391 replies to this topic

[Ethel]

It's just like the law: Parliament makes 'em but lawyers decide what they mean. We will probably never know what a "structural modification" is and without guidance/precidents it will mean different things to different inspectors.

[Phaeton]

The £199 fee is for small volume manufacturers producing cars to the same standard, the £450 is the fee payable for the amateur builds.

The 3 years is a big bone of contention in kit car circles, to qualify you have to use a NEW chassis so a space framed Mini would get 3 years, a standard Mini with a cage in the back holding an engine won't. HOWEVER it's all down to how the details are entered into the DVLA computer, the age of the vehicle is in several fields & if the age is put down as the age of the donor vehicle it will force you into getting a MOT after 1 year or you cannot tax it. If however in the same field the year the inspection was done you get 3 years.

I made a post earlier about this, each DVLA office seems to make their own rules up as to how things are done, if a particular clerk decides he/she doesn't like the idea of kitcar getting exemption for MOT for 3 years they use one field, if they go by Swansea directive they get one way their own rules another. Once had a discussion with a young guy at Sheffield DVLA office, his opinion was ALL amateur/kitcars should automatically go onto a Q plate. He was most upset when I quoted DVLA rules & effectively forced him into giving me an age related plate. He got his own back though I was forced to get a MOT after the 1st year.

Alan...

[CharlieBrown]

So with that in mind with my new fibreglass shell mini could I expect to get a Q plate and 3 years exemption from the MOT? (I think it means I would, depending on the tester) or would I need to use all new bits for that?

[Phaeton]

So with that in mind with my new fibreglass shell mini could I expect to get a Q plate and 3 years exemption from the MOT? (I think it means I would, depending on the tester) or would I need to use all new bits for that?

If you are using one donor for all the bits & have the V5C in your name, you will have to prove that all the bits come from that vehicle. Take photographs & basically have a build diary showing the parts on the donor, them being refurbished & then fitted, this is probably overkill but it will help. VOSA will then class it as an amateur build & allow you to IVA it your emissions will be based on the age of the car that the engine came from.

Then the DVLA will also want to inspect it, they will be again looking for proof that the parts come from the donor. If you state on your V627 (I think) that engine, gearbox, suspension, steering all came from that donor they should give you an age related plate based on the age of the donor. If you can't prove to their satisfaction that they all came from the same donor they will probably put it on a Q plate. If you can provide receipts for all the parts as being new parts, with only one part being old but refurbished to 'as new' condition with proof, they will consider a 09/59 'new' plate. In all cases you 'should' be free from MOT for 3 years, but as I said before each DVLA office has their own view on this & some deliberately make it so you have to have a MOT at the end of the first year.

Alan...

[garrett3]

Thats GREAT info Alan, Cheers for that mate

[Darkscamp]

just a quick question,

where the hell do i stand with my scamp???

[garrett3]

just a quick question,

where the hell do i stand with my scamp???

Does it say scamp on the logbook?

Its if the car matches the logbook in your case.

Edited by garrett3, 20 July 2009 - 05:09 PM.

[Darkscamp]

i'll have to look, never really checked to be honest

Edited by Darkscamp, 20 July 2009 - 05:48 PM.

[garrett3]

PM me for info mate

Edited by garrett3, 20 July 2009 - 05:49 PM.

[Phaeton]

I would say what I think you already know that if stopped by VOSA/DVLA then depending how cantankerous they were you may have a problem. However if you have photographic that your Scamp was on the road before 1998 when SVA was introduced in the guise it is now I believe you would have a good case fro nothing to happen, apart from the asking you to "Have a nice day & drive carefully".

Alan...

[garrett3]

I would say what I think you already know that if stopped by VOSA/DVLA then depending how cantankerous they were you may have a problem. However if you have photographic that your Scamp was on the road before 1998 when SVA was introduced in the guise it is now I believe you would have a good case fro nothing to happen, apart from the asking you to "Have a nice day & drive carefully".

Alan...

