Hello

I’m just trying to fill in a V55/5 to obtain an age related plate for my 1943 Matchless G3L. For the uninitiated the form is a nightmare as it can be used for all vehicle registrations both old, new, imported etc - 1 form fits all! As such most of the form is left blank; however, this is not my issue.

Since late last year most of our bikes have become MOT exempt. The guidance form says that the vehicle must be MOT’ed and the checklist on the form states that the MOT certificate should be included.

Do I need to get the bike MOT’ed for the first registration or does the indicated manufacture year of 1943 mean that the DVLA will know it’s MOT exempt. I did wonder if I needed to complete a V112 (Declaration of exemption from MoT testing), but I can’t as the form asks for the registration number.

I have indicated that this is a ‘Historic Vehicle’ that is ‘Exempt’ from type approval etc. I also have an inspection letter and a dating letter on the way from the AJS & Matchless Owner Club.

On a similar note most of our bikes here are tax exempt but again the guidance notes give no mention to exemptions for historic vehicles and just states that the VED fee should be included with the £55 first registration fee. This would be £37 for a 350cc for 12 months - if it is payable.

Again do I need to include the tax payment or should I just put most of the above in a covering letter and hope that someone at DVLA is switched on.

I'm so glad my local DVLA office (3 miles away) has been closed!

Thanks in advance
Gerard

The best thing to do is go to your nearest dvla office all local ones now closed god knows why . Take the dating letter with you insurance on the frame number also take some pictures of the bike they will ?fill the form in for you .You do not need a mot also you need to pay the i think fifty five pounds . And good luck because if you get the right person you will be ok get the wrong one you will be back on here for weeks

Hi Gerard
I've just done a first registration on my G3L. All you have to pay is the first regn fee of £55. They recognise it is MOT exempt and will send the regn doc and (separately) a tax disc. You don't even have to have Insurance.
Cheers
Paul

email (option): paul@holmesfamily.ws

The DVLA is in a state of flux at the moment & keeps moving the goalposts.
I have just had an application for an age related number refused on the grounds "insufficient evidence to confirm year of manufacture*
V55/5 correctly completed...exempt from mot by age form correctly completed...insurance cover note supplied...dating certificate from the VMCC supplied...extract from Steve Maddens book supplied re contract number...photo's of frame & engine number supplied etc etc.
THE REASON FOR REFUSAL TURNS OUT TO BE THAT THE DATING CERTIFICATE FROM THE VMCC DID NOT LIST THE EVIDENCE & RESEARCH SUPPLIED
This is now a requirement all evidence must be listed on the dating certificate
so back to the VMCC who are in total chaos as result & are dragging their feet like never before.

email (option): g.gilbert946@btinternet.com

Thats the problem everybody has a different story i think you might be better of getting a dating cert from the owners club of what make of bike you have . I went to dvla on monday was out on the bike by thursday all done i just dropped on the write person but whatever you do dont get arsey with them or you will be ages.

I think I'll wait for the dust to settle and for the DVLA and everyone else to sort themselves out before I try to get the date of manufacture changed on my M20..

Then maybe I can get the MOT exemption I'm entitled to.. ....Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Only one problem there Rusty...been down that road...Jampot club has my frame number listed as a 50's 500cc springer.....Steve Madden's bible to the rescue it's definitely part of order S6150 placed in 44 quite definitely rigid & 350cc got the contract plate to back that up

email (option): g.gilbert946@btinternet.com

There will be another change later this year.....1st October 2014 I believe, when vehicles in the UK will no longer have to display a tax disc.......on the plus side this will make WD vehicles look a little more authentic ! But I guess you will still have to complete an annual vehicle licence application but in the case of historic vehicles no fee is payable.........The current tax disc renewal reminder firmly states that even historic tax-exempt vehicles require an MoT but as long as you take your V5 registration document to the Post Office that shows the year of manufacture (most important) and insurance certificate you should have no problems.........and on-line renewal is even simpler as you don't have to supply anything, only quoting the unique reference number from your tax-disc renewal advice note, the entire process taking less than a minute to do with the disc usually arriving in the post within a few days..........

