Guys

A few days ago I posted that I was gonna write to my local DVLA offices to get a written explaination of how to register my Locost.

Here is that thread.

Pompey DVLA have replied already.

For those that are interested here's their response:

"Dear Mr Sideways,

Thank you for your letter dated 18/9/03

The Kit Car procedure you have undertaken is very common placed. It is something we are experienced at and you should not have too many problems, if any, from the DVLA regulations. >>> Almost an admission of the daftness of the regs there?

Firstly I shall talk about the VIN number. As you are not a manufacturer we will have to allocate you a 17 digit DVLA VIN. This VIN will be allocated after you have had a DVLA inspection. The DVLA does not charge for this, however, it must be stamped in by either an MOT test station or Dealer who may charge for the stamping process. Bugger

Your DVLA inspection will be booked once we receive an application from you. Enclosed are the forms that you need to complete and return to me. >>> Thanks, saves me the bother

SVA cannot be applied for until you have completed your DVLA inspection and a VIN is allocated. >>> Fair enough.

I have included a checklist that explains what forms are required for final processing. MOT is now optional if SVA is obtained >>> See enclosed list at the bottom.

I will now try to answer your remaining questions.

a) You can drive your vehicle to and from pre-arranged DVLA and VI inspections once insured - Number plates are not required. - >>> In writing on DVLA letterhead!! Plodproof?

b) Class is PLG (Private and light goods) Duh - Not what I meant at all.

c) RFL is obtained at final processing. Produced by us here.

d) Registration fee is £25

e) If succesful you WILL be allocated another 'N' registration. >>> Blinder!

I hope I have covered all your questions.

Yours Sincerely

Mr Namechangedtoprotecttheinnocent.
Vehicle Inspection Officer."


So the enclosed docs were as follows:

1x Form V55/5 "Application for 1st license for a used motor vehicle and declaration for registration"

1 x Form V355/5 "How to complete form V55/5"

1x Form V627/1 "Build up inspection report"

1 x Information Leaflet INF26 "Guidelines for registering rebuilt or radically altered vehicle."

The chap has clearly asterisked the "Kit Conversions" section of INF26, this states:

"If a new monocoque or bodyshell from a specialist kit manufacturer is used (or an altered chassis/bodyshell from an existing vehicle) together with two major componants from the donor vehicle, an age related mark will be assigned. The mark will be based on the age of the donor vehicle. An SVA certificate is required to register the vehicle"

1x Piece of A4 stapled to the letter. outlining the documents required for registering. This Document is untitled has no document number but does have the date 22/11/01 on it.

I believe this is in internal document, like a staff guidance memo which he probably shouldn't have sent me but I ain't complaining as it's helpful.

It has two headings

Section A - New kit cars - He has scored through this section diagonally with a biro.

Section B - Kit Conversion (Donor Vehicle) states:

V55/5
V627/1
V5 (Donor Vehicle)
Receipts for any other major componants used.
SVA & MOT
£25 Registration Fee
6 or 12 Months Road Fund
Insurance certificate or cover note.

So overall apart from the faffing around with the VIN number, which I know some people have been allowed to make up and place on the chassis themselves, I think I've had a result with his attitude and reply.

I've now got his name and phone number so can go direct for any clarifications.

It'll be interesting to see what Bournemouth DVLAs response time and reply are like and we can draw some comparisons and illustrate that the system is fugged. Although if you get a good inspector seems your well on your way.

So far I'm very glad I embarked on this little mission and grateful to Rob Lane for warning me off writing to Swansea HQ as well as they may overule local offices with daft "from on high" dictats that may not have been as favourable as Portsmuffs.

Their are two other in interesting items from my POV.

a) He uses the phrase Kit Car even though I clearly stated in the final draft of my letter "Just to reiterate I have NOT purchased a Kit of parts, I have built the car from scratch"

Seems like this is just a DVLA vocabulary thing then?

c) INF26 leaflet does not specifically state that age related plate is appropriate for a chassis NOT "from a specialist kit manufacturer is used (or an altered chassis/bodyshell from an existing vehicle)"

Therefore self built chassis are not specifically mentioned yet he is still prepared confirm in writing that I can get an age related plate. So there we have a good example of the individual inspectors discretion to interpret the rules as they see fit.

