Historic Vehicle Status
Discussion
I handed two V5Cs to the local WH Smith Post Office to change the class to "Historic" and they processed it there and then giving me a receipt saying taxed from 1st April.
It took a couple of days to show the "Tax Valid" on the .gov website.
I have not had the up-dated V5C back yet but the website confirms now taxed for both vehicles.
It took a couple of days to show the "Tax Valid" on the .gov website.
I have not had the up-dated V5C back yet but the website confirms now taxed for both vehicles.
I did take one to post office a couple of years back and 2-3 weeks later I got a letter back from DVLA asking me what I wanted to do as nothing had been completed on the log book.
Since then I have just filled out the tax class status section as Historic Vehicle and posted off myself.
Just checking my dates and it was only a month ago so will give it a bit longer.
They have not actioned yet as I can still tax it for £111, even though the same system tells me it does not need an MOT anymore, you would have thought they would link the 2 databases.
Since then I have just filled out the tax class status section as Historic Vehicle and posted off myself.
Just checking my dates and it was only a month ago so will give it a bit longer.
They have not actioned yet as I can still tax it for £111, even though the same system tells me it does not need an MOT anymore, you would have thought they would link the 2 databases.
TISPKJ said:
I did take one to post office a couple of years back and 2-3 weeks later I got a letter back from DVLA asking me what I wanted to do as nothing had been completed on the log book.
Since then I have just filled out the tax class status section as Historic Vehicle and posted off myself.
Just checking my dates and it was only a month ago so will give it a bit longer.
They have not actioned yet as I can still tax it for £111, even though the same system tells me it does not need an MOT anymore, you would have thought they would link the 2 databases.
Link databases? Since then I have just filled out the tax class status section as Historic Vehicle and posted off myself.
Just checking my dates and it was only a month ago so will give it a bit longer.
They have not actioned yet as I can still tax it for £111, even though the same system tells me it does not need an MOT anymore, you would have thought they would link the 2 databases.
Why on earth would two different Govt Depts even think about linking their 'state-of-the-art' databases. That would make perfect sense so would immediately be disregarded by the powers that be. You really need to have a chat with yourself for even thinking about it
.
I'd try a different Post Office rather than the DVLA. Their own advice is that you do it at a PO: https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles/apply-for-veh...
I did wonder what the current tax status of your car is - is it on SORN, or taxed, or pre-dates SORN and is just "un-taxed"? I did the Firenza in my local PO when it was on SORN, all done in a couple of minutes, but I do know people who have had trouble in their PO which I presume is down to a lack of training.
That letter makes no sense, though. Even if there was a requirement for it to be taxed at the time you want to change the class (which there isn't), it doesn't make any sense to tell you to "tax it in the Historic class" because, as you say, you can't do that until it's been changed. But a decent PO will have this sorted in a minute or two - I spent longer in the queue, and mine was slightly unusual because the manufacture year is earlier than the registration year.
I did wonder what the current tax status of your car is - is it on SORN, or taxed, or pre-dates SORN and is just "un-taxed"? I did the Firenza in my local PO when it was on SORN, all done in a couple of minutes, but I do know people who have had trouble in their PO which I presume is down to a lack of training.
That letter makes no sense, though. Even if there was a requirement for it to be taxed at the time you want to change the class (which there isn't), it doesn't make any sense to tell you to "tax it in the Historic class" because, as you say, you can't do that until it's been changed. But a decent PO will have this sorted in a minute or two - I spent longer in the queue, and mine was slightly unusual because the manufacture year is earlier than the registration year.
Edited by droopsnoot on Tuesday 25th April 09:04
I'm not clear who has the logbook at the moment.
The last one I did, I simply took the V5c into the Post Office (but it was the second Post Office as staff at the first one didn't know what to do) where they sorted it in 2 minutes, retaxed car as 'historic' and sent V5c off to DVLA. A short while later a refund for the car tax balance (car was already taxed when changed over) and new V5c arrived in the post. No problems at all.
I have found a significant difference in staff's knowledge in Post Offices and have found the best-informed are those Post Offices that process lots of car tax, and probably better if you can find one in an area where loads of 'old blokes' have Historic Vehicles, as they've probably been using that Post Office.
There's not much hope when some of the younger staff think that things like 5-year old phones are 'vintage'
The last one I did, I simply took the V5c into the Post Office (but it was the second Post Office as staff at the first one didn't know what to do) where they sorted it in 2 minutes, retaxed car as 'historic' and sent V5c off to DVLA. A short while later a refund for the car tax balance (car was already taxed when changed over) and new V5c arrived in the post. No problems at all.
I have found a significant difference in staff's knowledge in Post Offices and have found the best-informed are those Post Offices that process lots of car tax, and probably better if you can find one in an area where loads of 'old blokes' have Historic Vehicles, as they've probably been using that Post Office.
There's not much hope when some of the younger staff think that things like 5-year old phones are 'vintage'
So Just to be clear, (its a motorbike but makes no odds)I have the Logbook (16 years) in my name etc etc.
Its currently on sorn.
I sent off logbook to DVLA completing the tax status section as Historic Vehicle ( as I have done at least twice fairly recently on other cars) and they sent back with above letter.
I can tax right now online for the normal fee.
I can only assume they want me to fill out the V10 form (application for vehicle tax) but marking said form as Historic Vehicle in the bit where you normally put PLG and sending back to them (or as said above take to post office)
Obviously I have tried to do online via the above link or similar and it just sends you round and round.
