Shoshannah
06-05-2008, 11:42 AM
To try and cut a long story short...
I've had my old car, Car A, for years and years and it was destroyed by a combination of rust and a crash in 2005. It had actually been MOT'd on the day of the crash so although it has now been SORN'd for 3 years, MOT only expired 2 years ago.
Because Car A is a Classic and of tremendous sentimental value, I am re-shelling it using a chassis from Car B, which I purchased a few months ago for this purpose. Apart from the bare chassis, all the other parts will be from Car A. Once the project is finished, I want it to have Car A's numberplate, obviously so it can be a perfect restoration.
The problem: DVLA rules state that you can only retain a numberplate if the car in question is subject to a MOT test, and taxed (or was taxed within the last 12 months). I did not retain the plate before the MOT expired, because the plan at that stage was the repair Car A rather than reshell. I accept this is my fault for not looking into it sooner.
I had given up and was planning to purchase a personalised numberplate with the same letters as Car A's original plate. This would cost me about £900. However, I have since been told by two separate people that they managed to retain numberplates from cars which had not been MOT'd for years, by talking to the DVLA and proving that the donor cars were scrapped following the retention.
I think it is worth a try so I am going to the Lincoln DVLA Office on Friday to discuss the situation with them. I have all my paperwork, some photos of the restoration to date etc, evidence that I have owned the car for years. Car A's bare chassis will be scrapped once I have all the bits of it.
I was wondering if anyone on here has experience of reshelling cars or retaining numberplates 'outside' the regulations. I think my chances are slim but the Lincoln DVLA Office are reportedly quite helpful.
Thanks for reading!
Shosh
I've had my old car, Car A, for years and years and it was destroyed by a combination of rust and a crash in 2005. It had actually been MOT'd on the day of the crash so although it has now been SORN'd for 3 years, MOT only expired 2 years ago.
Because Car A is a Classic and of tremendous sentimental value, I am re-shelling it using a chassis from Car B, which I purchased a few months ago for this purpose. Apart from the bare chassis, all the other parts will be from Car A. Once the project is finished, I want it to have Car A's numberplate, obviously so it can be a perfect restoration.
The problem: DVLA rules state that you can only retain a numberplate if the car in question is subject to a MOT test, and taxed (or was taxed within the last 12 months). I did not retain the plate before the MOT expired, because the plan at that stage was the repair Car A rather than reshell. I accept this is my fault for not looking into it sooner.
I had given up and was planning to purchase a personalised numberplate with the same letters as Car A's original plate. This would cost me about £900. However, I have since been told by two separate people that they managed to retain numberplates from cars which had not been MOT'd for years, by talking to the DVLA and proving that the donor cars were scrapped following the retention.
I think it is worth a try so I am going to the Lincoln DVLA Office on Friday to discuss the situation with them. I have all my paperwork, some photos of the restoration to date etc, evidence that I have owned the car for years. Car A's bare chassis will be scrapped once I have all the bits of it.
I was wondering if anyone on here has experience of reshelling cars or retaining numberplates 'outside' the regulations. I think my chances are slim but the Lincoln DVLA Office are reportedly quite helpful.
Thanks for reading!
Shosh