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Fuming with the dvla
parkiboy - 2/8/12 at 01:24 PM

Well I took my application into the dvla office last Thursday and got a letter today saying I have to go in for an inspection on the 16th August which is 3 weeks after I took the paperwork in so I really was not impressed after the long iva process!

I got on the phone to them and asked why it's taking so long and they said its due to the high number of inspections they have to do, which I proceeding by asking how long it take.. 10 minutes! Your having a laugh they could get over 50 done in a day and I tell you now they won't do anything near that! I asked why it needs to come in and they said to prove its a full car and not part built.. Well doesn't my iva very prove that?

She then told me I can't legally drive the vehicle there like in the iva, so I now need to mess around hiring a trailer again!! My appointment is at 10.55 which means another full day off work for a stupid 10 minute appointment and have to pay to hire a trailer again!!

The whole process is wearing thin now, summers going to be about over before it's even sorted, I actually regret buying my car now I wish I bought one pre complete and registered.

Rant over.


loggyboy - 2/8/12 at 01:30 PM

Just book it in for an MoT near by based on the VIN, then drive there.


russbost - 2/8/12 at 01:34 PM

I have it in writing from the DVLA that you can drive there & back for the purpose of the test (you obviously need insurance cover, but no plates)


ReMan - 2/8/12 at 01:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by russbost
I have it in writing from the DVLA that you can drive there & back for the purpose of the test (you obviously need insurance cover, but no plates)

IVA test or DVLA Inspection?


parkiboy - 2/8/12 at 01:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by russbost
I have it in writing from the DVLA that you can drive there & back for the purpose of the test (you obviously need insurance cover, but no plates)


I'm insured but she said I couldn't because although you can drive it without to the iva anything other than that it is illegal, which is annoying as I have pre paid my tax already starting august


deezee - 2/8/12 at 01:47 PM

Yep, thats how the DVLA works. Most offices insist on an inspection. Its just part and parcel of building a kit car. You're lucky your not in Chester as they don't inspect there, you have to go to Wrexham for your 10 minute inspection. I literally took off my tarp that was on the trailer, showed him the car. He took a brief look at it and filled in the form. I put the tarp back over it. That was it! Then I had to go the office the next day to collect my V948. It cost me a pretty penny to hire a trailer, day off work and to hire a van with a tow hitch.


Daddylonglegs - 2/8/12 at 02:10 PM

DO NOT get an MOT, unless you want to have it every year from then on!

See my previous thread

Once it's in the MOT system then that's it.


james h - 2/8/12 at 02:14 PM

I pleaded ignorance with them after I drove my car there - I said I assumed it would be fine as I could drive it to the SVA (although I 'may' have known better).

They told me I shouldn't have, but they let me drive it back home again after the 10 min inspection!


Davey D - 2/8/12 at 02:15 PM

When i took my car to Lincoln DVLA for inspection, the woman i dealt with told me that i could drive it there as long as i had insurance. I told her that i understood that i wasn't allowed to drive it there, but she insisted i was allowed. She took a photocopy of all my paperwork, including insurance cert, then wrote me out a signed letter, on DVLA headed paper so that if i got pulled on the the way there i had some documentation to prove what was going on


unijacko67 - 2/8/12 at 02:29 PM

On the subject of DVLA, would doing an engine change with engineers report flag up any inspections. The car was a 750cc and I intend popping in the 2000cc then sending of the log book for engine number an cc change. The log book is currently in my name. Thanks in advance.


loggyboy - 2/8/12 at 02:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Daddylonglegs
DO NOT get an MOT, unless you want to have it every year from then on!

See my previous thread

Once it's in the MOT system then that's it.


I never said to take it for an MoT, i said BOOK it in for an MoT. You dont have to go there, it just means IF the police did stop you, there would be a legitmate reason for being on the road.


russbost - 2/8/12 at 02:37 PM

The situation re driving to DVLA for inspection has changed, on all my recent inspections there is a line at the end of the letter which states "the vehicle may be driven to & from the test centre for the purposes of the inspection" this is quite definitely for DVLA inspection, not just IVA. I or my colleague have been stopped 3 times by the BIB now for no no. plates, as soon as you show them the letter they are fine, but they don't know about it.

Last little gem from the one who stopped me earlier this week after I showed him the letter "but it doesn't say on here you don't have to have registration plates" - well no, but how else do you drive to & from a place of inspection when you've not yet been given a reg??? Doh!

This is definitely the case at Chelmsford, it obviously SHOULD be the same throughout the country ..........................


