DVLA Refused Trade Plate Application WTF ???

DVLA Refused Trade Plate Application WTF ???

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Discussion

OnlyMX5ives

Original Poster:

1,142 posts

199 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
My Dad who has been a trader for yrs and used to have trade plates (years ago) has just applied for a new set.

Basically he's chanced it a few times and with the penalties now it makes sense to get a set even for the rare occassions he needs them.

But his application has been refused as they said trading approx 50 cars per year isn't enough.

WTF is going on ? Its his business he needs to move untaxed cars and he's applied to do so legally but they say he can't.

Are we supposed to trailer everything ?

Because that isn't going to happen.

HellDiver

5,708 posts

189 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
Have you considered using a trailer?

OnlyMX5ives

Original Poster:

1,142 posts

199 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
Why the hell should he have to ?

They cost £1000+ get stolen all the time etc

That is what trade plates are for.

Fox-

13,340 posts

253 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
Does he have retail premesis? If so how does he sustain them on only 50 cars a year? Thats going to be a very low turnover let alone operating profit?

Or does he flog them from his driveway, in which case, good for the DVLA?

Dick_Phallus

1,155 posts

191 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
Can he prove how many cars he needs to move a year?

confused_buyer

6,770 posts

188 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
Sounds utterly bizarre. They'll issue trade plates if you are trading 5 cars per year. Basically, if you need them, they should issue them.

What supporting documentation did he supply? Normally, trade insurance plus a couple of auction accounts of evidence of trading cars is enough.

50 is more than enough for trade plates.

OnlyMX5ives

Original Poster:

1,142 posts

199 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
Fox- said:
Does he have retail premesis? If so how does he sustain them on only 50 cars a year? Thats going to be a very low turnover let alone operating profit?

Or does he flog them from his driveway, in which case, good for the DVLA?
Why on earth does that matter ?

He has been a successful trader for 30+ yrs and 50 x say £5k profit = a nice little business thanks.

Fox-

13,340 posts

253 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
OnlyMX5ives said:
Fox- said:
Does he have retail premesis? If so how does he sustain them on only 50 cars a year? Thats going to be a very low turnover let alone operating profit?

Or does he flog them from his driveway, in which case, good for the DVLA?
Why on earth does that matter ?

He has been a successful trader for 30+ yrs and 50 x say £5k profit = a nice little business thanks.
I was sick of finding cars for sale by 'traders' on their own driveways when buying a car. It's annoying. Traders charge more than private sellers - fine if you get a cup of coffee, a showroom, a professional environment and a service department for after sales but I don't expect to pitch up to view a car at a 'dealer' only to find its some car flogging cars from his lounge! I dont mind buying cars from peoples lounges (Infact I prefer it) but if I'm going to do that I may as well save myself some money and get extra peace of mind by buying it privately from its original owner.

Although £5k profit per used car, wow, is he selling Ferraris?

OnlyMX5ives

Original Poster:

1,142 posts

199 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
confused_buyer said:
Sounds utterly bizarre. They'll issue trade plates if you are trading 5 cars per year. Basically, if you need them, they should issue them.

What supporting documentation did he supply? Normally, trade insurance plus a couple of auction accounts of evidence of trading cars is enough.

50 is more than enough for trade plates.
They ask on the form when they can inspect your books to prove how many you sell.

He said they could look anytime.

As I said he used to have Trade plates when he dealt far fewer cars.


Jem0911

4,415 posts

208 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
OnlyMX5ives said:
Fox- said:
Does he have retail premesis? If so how does he sustain them on only 50 cars a year? Thats going to be a very low turnover let alone operating profit?

Or does he flog them from his driveway, in which case, good for the DVLA?
Why on earth does that matter ?

He has been a successful trader for 30+ yrs and 50 x say £5k profit = a nice little business thanks.
Five thousand a car!
Wow £250000 profit a grands worth of trailer is nothing?

Shaw Tarse

31,676 posts

210 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
OnlyMX5ives said:
confused_buyer said:
Sounds utterly bizarre. They'll issue trade plates if you are trading 5 cars per year. Basically, if you need them, they should issue them.

What supporting documentation did he supply? Normally, trade insurance plus a couple of auction accounts of evidence of trading cars is enough.

50 is more than enough for trade plates.
They ask on the form when they can inspect your books to prove how many you sell.

He said they could look anytime.

As I said he used to have Trade plates when he dealt far fewer cars.
So how many cars do you have to sell for ebay/autotrader/localcouncil to classify you as a trader?

rallycross

13,286 posts

244 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
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not sure what they changed but without premises or not vat registered and you wont get trade plates.

mat205125

17,790 posts

220 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
Captain K said:
£5000 per car???? What kind of cars does he sell?
I thought that too. Great mark up if you can manage it.

Shaw Tarse

31,676 posts

210 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
mat205125 said:
Captain K said:
£5000 per car???? What kind of cars does he sell?
I thought that too. Great mark up if you can manage it.
Or is it 50x = a £5,000 profit?

mat205125

17,790 posts

220 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
Shaw Tarse said:
mat205125 said:
Captain K said:
£5000 per car???? What kind of cars does he sell?
I thought that too. Great mark up if you can manage it.
Or is it 50x = a £5,000 profit?
£100 per car? Sounds like far too much hassle to me now.

MynameisRob

396 posts

200 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
I assume he means he sells 50 cars at £5000 each, not profit. If not, what and where from?!

Shaw Tarse

31,676 posts

210 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
mat205125 said:
Shaw Tarse said:
mat205125 said:
Captain K said:
£5000 per car???? What kind of cars does he sell?
I thought that too. Great mark up if you can manage it.
Or is it 50x = a £5,000 profit?
£100 per car? Sounds like far too much hassle to me now.
£100 per week, for tinkering/ a hobby?
If I could I would wink

C8PPO

19,913 posts

210 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
rallycross said:
not sure what they changed but without premises or not vat registered and you wont get trade plates.
At £250k p.a., whether that's turnover or profit, he's going to have to be VAT reg.

confused_buyer

6,770 posts

188 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
rallycross said:
not sure what they changed but without premises or not vat registered and you wont get trade plates.
Can't see any reason why you need VAT registration. If you're doing it part time or cheap cars then you can be under the limit.

The premises may be an issue. Your house can be a premises assuming you have somewhere to store the cars. If it looks as if you'll be parking them untaxed down the road maybe they might get a bit fussy.

You don't need to prove you are trading either, merely that you intent to trade (or intent to go into the car delivery business, maintenance etc.).

confused_buyer

6,770 posts

188 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
Fox- said:
It's annoying. Traders charge more than private sellers - fine if you get a cup of coffee, a showroom, a professional environment and a service department for after sales but I don't expect to pitch up to view a car at a 'dealer' only to find its some car flogging cars from his lounge! I dont mind buying cars from peoples lounges (Infact I prefer it) but if I'm going to do that I may as well save myself some money and get extra peace of mind by buying it privately from its original owner.
Fine, but it is a free country (just) and what has that got to do with trade plates? Remember the more expensive the premises it'll be you who pays for it in the end. Home traders certainly can't charge the same as anyone with a premises anyway.