that some offices use rolls and rolls of it, where others, just tear a tiny bit off now and again!.
I was fortunate to have a unbelieveably smooth and pain free experience, partly I'm sure in having a real person to contact at Nottingham DVLA.
DVLA inspection AM, went Chassis number - check, engine number -check , nice car I'll fill the form in for you!
SVA PM -check, -check,-check pass!!!
DVLA PM leave the MAC, money, licence insurance, you'll get the stuff in the post in a day or three!
I'm glad I did'nt pay the bloke that advertises in the magasines to do it for me! But I think he could be good value if you live near a less goods DVLA

Regards

[Edited on 2/10/06 by ReMan]

I think it pays to ring or email the top man in DVLA Swansea and complain about the incompetance of your local office.

But we don't want them all aligning their standards and interpretations to them of the crappest offices though, so best keep schtum eh