Hitchcocks Forum

I went to the DVLA local office today to try to get an age-related reg. I had the dating certificate from the REOC for my 1965 Crusader, but the jobsworth behind the counter told me that HMRC had decreed that all new reg's had to show proof that the vehicle was manufactured in Britain.

Well, everyone knows that a 1965 Crusader was manufactured in Britain, but oh no, they insisted that I have to get another letter from the REOC to certify that fact.

Surely it isn't beyond the wit of DVLA to keep a list of popular classic bike manufacturers and the dates when they operated in the UK?

Just to complicate things even further, there was a notice in the office to say that from 15th July they will no longer deal with V55 applications and they must be sent direct to Swansea (who will, no doubt, put another different interpretation on the rules).

Alas here we have a prize ezample of an incompetent employee who cannot understand his job and makes up his own rules just to cover his ineptitude. .. Having been there and eventually stuffed a similar jobsworth I sympathise. ... Not Reading by any chance?

Teesside. I think she was just applying the rules as laid down by swansea, but what stupid rules. She looked at my papers, sucked her teeth, went to the back of the office and eventually there were four employees gathered round in conference, shaking their heads. I could see it was going to be bad news!

I have heard that some offices/individuals are still granting registrations, while others are applying the rules. One even demanded a letter of confirmation from the (now non-existent) factory!

Many of these Local Vehicle Registration Offices are about to close as a result of cost cutting measures. No one seems to know how the system will work after this, however if there is a single point of contact at DVLA things may get simpler. Not holding my breath though.

OK I will be rather more blunt - Plain and deliberate obstruction by total knobbeds. ... If there was such a rule then no old bikes would be back on the road be they japanese, Italian, German, eastern european etc. .. Total & utter bollox. ... However in the interests of getting at the truth why not talk to those Swansea folks who I have found to be most helpful.

Sending Registration applications to Swansea has been happening for a few years now. When I Registered my Lightning three years ago, I had to send my application to the local office in Exeter. Exeter simply forwarded the application to Swansea. When I had to take the bike to the Exeter office (The paperwork said 'To check the engine and frame number'), I had a chat to the bloke to inspected the Lighning. He said that sending the application to the local office was a waste of time and the paperwork would be handled faster if it was sent direct to Swansea. He also mentioned that the 'inspection' wasn't for the engine and frame number, it was for the speedo (to make sure that it was set up for miles). I have delt with Swansea directly when I was Registering my Enfield and they were reasonably helpful. Oh, my Lightning wears a Carmarthan Registration number. Proof (if any was needed) that Swansea delt with the Registration.

I've been giving this a bit more thought and suspect that the LVRO staff are confusing the regulations relating to bikes imported into the UK, that is unless your bike has been repatriated from somewhere outside the EEC.
Alternatively it could be a misinterpretation of some internal DVLA guidance regarding the numerous supposed English Enfields imported from India or that Enfield India have now assumed the Royal Enfield name.

(Sorry about the false posts above, senior moment).

It seems that the DVLA can't get its act together as I get different stories. The REOC has been told that they need to get letters from the factory authenticating the bike (ie, the dating officer's certificate is no longer acceptable), whereas I have been told that I need a letter from the dating officer saying the bike was made in UK. However, some lucky people are still apparently getting their regs done at local offices if they happen to find an official who is either flexible or careless!

Meanwhile, we have nice sunny weather and I have a lovely Crusader Sports just waiting to be ridden!