Annoying .....
Its currently on sorn.
I sent off logbook to DVLA completing the tax status section as Historic Vehicle ( as I have done at least twice fairly recently on other cars) and they sent back with above letter.
I can tax right now online for the normal fee.
I can only assume they want me to fill out the V10 form (application for vehicle tax) but marking said form as Historic Vehicle in the bit where you normally put PLG and sending back to them (or as said above take to post office)
Obviously I have tried to do online via the above link or similar and it just sends you round and round.
Annoying .....
TarquinMX5 said:
The last one I did, I simply took the V5c into the Post Office (but it was the second Post Office as staff at the first one didn't know what to do) where they sorted it in 2 minutes, retaxed car as 'historic' and sent V5c off to DVLA. A short while later a refund for the car tax balance (car was already taxed when changed over) and new V5c arrived in the post. No problems at all.
That's the confusing bit, there is no charge for Historic, if they said tax the vehicle as normal (and after ripping you off for at least a Months tax we will issue a new log book I could understand).They have said "re tax in the historic class"
Your mistake was involving the DVLA in the first place. A Post Office (one that understands the rules) would have accepted the appropriate form with your signed declaration of being eligible for Historic status, taxed it there and then. Appropriate V5 then arrives about 14 days later.
restoman said:
Your mistake was involving the DVLA in the first place. A Post Office (one that understands the rules) would have accepted the appropriate form with your signed declaration of being eligible for Historic status, taxed it there and then. Appropriate V5 then arrives about 14 days later.
That's exactly what I did on April 1st for a vehicle that was on Sorn..... still waiting for the new V5V5 arrived just.
Edited by V8covin on Thursday 27th April 10:44
Scotty2 said:
I handed two V5Cs to the local WH Smith Post Office to change the class to "Historic" and they processed it there and then giving me a receipt saying taxed from 1st April.
It took a couple of days to show the "Tax Valid" on the .gov website.
I have not had the up-dated V5C back yet but the website confirms now taxed for both vehicles.
This was my experience in March (but with 1 registration, and at my local post office)It took a couple of days to show the "Tax Valid" on the .gov website.
I have not had the up-dated V5C back yet but the website confirms now taxed for both vehicles.
This.
I had the same experience
I had the same experience
TarquinMX5 said:
I'm not clear who has the logbook at the moment.
The last one I did, I simply took the V5c into the Post Office (but it was the second Post Office as staff at the first one didn't know what to do) where they sorted it in 2 minutes, retaxed car as 'historic' and sent V5c off to DVLA. A short while later a refund for the car tax balance (car was already taxed when changed over) and new V5c arrived in the post. No problems at all.
I have found a significant difference in staff's knowledge in Post Offices and have found the best-informed are those Post Offices that process lots of car tax, and probably better if you can find one in an area where loads of 'old blokes' have Historic Vehicles, as they've probably been using that Post Office.
There's not much hope when some of the younger staff think that things like 5-year old phones are 'vintage'
The last one I did, I simply took the V5c into the Post Office (but it was the second Post Office as staff at the first one didn't know what to do) where they sorted it in 2 minutes, retaxed car as 'historic' and sent V5c off to DVLA. A short while later a refund for the car tax balance (car was already taxed when changed over) and new V5c arrived in the post. No problems at all.
I have found a significant difference in staff's knowledge in Post Offices and have found the best-informed are those Post Offices that process lots of car tax, and probably better if you can find one in an area where loads of 'old blokes' have Historic Vehicles, as they've probably been using that Post Office.
There's not much hope when some of the younger staff think that things like 5-year old phones are 'vintage'
DVLA are a complete nightmare
It’s the same merry go round whenever I go to do a cherished transfer online.
It never lets me do it and wants me to send off docs.
Even wanted me to MOT a historic car recently to get it done.
Yesterday it wouldn’t let me take a number off a car I’ve owned for 5 years which is taxed and MOT’d etc.
I don’t like sending docs off
It’s the same merry go round whenever I go to do a cherished transfer online.
It never lets me do it and wants me to send off docs.
Even wanted me to MOT a historic car recently to get it done.
Yesterday it wouldn’t let me take a number off a car I’ve owned for 5 years which is taxed and MOT’d etc.
I don’t like sending docs off
When I registered my old car, first registered in 1963 as historic, they insisted that I obtain a Heritage Certificate showing its year of manufacture. I can't understand why as it proved nothing extra about the car apart from the fact that it came off the production line a couple of weeks before it was registered.
And since it was registered far more than 40 years before I made the application, all it showed was that the first owner didn't have some amazing foresight of registering a car 15 years before it was manufactured and five years before the model went out of production.
However, it made the DVLA happy. They did the registration quickly and returned the Heritage Certificate without folding it and in a stiffened envelope to prevent damage!
And since it was registered far more than 40 years before I made the application, all it showed was that the first owner didn't have some amazing foresight of registering a car 15 years before it was manufactured and five years before the model went out of production.
However, it made the DVLA happy. They did the registration quickly and returned the Heritage Certificate without folding it and in a stiffened envelope to prevent damage!
Though not to do with historic status, I recently changed tax class on our MX5 to "disabled". I hadn't considered doing this until the DWP award for my wife turned up. As many posters have said, the easiest thing to do was to take the bits and pieces to a post office - the woman there wasn't sure quite how it all worked but phoned another office - to cut a long story short, everything was sent off and the new registration plus refund turned up within a week. So the message is to use the post office if there is still one close by.
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