DVLA- you couldnt make it up

[nigel bickle]

I received this in the post yesterday:-




This is a 1966 Renault Camper -that has been 'offroad'' since 1986- 26 years. There have been no change in details in over 10 years.
It is half way welded, engineless, and hasnt been out of the barn to see daylight in at least 5 years..

[XG332]

So . . . . .

[TPS]

XG332 said:

So . . . . .

So why has he received this letter.
Also its not easy or cheap to get any of the choices they have given him from the list to prove the cc.
Someone needs to get hold of the dvla and sort them out.

[XG332]

I think they just need replacing.

[na]

nigel bickle said:

This is a 1966 Renault Camper -that has been 'offroad'' since 1986- 26 years. There have been no change in details in over 10 years.
It is half way welded, engineless, and hasnt been out of the barn to see daylight in at least 5 years..

It's good that the DVLA are checking up on things

You say there been no change in 10 years, yet it's been off the road for 26 years and it is engineless - how are the DVLA supposed to know all that ?

Just write or email with photos and explain, I don't thing the whole of the DVLA and goverment have got it in for you personally (just most of them) - people are not being persercuted by them

We should support the DVLA as much as possible to catch those that are doing wrong which they can't do without accurate records

Off course I could be a DVLA spy

[Seek]

TPS said:

So why has he received this letter.

Because the vehicle is registered with a 9999cc engine
Question is - does Renault still want to vouch for the engine size 46 years later

Agreed that it's ridiculous for the DVLA to be chasing this when I assume it won't make a difference.

[Haighermeister]

What happens if you just ignore it?

[Getragdogleg]

What is the cyl. capacity of the vehicle when it was made ?

Why/how have the DVLA decided its changed ?

Were the details on the V5 correct to the vehicle when produced ?

[69 coupe]

If you reply, I wonder will you have to start Sorn'ing it every year, I assume you don't already?

[Ben3883]

You can probably get written confirmation on headed paper from a dealer about the original engine size if you go and have a chat and take some stats about it with you (I'd be very surprised if their system had any info about a '66 car).* That ought to be sufficient, surely?

• Edit: That said, their ICM system might have something if you give them the VIN...can't remember how far back it goes but it's worth a try.

Edited by Ben3883 on Sunday 10th April 11:46

[Benbay001]

Maybe i am paranoid, but it sounds like a scam :-/

[FraserLFA]

Technically, your cylinder capacity has gone down to 0, if you've removed the engine.

[Globs]

FraserLFA said:

Technically, your cylinder capacity has gone down to 0, if you've removed the engine.

Plus you haven't yet decided which engine.
Send them a photo of the empty engine bay and tell them you'll let them know the size of the engine when it goes in.

[FraserLFA]

Globs said:

FraserLFA said:

Technically, your cylinder capacity has gone down to 0, if you've removed the engine.

Plus you haven't yet decided which engine.
Send them a photo of the empty engine bay and tell them you'll let them know the size of the engine when it goes in.

Indeed. What happened to the old engine? If you've sold it on to be fitted in a different vehicle, they're probably wondering what's now powering yours. Just a theory.

[nigel bickle]

But -its irrelevant

They want to know engine size for taxation purposes. The vehicle is still registered as PLG until its first tax disc-when it becomes historic -and free! So it fdoesnt matter what size the damn thing is.

Who cares what i put in it...

[Yertis]

What engine size do they have on their records? If it's correct, tell them so. Then it's up to them to prove otherwise. That's the way I would play it anyway. They'll be forced to prove their own information is inaccurate.

[Globs]

I expect someone in the DVLA is running a program that involves engine size - perhaps to investigate a new EU based taxation band, so they want to scan the database and your entry bugged someone. Instead of ignoring it a wizard job-creation scheme meant some minion set you a letter about it.

Either way it seems the DVLA is scanning engine sizes.

[cptsideways]

Central Casework Group = Job Creation Department

[cahami]

Yertis said:

What engine size do they have on their records? If it's correct, tell them so. Then it's up to them to prove otherwise. That's the way I would play it anyway. They'll be forced to prove their own information is inaccurate.

I like this, copy of their letter with a covering letter saying that their records are correct whatever cc it says and invite them to disprove it, when the restoration is finnished if required just send off v5 and get it changed f.o.c

[onomatopoeia]

na said:

t's good that the DVLA are checking up on things

You say there been no change in 10 years, yet it's been off the road for 26 years and it is engineless - how are the DVLA supposed to know all that ?

Just write or email with photos and explain, I don't thing the whole of the DVLA and goverment have got it in for you personally (just most of them) - people are not being persercuted by them

The DVLA have it in for everyone. If you write to them informing them of a change in capacity they write back basically accusing you of lying.

I tried to tell them I had fitted a 998cc engine to my Singer Chamois (increasing it from the standard 875cc). I got a form letter saying "prove it". The engine was bought from a bloke who advertised it in the Imp Club magazine in about 1995, I have no reciept and it has no engine number as it was built from a bare block supplied by the Rootes group competition department over 40 years ago. Short of dismantling it and measuring the swept volume I can't prove it, nor should I have to. It's a 43 year old car that gets free road tax.

I ignored the letter. The DVLA are not fit for purpose.