Daddylonglegs - 2/8/12 at 02:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
I never said to take it for an MoT, i said BOOK it in for an MoT. You dont have to go there, it just means IF the police did stop you, there would be a legitmate reason for being on the road.


I stand corrected, good point


Confused but excited. - 2/8/12 at 03:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by russbost

Last little gem from the one who stopped me earlier this week after I showed him the letter "but it doesn't say on here you don't have to have registration plates" - well no, but how else do you drive to & from a place of inspection when you've not yet been given a reg??? Doh!




They don't call then 'Wooden Tops' for nothing Russ.


ReMan - 2/8/12 at 06:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by russbost
The situation re driving to DVLA for inspection has changed, on all my recent inspections there is a line at the end of the letter which states "the vehicle may be driven to & from the test centre for the purposes of the inspection" this is quite definitely for DVLA inspection, not just IVA. I or my colleague have been stopped 3 times by the BIB now for no no. plates, as soon as you show them the letter they are fine, but they don't know about it.

Last little gem from the one who stopped me earlier this week after I showed him the letter "but it doesn't say on here you don't have to have registration plates" - well no, but how else do you drive to & from a place of inspection when you've not yet been given a reg??? Doh!

This is definitely the case at Chelmsford, it obviously SHOULD be the same throughout the country ..........................
That's a good update then Russ.
And of course if it's legal, its good for the whole UK


R1 STRIKER - 2/8/12 at 07:00 PM

Seems it may have changed since I last registered one. When I did mine, it HAD to be trailored or they wouldn't look at it. And just to top it off, I also had to unload it to check chassis number for health and safety reasons! I doubt it took him 2 mins to check! That was in worcester.


rusty nuts - 2/8/12 at 07:26 PM

Its about time that DVLA made up their minds as to whether or not it is legal to drive to a pre arranged inspection or they took the word of a VOSA inspector . Perhaps we should start to lobby our local MPs to try and get DVLA to get their act together? Some hopes !!


nearly done - 2/8/12 at 07:34 PM

I faced a similar situation last year where I was told I needed to present the car to the DVLA. Unfortunately for them they caught me on a bad day and were on the end of a full blown rant along the lines of " why would they not take the word of a fellow government employee (the IVA inspector) for proof that the car was indeed the same one I was attempting to register". Try pointing out that the government buzz word is interdepartmental co operation resulting in less red tape and duplication of roles. Worked for me.

Good luck, Sean.


dan8400 - 2/8/12 at 08:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Davey D
When i took my car to Lincoln DVLA for inspection, the woman i dealt with told me that i could drive it there as long as i had insurance. I told her that i understood that i wasn't allowed to drive it there, but she insisted i was allowed. She took a photocopy of all my paperwork, including insurance cert, then wrote me out a signed letter, on DVLA headed paper so that if i got pulled on the the way there i had some documentation to prove what was going on


Same for me. I dealt with a woman in Lincoln and I drove there. 2009 and I was one of, if not the last, SVA test. I drove there with insurance. Was followed by a copper on the way home and I was sure I would be pulled but wasn't. They overtook laughing cos it was raining! lol

Thanks
Dan

[Edited on 2/8/12 by dan8400]


stevegough - 2/8/12 at 09:33 PM

I feel for you - it really is a pain - especially when people like me were told by the DVLA (Preston) that they didn't need to inspect it! Having said that, I know the vast majority of builders have had to have theirs inspected - guess I was just lucky (oh, yes, and from submitting the paperwork to getting the car on the road was just a week).


mad4x4 - 3/8/12 at 06:22 AM

When I had mine SVA'd about 5 years ago the DVLA came to the SVA center and did it in a one'r...


pif - 3/8/12 at 07:51 AM

when I had mine "inspected", which was 5 years ago, I booked in at manchester DVLA who said they would need to see it, I said I couldnt bring it, "its not legal to drive on the road". Too which they suggested re book with another test centre who do inspections at home as the Manchester office didnt.

In the end I sent request to Sheffield, who do home inspections, and the guy came from the Manchester office. What a joke.

I wasnt home but the SWMBO said he just opened the garage door, never put a foot inside and closed the door again and said " looks like a car to me"

I would suggest ringing Swansea, ask them about parking it when you go for the inspection, thats what I did as there is no parking at Manchester office.


parkiboy - 3/8/12 at 09:55 AM

Sheffield is where I have gone they no longer do home inspections - I have made a complaint to head office and just waiting for a reply now. It probably won't get my anywhere but it's worth a shot right?

From what I've heard this inspection is a joke and a waste of time