It's become more difficult to deal with DVLA since they shut their local offices. I gather that some clubs and organisations are getting so fed up with it that they are opting out of the scheme. Even dear old Mike Worthington-Williams from OBM has had to pack it in.

I just got this from him, regarding a friend who is trying to register a WM20. Ron

Dear Ron
I can no longer help, because the club through which I have been recovering reg numbers and issuing dating certificates for the past 40 years has withdrawn from the DV LA’s scheme (without prior reference to me). There are, however many other clubs still in the scheme. They are all listed with contact details on the DVLA’s document V765/1 which is I think, available on their website.
Best Mike WW

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

I'm thinking of giving up myself...

It's all too much hassle and I'm beginning to think I could do more enjoyable things with my time than f**k about trying to get any sense out of the DVLA, while my life is being regulated by more and more pointless rules....Ian

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

So they are onthe way to achieving their aims of resricting older vehicles?

Just put any Balkan country number plate on it you'll be untouchable.

It's a difficult time for the clubs as the DVLA's continuing unthought-through responses to the government's unthought-through decisions result in continually moving goalposts.

However, the well organised and responsible clubs do seem to be dealing with it.

There has been a whole plethora of odd clubs accredited by DVLA and quite frankly some horrendous bitsas have been given documentation without inspection or proper research. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if some dropped off the list ?

Applications can for instance be accepted from 'The Vintage Hot-Rod Association' or 'The Triumph Chopper Club' or 'The British Owners Club, Essex'.

I have no knowledge of the clubs in question but can't imagine the first two at least are intent on the preservation of historic vehicles and something as general as the latter is unlikely to be expert enough to guard against fraud on every make that they're presumably allowed to authorise ?

This chap of course takes the biscuit...'Bristol Classic Cars and Bikes Owners Club'(e-mail address AsianScooterFanatics )

http://www.fanaticscooters.co.uk/

http://www.secondaddress.com/bristolccb/index_join.htm

http://www.dvlaadvice.co.uk/

Apparently DVLA will accept his authorisation for any type of vehicle (how can he access records which some of us who specialise in one model are still unearthing and piecing together ?)His website says that he's not impartial and he guarantees a same-day dating letter. I'd like to know how...finding some machines in the Norton ledgers can take more than a day if you've got them in front of you...

Yet somehow, DVLA will accept this man's appraisal of an M20 bobber as a pre-war M24...It beggars belief and demeans the whole system.

...Has anyone ever used him by the way ?

The only thing to do is go through the process and when they have gone through the rigmarole of putting an obstacle in front of you, simply say, ok, you can't register it for me? can I have a refund on the registration fee? They Probably don't have a facility to refund the money from this side of their operation. Then simply re-apply again using the same information. You mustn't forget that they are not some great god that you have to appease, they are actually YOUR servant, paid for by your taxes. They can't suddenly decide to issue you a Q plate if you are being awkward. You can simply refuse and ask for your money back, telling them that you will re-apply at a later date. They actually have NO powers over an unregistered vehicle, it is only when you register it that it technically becomes their property that they graciously allow you to use it. In fact,the registration is only tying you into a system of compliance to their rules. Technically you can use a vehicle on the road under common law without any insurance, license or any paperwork, but it would be advisable to buy an insurance bond. The registration of your vehicle empowers them to enforce the rules of the road traffic act. Try googling "free man of the land" there are a lot of cases where people are rejecting laws on the grounds of it was assumed that you agreed to obey the rules in the first instance.

email (option): davmax@ntlworld.com