I thought they got around that with the IVA by basing it on a 1994 excise act? They also state that ALL mods MUST be reported to DVLA?? (how they enforce this with such a small section on the V5 is beyond me).
They place the onus on US the owner to inform the DVLA of mods, so modded before 1998 or not it should be on the current logbook. Maybe you could try contacting the dvla for advice on that stating it was built pre sva and see what they suggest but I'm pretty sure they have that all tied up nicely.

http://www.opsi.gov....940022_en_1.htm

Good thought though mate and well worth looking into

Edited by garrett3, 20 July 2009 - 06:52 PM.

[Ethel]

There used to be lots of kitcars knocking about still registered as the main donor. DVLA were running a sort of amnesty for owners who updated the vehicle details and could prove it had already been on the road a while. Dunno if that is still the case. They can't really do much if it was built before they got their act together. My Midas is a "British Leyland twin axle rigid body" on the V5, not the catchiest model name but it does describe it pretty well - and anything else that rolled out of Longbridge, Cowley ... Importantly, the chassis number is Midas000....

[CharlieBrown]

So with that in mind with my new fibreglass shell mini could I expect to get a Q plate and 3 years exemption from the MOT? (I think it means I would, depending on the tester) or would I need to use all new bits for that?

If you are using one donor for all the bits & have the V5C in your name, you will have to prove that all the bits come from that vehicle. Take photographs & basically have a build diary showing the parts on the donor, them being refurbished & then fitted, this is probably overkill but it will help. VOSA will then class it as an amateur build & allow you to IVA it your emissions will be based on the age of the car that the engine came from.

Then the DVLA will also want to inspect it, they will be again looking for proof that the parts come from the donor. If you state on your V627 (I think) that engine, gearbox, suspension, steering all came from that donor they should give you an age related plate based on the age of the donor. If you can't prove to their satisfaction that they all came from the same donor they will probably put it on a Q plate. If you can provide receipts for all the parts as being new parts, with only one part being old but refurbished to 'as new' condition with proof, they will consider a 09/59 'new' plate. In all cases you 'should' be free from MOT for 3 years, but as I said before each DVLA office has their own view on this & some deliberately make it so you have to have a MOT at the end of the first year.

Alan...

Hi Alan,

Thanks for the info. All new parts turned out to be a bit too expensive for me. As for all bits coming from one vehicle then thats out as well as ive got all excited and bought shiny things.

So its Q plate for me, I personally dont think its too much of an issue unless I'm missing something. (I've heard insurance companies can be funny but I am not sure why exactly).

I am all ears if ive made a mistake by chosing to go this route.

Cheers, Charlie

[Phaeton]

Hi Alan,

Thanks for the info. All new parts turned out to be a bit too expensive for me. As for all bits coming from one vehicle then thats out as well as ive got all excited and bought shiny things.

So its Q plate for me, I personally dont think its too much of an issue unless I'm missing something. (I've heard insurance companies can be funny but I am not sure why exactly).

I am all ears if ive made a mistake by chosing to go this route.

Cheers, Charlie

Some 'normal' insurance companies don't like Q plates, some won't insure them at all, but as it's a kit car you'll probably go with a specialist anyway, Footman, Flux Sykes etc. My last one was registered as an age related plate, but to be honest there wasn't a lot left from the donor, as things got reconditioned, then replaced as I found a slightly better one etc. However they were all parts that 'could' have been fitted to the Metro that was the original donor. When asked did the parts come from the donor I said yes, it's not like the engine/gearbox was from the Metro, the front suspension from a Sierra, rear suspension from an Escort etc. They will decide anyway, I would go with the frame that you want an age related but won't be disappointed if it's a Q. Another downside depending on your viewpoint is you cannot put a cherished plate on a Q.

Alan...

[zebidee]

Right, i've read the info on this, and this thread, but i'm just a bit confused. I'm not so much bothered about my mini, but for my 21st which is slowly arriving i'm trying to hunt down a Mini Marcos shell. I was wondering if someone could make it a bit clearer for me where i stand. So...

If i was to buy merely a shell (the older the better ), and then rebuild it with a new engine & subframes etc would this need to go through the IVA even though the shell was already registered? This meaning that i would then need to build the marcos to '09 regs (collapsable steering column etc).

or...

If i was to buy a completed marcos which was registered, but then possibly change the engine and small parts (all but the engine for original parts), would this lead to the same ends?