Kit cars and avoiding the q plate

[AndyMX5NA]

I’m waiting for my replica kit car erm kit to turn up. The car needs quite a few components no longer made new so it can’t be built from only new parts and tested to be registered - which is how my caterham got a new reg.

To be able to get a non Q plate I believe I need to take two major components from an existing registered car to fit to the kit. I can then apply to get the reg from the donor swapped over and if I can, I get an non q plate car and I can get a private plate that actually reflects the period the car I am building is from. A q plate car cannot have a private plate.

This means crate engines and engines already removed from cars are pointless for car builders hoping to avoid a Q plate. Is my understanding correct? Is there any way I can use a engine removed from a car already?

The engine and transmission will be going for a full rebuild whatever.

[sociopath]

Depends what kit your building but for many marques the q plate isn't a negative, can also help with mot emissions too I believe

[dhutch]

Have a Westfield on a Q and an very happy.

[Ambleton]

Its a points based system.

My Pembleton will get an age related plate to the single 2cv donor, but I am not using the 2cvs engine. I am however using enough of the 2cv to get the age related plate.

Gearbox/driveshafts
Front axle/hubs
Rear axle/hubs
Steering system
Braking system

I have the 2cv donor V5C, chassis VIN plate and number plates as removed from car, and photos from the car whole, and in bits prior to build.

[hersh]

When I built the Luego, had a very friendly dvla chap
He looked over the Sierra based kit and was happy to see sufficient original parts

Rover v8 engine
Limited slip diff
Etc etc

I think the only part from the Sierra was the column switch gear

He was a great chap!

[AndyMX5NA]

This one isn’t really for a q plate. It is all about its engine though so that will have to come over. Rather than take one of the very small number of base cars left in the U.K. which are becoming rare and colexrable in their own right I may need to get an old one from (say) France register it on an age plate in the U.K. and then swap that to the new chassis then get a private plate that passes for a U.K. plate circa early 70s.

You’d think the DVLA would have a better system. I mean it’s not like anyone is going to run a kit car to duck paying rfl or seek to profit from selling it as a younger car. I’ll have to engage with the marque forum and see what they think to.

[dhutch]

The system, rightly or wrongly, is all about avoiding making something old look new. And or otherwise giving it an age related registerion when the age is not known and or clear.

[BrokenSkunk]

When I applied for registration for the Skunk, I visited the DVLA ofices in Bournemouth in person with the forms. I had a fat A4 folder full of receipts. Everything was brand new, but the clerk didn't look at a single receipt. If I'd built everything using refurbed second hand bits and tried to blag it, I'd easily have got away with blagging a new plate.

Could have saved myself a fortune.

(What you learn from this info & how you use it is entirely up to you.)

[Chris-S]

If you have a donor (with a V5) and want to legitimise a different engine, you can, but you’ll need to satisfy DVLA that the engine has actually been installed in the vehicle, and that involves getting a statement from ‘a professional’. It seems predicated on the notion that there’s no such thing as a DIY engine swap these days, or at least, proof of the change is now demanded. Not impossible, but a bit of a PITA unless you have a friendly local garage.

Bit like chassis numbers now. DVLA issued me one for my last project but I had to fill in a declaration form that it had been correctly applied, which had to be signed and stamped by a garage. Yet the very first thing they check at IVA is the chassis number…..

I’m sure it all makes sense to someone.

Gone are the days of just sending off the V5 with a new engine number when the donor itself has long been scrapped for it’s bits.

As already said, getting an age-of-donor related plate is based on the points system given. Should be do-able as long as it’s not too much of a ‘bitsa’ and you have a donor with a V5, showing the right engine number.

FWIW, I’ve found DVLA kit department to be really helpful folk. They have their rules to follow, of course, but they do try to help.

[dhutch]

Chris-S said:

a bit of a PITA unless you have a friendly local garage.

Ie, easy?

Hopefully. I have not done it yet but have had a local garage confirm they would be happy to do it for me.

Just trashed the engine on the second test run, so it need swapping again, then I will get them to sign it off.


Daniel

[Chris-S]

dhutch said:

Ie, easy?

Hopefully. I have not done it yet but have had a local garage confirm they would be happy to do it for me.

Just trashed the engine on the second test run, so it need swapping again, then I will get them to sign it off.


Daniel

It’s just a paperwork exercise, but you need the right paperwork! As you have a garage willing to sign the form, it should be simple.

[Lordbenny]

My Sylva J15 has an engine and gearbox out of a 70,000 mile Ford Puma but the builder restored and rebuilt the engine to as good as new so it’s got a 15 plate!