One issue I can see arising however, and non-WD bike related, is currently some disabled drivers possessing a "blue badge", can park for free in certain council car parks providing that they are in receipt of the higher rate of disability mobility allowance that qualifies for a free tax disc.....BUT, the proof of this when parking for those drivers is the display of the free tax disc....and once the requirement to display a tax disc goes in October, your average local council parking attendant will then likely not have the means to check if those drivers are entitled to park for free or not.........

There's no need to take your V5C to the post office to prove the vehicles date of manufacture (ref. the note on the VED renewal stating an MOT is required)...

I did that at the end of January for my 1951 B33 and they got the information from the Post Office system just by scanning the barcode on the VED renewal form...

No 'sight' of the V5C required....Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Giving the VMCC the chance to re-issue the dating certificate in the required format first,,,,they retained all photo's & photocopy of the bible entry
Failing that will write to DVLA with covering letter & resubmit all evidence including photo of contract plate , frame number ,engine number & copy of order info as detailed in the bible......phone calls to the DVLA would suggest that should work.
One other thing I had to do which I had not mentioned before was to inform the HMRC of the existence of the bike & how I came by it....apparently DVLA require all vehicles requesting age related numbers to be on the HMRC database before they will entertain the request,,,,,needless to say HMRC are not impressed because of the work involved & they don't think it is neccessary.

email (option): g.gilbert946@btinternet.com

Hi

I got my registration using a VMCC dating cert without any issues. I did insure the vehicle (a WM20 it so happens) on the frame number, as you won't get a tax disc without it being insured. I have since changed the insurance over to reflect the new reg No.

You would be wise to also send form V112 which is a declaration of exemption of MOT (assuming your dating certificate shows the principal part of the machine to have been manufactured before 01/01/1960)and talk to HMRC (NOVA)who are not at all interested in old bikes especially ones brought in over 40 years ago (ie unregistered ex-Army machines) - only new cars registered in Belgium etc. - but if you don't clear it with them there will not be a record of your discussion for DVLA to note.

It's all about ticking boxes.

Good luck

Rick

email (option): rick.howell@talktalk

I've never had a problem in the past with the dating certificates issued by the VMCC & I've gone through this process at least 15 times on previous occasions.This problem has only arisen since mid February this year & has really caught the VMCC on the wrong foot especially so as the most experienced staff are on long term sick leave (possibly suffering from a severe attack of in house politics)

email (option): g.gilbert946@btinternet.com

Hello George,
With the AJS & MOC Onwers Club, did you deal with Roy Bellet? If you did then the front half of your frame (with the number on it) must be wrong, if not give him a call (07860824862) and explain the situation. It might work. Also, from experience dealing with the DVLA at an office (if you still can) if you get turned away for any reason go back the next day and find a different person to deal with,it work a treat for me. Also no. 2, with the MoT exemption form, just print it off, tick the box for made before 1960 and go to your very nice man at the local post office. It worked so well for me I thought for a moment that all my bikes might be made before 1960!
Good luck
Richard

Hi Richard
Everything was done as it should be done.... the flaw in the system was the fact that the dating certificate issued by the VMCC did not show the research or the evidence presented....apparently the DVLA require this to be shown on the actual certificate & the VMCC has never done this before preferring to just show year of manufacture....the choice I now have is to wait for the VMCC to re-issue the certificate or to present the evidence direct to the DVLA....will give the VMCC til the end of this week...then go it alone

email (option): G.gilbert946@btinternet.com

If they require dating evidence possibly you could provide a photocopy of the relevant page at the back of O & Ms book. You don't have to tell them you did it yourself! Providing Steve doesn't mind of course.
Also the pre 1960 declaration from the Post Office. The more paperwork they have the happier they may be?

As far as I'm aware, DVLA will only accept dating evidence from sources that they have verified. For instance the only recognised Harley Davidson dating officer that I know of is Kieron who trades as 'War Department' who mostly insists on a personal inspection. Which is a bugger if you live 300 miles from his base in Kent. So a lot easier if you can get a dating cert from VMCC or an owners club. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

The BSA owners club can apparently help with provenance, according to the DVLA. I'd love to be able to confirm this, but I've e-mailed their librarian rep (who apparently does the dating as well) for advice, 3 times now for help with my bike. No reply. Maybe they don't like doing it.

email (option): oldjunk@btinternet.com

The VMCC can do that for you as well.

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk