MOT when? Registration process sticky?

[eSteve]

Hi all,


I was down at the Bournemouth DVLA office the other day sorting out the road fund licence for my wife’s car and while I was there, I asked about registration of my build. Not that I am anywhere near completion, but just to see if they had any information on registering self-built cars. The short answer is no, with respect to printed information, they have some, but it’s not very descriptive of the whole process.


However, the chap behind the desk went and got the person who specialises in kit car registrations and I had a long chat with him. The outcome, which I was not expecting at all, was that I came away with a chassis number and a lot of useful advice on how the Bournemouth office deal with kit car registrations and age related plates.


So, all in all, a very useful visit, apart from the £140 or so for the wife’s tax disc!


Any way this led my on to thinking: What happens to the chassis number and VIN plate cut from the donor car and its V5? Do these have to be destroyed / passed over to the DVLA inspector who confirms the registration of the new vehicle?


Also another point I am not clear on: Presumably the vehicle, if it has an age related plated, requires a MOT. At what point in the registration / inspection process is the MOT required?


I read some other good threads wrt the registration / inspection process; maybe we should have a sticky thread giving the details? Wdyt moderators?


Brief update on progress so far: Chassis fully tacked, donor partly stripped and a shed full of parts. So fingers crossed, I should have a rolling chassis by spring.

[Bonzo]

Hi Steve

Personaly I think you have done the right thing by asking your local DVLA office for guidance.

From what I have read in the past, registration can be a nightmare if you don't happen to follow the way your local office likes to work !!??

It would appear that each local DVLA office has it's own individual viewpoint of the registration process ( Despite the information on the main DVLA web site )

This is how I intend to proceed.
I will make a personal visit to my local office & actually speak to the person reponsible for kit car registration, I will follow their guidance to the letter, hopefully the registration process will then be pain free

Probably best to point out that it will be important to speak to the right person, if you do not, you'll most likely be given incorrect information

I have spoken with my local IVA tester, a top chap & has given me some sound advice wich I will follow to the letter

Keep all of your donors ID documents/plates, your local office will want them during the registration process.

Good idea on the sticky sugestion.

[Coozer]

When you apply for your age related take the donor V5 with all the other docs. They will keep that as prove of your age related application and you need not worry about the tags off the shell, removing them stops anyone trying to re register the shell if it falls into the wrong hands.... you can always take them along to DVLA but I still have mine here with the section of floor with the chassis number on.

Once you have the IVA and successfully navigate DVLA you can forget about MOT for 3 years as its classed as a new car regardless of age related, new or Q.

Good luck,
Steve

[eSteve]

Good advice Bonzo, I had a suspicion that each office might differ in there methods. I remember reading that the chassis number needed applying for by post, which I guess some DVLA office do, hence my surprise when they issued me one there on the spot.

Coozer, that’s good news that all registrations (i.e new, Q or age related) don’t need a MOT for three years. I guess the IVA is son thorough it would be pointless having a MOT after one year.

Thanks for your advice and comments chaps.

[David_17]

Can you apply for a chassis number any time then? How much does it cost?

[Bonzo]

As far as I know, DVLA will not charge for the issue of a VIN number

I believe that you write to them, let them know of your plans & request they issue you with a VIN number.

AshG was kind enough to host a sample letter

Linky here

Hope that helps mate

[David_17]

Cheers ronnie, i cant seem to access the link tho

[Bonzo]

Sorry about that David, my fault, got the address wrong

The link should be working now

If not

You can find the link on page one of this thread Book amendments
Last item on Ash's list of files ..... It is a word doc

[eSteve]

Not always necessary to apply in writing as my experience proved. I suspect it is down to each offices' procedures.

At the DVLA office Bournemouth I just filled in a form and the DVLA chap wrote loads of stuff in a book and came back with a chassis number. No cost.

Does noth seem to matter as to state of build, mine (as I told the DVLA chap) is only at the chassis tacked together stage.

[eSteve]

Hi,

just thought I’d update this post with some more information:

I had a noodle round the government web site that gives details of IVA: Individual Vehicle Approval: the basics

I have made some links to the documents and forms that are of interest to us:


The what, why, how and where

The Individual Vehicle Scheme - A Guide to the Approval of Light Passenger & Light Goods Vehicles (PDF) - VOSA Guide to the IVA Process: Very useful overview of the IVA scheme.

Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) Manual for Vehicles Category M1 (Passenger Vehicles) (PDF) – The IVA Inspection Manual latest version October 2010 - The criteria and examination carried out during the IVA test

VOSA IVA Test Stations and Designated Premises (PDF) – Locations of IVA test stations (is also part of The Individual Vehicle Scheme) – Where to get tested.


The forms

Form IVA 1 - Application for Individual Vehicle Approval (Word doc) – Form to be completed to apply for an IVA test

Form IVA 1 Guidance Notes (PDF) – Guidance notes for the above form

Individual Vehicle Approval - Amateur Built Declaration (Word doc) – Declaration for that build conducted by amateur


The cost

IVA Inspection fees (PDF) – Fees from 29 April 2009: How much it will cost (Haynes Roadster is in the M1 category Basic IVA test classes A, C, S)


Hope it’s of use.