Age-related plate

timbo · #1 22nd April 2010, 15:00

I thought I would post a couple of tips for any builders who do not have the
V5 from their donor car...

I was issued a Q plate in December as I did not have the original V5. I subsequently found out that I couldn't then transfer my personalised number plate onto a Q plate, so I set about getting it changed retrospectively to an age-related plate.
I got an email from BMW customer services confirming the engine number, VIN number of the donor and date of manufacture, and trotted along to the DVLA office suitably armed (fortunately it is next door to where I work!).
They said they would re-open the case.

So today I received a letter saying they couldn't issue an age-related plate because the BMW donor VIN was not stamped into the chassis (!) and giving me leaflet INF26 regarding points scoring for kit conversions.

So a long telephone conversation later, after persuading them that I was unlikely to have the original BMW VIN number stamped into the chassis due to it being a new chassis, and referring to the very helpful INF26 leaflet, (whilst pointing out that points-scoring systems are not relevant on kit conversions, only on radically altered vehicles) which says 'If a new chassis from a specialist kit manufacturer is used, together with 2 major components from a donor vehicle, an age-related mark will be assigned', they agreed to give me an age-related plate provided I could provide evidence of the age of the 2 major components (an email from BMW was not good enough).

BMW customer service were then good enough to agree to provide a confirmation letter on headed notepaper regarding the age of the engine, but no other components as they do not keep records of these numbers.
So I tried my local BMW dealership, who agreed (eventually) to provide a letter confirming the age of the front hubs and gearbox based on the parts numbers I had provided.
We shall see whether this will now be enough....

Morals: (i) get the V5 from your donor
(ii) write down/photograph any part numbers from your donor bits before assembly/painting (seems obvious now but somehow wasn't at the time!!)
(iii) be persistent

Tim

Mike · #2 22nd April 2010, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by timbo

I thought I would post a couple of tips for any builders who do not have the
V5 from their donor car...

........Morals: (i) get the V5 from your donor
(ii) write down/photograph any part numbers from your donor bits before assembly/painting (seems obvious now but somehow wasn't at the time!!)
(iii) be persistent

Tim

And furnish yourself with a big set of nut crackers for the over zealous 'Jobsworth'
Mike

Chris Cussen · #3 23rd April 2010, 07:33

Even armed with a copy of my donor's V5 I had to argue at DLVA when I tried to register my Carbio that I should get an age related plate. I wasn't until I convinced the jobsworth to look at their own web site did he agree to giving me an age related plate.

Rules? who needs rules if you are DVLA?

GreatOldOne · #4 23rd April 2010, 07:48

Does seem to be luck of the draw... My inspector looked at chassis number and engine serial, sucked his gums and said 'I suppose you'll be wanting an age related plate then'. Never even mentioned a Q

I did have the V5 from the donor though.

peterux · #5 24th April 2010, 06:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by timbo

I thought I would post a couple of tips for any builders who do not have the
V5 from their donor car...

I was issued a Q plate in December as I did not have the original V5. I subsequently found out that I couldn't then transfer my personalised number plate onto a Q plate, so I set about getting it changed retrospectively to an age-related plate.
I got an email from BMW customer services confirming the engine number, VIN number of the donor and date of manufacture, and trotted along to the DVLA office suitably armed (fortunately it is next door to where I work!).
They said they would re-open the case.

So today I received a letter saying they couldn't issue an age-related plate because the BMW donor VIN was not stamped into the chassis (!) and giving me leaflet INF26 regarding points scoring for kit conversions.

So a long telephone conversation later, after persuading them that I was unlikely to have the original BMW VIN number stamped into the chassis due to it being a new chassis, and referring to the very helpful INF26 leaflet, (whilst pointing out that points-scoring systems are not relevant on kit conversions, only on radically altered vehicles) which says 'If a new chassis from a specialist kit manufacturer is used, together with 2 major components from a donor vehicle, an age-related mark will be assigned', they agreed to give me an age-related plate provided I could provide evidence of the age of the 2 major components (an email from BMW was not good enough).

BMW customer service were then good enough to agree to provide a confirmation letter on headed notepaper regarding the age of the engine, but no other components as they do not keep records of these numbers.
So I tried my local BMW dealership, who agreed (eventually) to provide a letter confirming the age of the front hubs and gearbox based on the parts numbers I had provided.
We shall see whether this will now be enough....

Morals: (i) get the V5 from your donor
(ii) write down/photograph any part numbers from your donor bits before assembly/painting (seems obvious now but somehow wasn't at the time!!)
(iii) be persistent

Tim

There is a retired guy that used to work for the DVLA who might be able to help. He advertises in the Kit car mags. His name is Paul Jepson (01189842303). I've never used his service so can't give any endorsement but he might be able to advise you if you get stuck. His standard fee is £45 but I expect he'll charge based on how much work he does?

