"Historic Vehicle" versus "Not licensed"

J

Jeremy Churchill 1

Forum User
VOC Member
Hi there,

I've just bought a Series B Rapide (joining VOC ASAP!!) which has both the buff log book and a V5C. I see that against "Taxation class" the V5C shows "Not licensed".

I have a 1970 Bonneville which is down as a "Historic Vehicle" and expected to see the same for the Vin.

Have spoken to a nice lady at the DVLA who said it didn't matter; both "Not licensed" and "Historic Vehicle" are the same thing - it's just that "Not licensed" was probably the terminology in use when the V5C was issued (July 2005) Both are the same as far as "taxing" declaring SORN, etc.

I don't want to find myself with any DVLA-ordained restrictions on use. Does anyone have any experience of this, or any views as to whether it matters, or whether one is better than the other?

Regards

Jeremy Churchill
 
J

Jeremy Churchill 1

Forum User
VOC Member
Hi there,

Thanks for the reply - have just joined.

I'm well aware of the DVLA's lack of consistency, security and accuracy - which is why I asked - photocopier will be busy later! Is it a case of letting sleeping dogs lie, or should I get it corrected now, while I'm doing the change of address?

I've got all the necessary documentation (including a past Certificate of Authenticity from the VOC & copies of Works Record cards, etc.), so there's no problem (E & OE!!) in identifying it as an Historic vehicle.

All thoughts and opinions welcomed!
 
C

Comet Rider

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Dvla

Jeremy Churchill said:
Hi there,

Thanks for the reply - have just joined.

I'm well aware of the DVLA's lack of consistency, security and accuracy - which is why I asked - photocopier will be busy later! Is it a case of letting sleeping dogs lie, or should I get it corrected now, while I'm doing the change of address?

I've got all the necessary documentation (including a past Certificate of Authenticity from the VOC & copies of Works Record cards, etc.), so there's no problem (E & OE!!) in identifying it as an Historic vehicle.

All thoughts and opinions welcomed!
Click to expand...

Hi Jeremy,
There has been mention of this problem in the VMCC mag. Basically you will end up having to get the vehicle MOT'd as normal, but then you will have to tax it at your local VOSA/DVLA office, where a replacement V5C will be issued, showing the Vin as 'Historic Vehicle':rolleyes:

Best of luck
Neil
 
G

Graham Smith

Guest
Neil's right. I've recently had to do the same thing with one of my bikes. The bike was shown as 'Not Licensed' rather than 'Historic Vehicle'.

The only way you can get this changed is at your local DVLA Office. They definitely won't do it at any Post Office.

You'll need to get an MOT done (make sure they enter all the correct engine and frame numbers on their system).

Once you've got the MOT, you take it along to the DVLA office, and they'll then change the classification over to Historic Vehicle, so you don't pay any Road Fund License.

Be prepared for a long wait though. At our DVLA office, you can only do it one morning per week, and the queue is HUGE made up mostly of Eastern European people registering their cars for use over here!

Hope this helps.
 
G

Graham Smith

Guest
Jeremy Churchill said:
So it's definitely better to be "Historic Vehicle" rather than "Not Licensed" then?
Click to expand...

As far as I can make out, once you've changed to Historic Vehicle, you can't go back to 'Not Licensed'.

Once you've made the change to 'Historic Vehicle', you must tax your bike each year, by having an MOT and a current insurance certificate.

If you don't tax it, you must declare it as SORN, otherwise you get fined.

If your vehicle is 'Not Licensed', you don't have to SORN it, as you can't ride a 'Not Licensed' vehicle on the road anyway.
 
b'knighted

b'knighted

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Hi Jeremy,

Welcome – it is great to see that there is now another Vin in Somerset. I do know of three others, in or around Yeovil and one section member occasionally rides to section meetings so may be able to escort you. I hope to see you there but beware, the March meeting will be poorly attended as many of us will be attending the section dinner the night before. It is laughingly called a Christmas dinner but was postponed due to Dartmoor and Exmoor roads becoming impassable just before its normal date.

If you fancy daylight proving runs there are weekly non-VOC bike meetings on Wednesday lunchtimes at Knowstone Picnic Site on the A361, about 15 miles beyond Tiverton. There is normally a Vin or two there. I think we had seven one week, but all makes are welcome.

On the thread subject, once my Comet was MoT’d, after a long time off the road, I tried to tax it at the post office. I filled in the application form as Historic Vehicle but they wouldn’t do it. As I wanted to ride straight away I taxed it as a bicycle, paying the fee as normal, then reclaimed the fee from DVLA when I sent the V5 off to change vehicle class to Historic. As you are about to change the registered keeper to your name you should change the vehicle class at the same time. If the bike has been licensed at any time since the historic vehicle class came into existence you should get those fees refunded to you.

Cheers, Ian
 
sidmadrid

sidmadrid

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
I recently bought avehicle with a v5.

I thought... change title into my name, and change taxation class at the same time.
It did not work, they sent my v5 back to me.
Do one thing at a time.

Photo copy both sides of the v5,
file them,
then send the v5 with your name in the change of keeper box. It only takes a day or so for it to come back.

When your v5c comes back get a form from the post office and send or take your stuff to your local dvla to tax it.

Or you can go your own way, but this worked for me.

sid
 
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