Sorry for the long post but I hope it helps others along the way and its cleared up a lot of stuff for me. I can go forward with more confidence now.

AND

I get to drive to Portsmouth and back in an un-SVA'd car - oooer.

ATVB

Dave

[Edited on 20/9/03 by Sideways 2 Victory]

Any chance of you scanning these pages in??

Chris

Stamp your own plate on a strip of 16 gauge and weld it on. I've done 4 of them. Local MOT station verified them and didn't charge.

yours, Pete.

Thats quite good news then! Thanks for your efforts cos it makes useful reading for everyone.

Be careful with no number plates, i suspect the insurance is only valid if the plates are on the car, else how do they identify the insured vehicle (VIN maybe)?

still gonna have to reread it all soon, to get the head round it...

write yr vin no on a peice of card and hang that where yr no plate is sposed to be

"Firstly I shall talk about the VIN number. As you are not a manufacturer we will have to allocate you a 17 digit DVLA VIN. This VIN will be allocated after you have had a DVLA inspection. The DVLA does not charge for this, however, it must be stamped in by either an MOT test station or Dealer who may charge for the stamping process."

Surely, I have built the chassis - I am the manufacturer, can I chose my own 17 digit vin number.
Something like SODDVLAANDSVA1234
or do you think they would disapprove?

Seriously, I want to include the first letter as 'S' being built in Britain, I also want 'KU' as letters 11 & 12 as these are the Ford age codes for the age of the mechanicals

Sorry Chris if its too big, I would but I havent got access to a scanner.

ATB

Dave

robin hood owners make up their vin.

once the sva is passed and the vin is on the mac pass certificate, the local vro is kinda forced to accept it.

Insurance...... Driving to the local vro for a vin......how do you insure a car with no vin and no reg number.....?


my local vro said take the car there for a vin. Im strongly considering making one up and sod em.

atb


steve

[Edited on 20/9/03 by stephen_gusterson]

I phoned Portsmouth DVLA re getting a VIN number, the conversation went something like this:

"I'm building a kit car and need a VIN number"

"OK, we need to inspect the car before allocating a number"

"But I can't drive it on the road until it's SVA'd, and I can't SVA without a VIN"

"Oh, I suppose that's true. Okay, we'll send you a VIN and then we'll inspect once you've got the SVA certificate."


They sent me a VIN on a piece of paper with a tear-off slip which I am supposed to have stamped by the garage who do the VIN. Since I did it myself (stamped direct to chassis, is that okay?) I haven't sent the slip back, I presume the DVLA will verify it themselves when they inspect the car.

Very interesting that you're allowed to drive to the DVLA office - I've never heard that before. Maybe the rules have changed since it was stupid to be allowed to drive to SVA but then have to trailer to the DVLA.

Cheers,
Matt.

how do you stamp the vin number on? is it just the number you have to do or all the other things like a normal plate on a car?

[Edited on 20/9/03 by JoelP]

if you have a vin number you could
get it motd did this with an old motor
bike i rebuilt the mot station just put the
vin number where the reg go's and then
the vro stamps the mot ticket and writes
the new reg in might be able to get it on the road without having an sva what do you reckon lads???

You can't turn up and ask for a reg number without a MAC. Unlike bikes and trikes. You aren't re-registering an existing vehicle you have changed it beyond recognition.

yours, Pete.

HO dam & b****cks

Sideways,

Thanks for all your hard work with this- very useful!

Will be interesting to hear the story from other places and see if a bit of rule mix and match will be advantageous!

Cheers,

James

You can make up your own VIN number and then it just needs to be 'fixed' to the chassis........I riveted a piece of thin gauge ally with the number on it.

Ben

I got my VIN number without inspection this week,i'm going to stamp the numbers and letters on myself and get the MOt staion to confirm at MOT.
I'll send slip with VIN confirmation back to Wimbledon VRO as asked,then its off to the old SVA test.

The bit that confuses me is the inspection by the VRO,Wimbledon have not mentioned this at all.

Its a strange set up this chassis vehicle registration thing,its seems all the VRO's in the UK have been issued with different instructions. I think a section for each VRO and test centre would be a bit too much,but there is a case for everybody's input as its important info.