...peter

timbo · #6 28th April 2010, 22:11

After an hour and a half with the manager of the DVLA yesterday, he said (after consultation with Swansea) that I couldn't get an age-related plate after all because I couldn't prove that the rear axle and gearbox came from the same donor car as the engine (depsite a letter from the BMW dealership to say they were made in the correct year).

I asked him what about if I had a donor car with the V5, used the engine, threw away the rest of the donor and built the Sportster using other bits from another car - according to his criteria, I could claim an age-related plate because I had the V5. He said, well yes but that would be dishonest. I said well I'm being honest when I tell you there're from the same car. Apparently this line of argument was not persuasive enough, so I have contacted FAB, who supplied the original parts through Marlin. The chap there was extremely helpful, and had very accurate records of exactly what had been supplied, so he agreed to send a letter confirming the engine, gearbox etc were all from the same donor.

I am looking forward to my next meeting with the DVLA manager.....

Chris Cussen · #7 29th April 2010, 07:22

Keep at it Tim, I'm sure you will get there in the end.....

timbo · #8 29th April 2010, 16:29

Start of DIY paint job...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33105452@N05/4562943249/

timbo · #9 24th May 2010, 18:18

Update on age-related plate saga:
It went to appeal at the DVLA Swansea, which they rejected (despite the letter from FAB).
However, they are willing to issue an age-related plate if I can provide (i) a letter from FAB with more details on it and (ii) a letter from Marlin confirming they supplied the parts from FAB to me.
The epic continues ....

On a totally unrelated point, I am probably about to move to a property with a non-adjoining garage which doesn't have any power supply. Can anyone else in a similar situation recommend a suitable generator?
Thanks
Tim

timbo · #10 10th June 2010, 11:41

Hurrah

After obtaining the further 2 letters required, DVLA has finally granted me an age-related plate (my thanks to the Manager at DVLA Bristol, who is probably glad to see the back of me for a while!), so welcome to the world S 131 RYD!!
(Soon to be changed to the personalised number plate that has been knocking around for a while...)

GreatOldOne · #11 10th June 2010, 11:43

Nice one Tim!

Chris Cussen · #12 10th June 2010, 14:55

Phew! easy wasn't it?

Alfie · #13 10th June 2010, 16:42

Well done. Patience is a virtue, as they say (and persistence). I have the donor V5 and I have TREBLE checked that the engine number matches, so hopefully will be ok. I'd better get on and finish building before they change the rules again!
Alfie

Mike · #14 10th June 2010, 19:45

Tim
Congratulations "God loves a trier" - and boy have they made you try hard!!
- well done.
Mike

MartinClan · #15 11th June 2010, 07:53

Well done! I hate red tape and its great to see someone cut through it.

Robin

morris · #16 13th January 2011, 12:01

Please excuse my ignorance but can anyone explain to me why (apart from transfer of a personal plate) getting a Q plate is seen as such a bad thing among kit car builders.

Is it the resale value of the car if you want to get rid later? Does it affect insurance or tax?

MartinClan · #17 13th January 2011, 12:33

I think it is just a "Status" thing. If it is a Q plate it says (to anyone in the know) this is a kit car. If you want to pretend you are driving an old Aston or Alfa it ruins the effect...

And yes, it does certainly affect resale value, but not insurance or tax.

Robin

eaa53 · #18 15th January 2011, 07:57

You 'ant there yet my friend....

When I got my age related plate there was a condition on the V5, I can also state that the age related plate applied to a motorbike on which I did the same principle (frame change) job.....

The V5(s) stated, first page at the bottom ' this registration cannot be changed or moved from this vehicle'.

I hope I am wrong but you may not have won yet they have a way of providing the sting in the tail.

JohnC

DannyCutts · #19 5th March 2011, 23:33

Hi,

I am new to the forum but some of you may know me for my Freestyle buggy :-)

I have a private plate that i need to get off a van that I am selling and I woudl like it on my buggy.

My buggy has an age related plate of the old V (1979) however in the V5 for the buggy it says the vehicle was first registered in 2003. Also I was not required to MOT it for teh first 3 years of its life...

So does this mean that it will be ok to put my "M" reg (1995) private plate on the buggy?

I have looked to see if there are any clauses on the V5 about not being able to remove the registration but i cant see any.

Any ideas or advice would be mega handy....

Thanks

Danny

timbo · #20 6th March 2011, 15:17

I can't see a problem with putting an M reg plate on a vehicle which already has a V reg plate (but there again I'm not the DVLA!). The date of registration shouldn't affect it, otherwise none of us would be able to have age-related plates.
Best bet is to go to your local DVLA office, preferably armed with some small print from their web-site which confirms you are allowed to do what you want to do, speak directly to the manager if necessary (I got to know mine quite well!), and don't put up with no for an answer!
Good luck
Tim