I NEED HELP
just been to my local DVLA office in Maidstone to hand in my V627/1 form and they said that i have to get my car SVA'd first then take it to them,they will then inspect it and issue me with a chassis number and reg,is this right,as i think ive read on this forum that you get the car inspected first then SVA'd ?or am i just confused ? !!

Have a read of this thread.

SVA Guide

If you can get it inspected first, but each DVLA office seems to deal with the inspection differently.
I have SVA'd two cars and both I managed to get the DVLA to inspect immediately after the SVA, the first one I then got the reg. straight away and was road legal within half an hour the second I had to wait for two weeks for the registration to come through but both were with Ipswich DVLA.

[Edited on 3/4/06 by Schrodinger]

I got mine registered first but i think the rules have changed since. you need chassis number for SVA and also for insurance so you can drive it there. I wrote to DVLA, proposed my own chassis number and they confirmed it was acceptable.

I went via Maidstone as well (in October 2005) and the sequence for me was:

1. Apply to DVLA with paper work as far as possible, and request to use the chassis number I wanted... they said the number was OK

2. SVA

3. Next day, go to DVLA for inspection, after which they issued the reg number there and then, with a certificate to enable me to go and get number plates

As discussed, I think a chassis number is required before SVA, so one way or another you need to get one agreed by Maidstone DVLA. If it's any use, the person I dealt with at Maidstone was Julie Whitaker, who was very helpful.

[Edited on 3/4/06 by Humbug]

Can't you just put your own chassis number on the sva form and send it in?
I know my number has not been taken as I used one of those online vin checkers

Yes you can make up your own number so long as it has 17 alpha numeric characters. Avoid the letters O,Q,I and I also avoided using the number 1 as this can sometimes be mistaken for an I, similarly with zero's which can look like O's

Didn't want any last minute hitches with the DVLA.

Cheers

Dave

I was told that you are not allowed to use I or Q and that was it. I was also told to have the car inspected 1st then go for SVA.

i made up my own chassis number and then applied for sva, got a letter back from dvla stating that the chassis number was ok and date for test, as previous people have said 17 digits comprising of numbers and letters. having passed sva went the following day to register with dvla and they have arranged for a vehicle inspection at my home to be done by the police. i contacted the police today and they are coming to inspect the vehicle tommorrow and so hopefully should be on the road for the weekend. a four day turn around i think is pretty good. dependant which local office of the dvla you use some carry out their own inspections but at beverley it is the police.

Hi Guys,
Just to add to this debate, I just got a letter back from the Glasgow DVLA office and they said the following:

1. I CAN'T choose my own chassis number (even though I asked and proposed a valid number) so they have allocated me one on form V842. I need to stamp the numbers on to the car and then take the form and car to a local "franchised dealer or garage" to get them to authenticate it and stamp it with the garage stamp. I hope to get a local garage owner to come to my house and stamp my form for me. The garage is then supposed to send the form in to DVLA.

2. I must complete forms V55/5, V627/1 and have an SVA certificate, insurance certificate and identity documentation (eg. photocard drivers license) along with a payment of £38 for registration and £175 for 12 mths tax. Once this is all received by DVLA they will arrange an inspection visit.

Here are the contact details for the person who wrote back to me:

S Robertson
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Transactions
Glasgow Local Office
Alhambra House
45 Waterloo Street
Glasgow
G2 6TT
Tel: 08702 406282

It certainly seems that the rules vary from local office to local office but this seems to be the process in Glasgow.

Cheers,
Craig.

Good job I live in the South, so as I can avoid this S Robertson geezer

[Edited on 17/4/2006 by nitram38]

To be fair it's probably not his/her fault, it will just be the rules he/she has been told to work to. The letter I received was very helpful and prompt so I can't complain so far. If they have a well organised and efficient process then I am hoping that the inspection will be prompt and registration should not take long thereafter.

After all, I've been building the car for 3+ years so I don't think another week or so after SVA is going to kill me...

Cheers,
Craig.

[Edited on 17/4/2006 by craig1410]

get sva first with chassis numer you know hasnt been used and chances are it wont have

then fill in dvla forms and get them to the dvla just before sva and act thick if they say anything

I'm not bothered what my chassis number is to be honest so I'll just use the one they have given me. I can then arrange insurance and get the V842 form authenticated by a garage. I can't complete the V55/5 form until SVA because several pieces of information from the SVA certificate go on the form. The only thing I might be able to arrange before SVA is the DVLA inspection since I think all that is required for it is form V627 and the allocated chassis number.

I hear what you are saying but I always feel it is best to work with the system if possible. It's usually easier in the long run!

Thanks,
Craig.

I've arranged sva in nottingham in the morning, then dvla inspection straight afterwards also in nottingham. Both were very helpful as I postponed my sva date the day before i was due to have it and it's all rearranged now.