Anyone waiting for UK registration on an imported vehicle ?

[32FlatSix]

I've just read this and the NOVA applications site, being blissfully ignorant of the system, but now realise I may be in problems, so would welcome advice! I purchased a project 914 about 4 years ago from a guy who evidently imported it from the US as a non-runner. Along with the car and many loose parts of varying standard I got an original reg document and some NOVA forms. However I think the latter forms were just blank ( they're away in a container now ), but at the time I assumed I don't need to do anything with them until the car is virtually complete ( still a year or so away at least, due to a house project ) and it goes for it's MOT pre registration. It now looks like I'm wrong and the NOVA should have been submitted within 2 weeks of the car landing in the country. Can anyone advise what I should do now?

[KS]

Just go ahead and apply for it – the time lag shouldn't be a problem. There are many cars that have been imported years ago as projects which have never been registered. I presume you have some proof of duty/VAT being paid at the time of entry? If not, then you'll need to get in touch with the shipping company who brought it in (or the previous owner) to confirm.

[32FlatSix]

Thanks Keith, I'll check for import paperwork or ask the original importer if I can't find anything.

Chris

[inaglasshouse]

Anyone with recent experience of how long this is taking at the moment? I'm waiting again...

[anglophone1]

My 914 arrived early September- we got the Nova in early October and the reg no mid November - pretty quick I thought
C

[inaglasshouse]

Thanks Clive

[MarkIII]

I have a 68 car half way through being built, I have the Nova paperwork, i assume i will need to wait until i have the car finished and have MOT'd the car before i can apply for its registration?

[KS]

Correct. You could apply now if it's a VHI (ie, you're applying for classic status) and forgo the MOT – some get away with it, most don't – but things have changed these days and the chances are they will want to inspect the vehicle first, in which case it will need to be 'complete', not an obvious project in progress.

[inaglasshouse]

To add a little to Keith's reply, based on recent-ish experience:

1) You don't need an MoT to register a 1968 car, if it meets the criteria for being MoT exempt going forward. Meaning substantially unmodified (detailed definition is published by DVLA).

2) If you have the original official government registration doc from the country from which you imported it (eg US title doc) you have a decent chance of a V5 without inspection or much other documentation being required.

3) If you don't have 2), DVLA will want proof of date of manufacture (from Porsche) and almost certainly further evidence that the physical car exists in finished form and is what you say it is. In my case they asked for an inspection but couldn't do it due to COVID. I haggled them down to photos and a video showing that the shiny car in some pics did indeed have the VIN shown in others. DVLA stated clearly that it needed to be a finished car.

If 1) and 2) are true, there's nothing to be lost by giving it a go, you might be lucky. Worst case is that DVLA want an inspection and you are not ready. There's a simple option on the inspection request form to say "oops, sorry, not ready for inspection". I don't know if they send your docs back in that case. In my case they kept my docs while we faffed about trying to arrange inspection and then reverting to video.

[stuarts]

I'd agree with the above.

I had both the original Greek registration document, and a letter of authenticity from the AROC registration secretary, stating that the chassis number had been confirmed by Alfa Storico.

Certainly seemed to help, as reg docs came through in six weeks - correctly as a historic vehicle.

[anglophone1]

I didn’t bother with MOT- no problem!

[MikeB]

I didn’t bother with MOT- no problem!

That’s why he’s known as the Bantry Bandit in PCI

[miles55]

Mine came through today at second time of asking. It took a month.

Advice on here (and AROC) proved invaluable.

[210bhp]

Thanks to Andy and others I can now confirm that about three weeks after sending off full documentation and a covering letter I now have a V5 (historic status) for the targa. Thanks to all for guiding me through this process. I really appreciate all the help to achieve this smoothly and it would appear (as Richard said) the greatest issue for the dvla is concrete proof of age and official registration in the country where purchased. I must admit, when I set off on my adventure overland to Finland, documentation (of this kind) was the last thing on my mind. I was very keen to see documentation proving the targa was genuine (cardex etc) but I must thank Mika (the seller) in retrospect for having comprehensive official Finnish documents ready for signing on arrival. Without Mika’s attention to this detail I would have found it very difficult to register the targa now. It was the first time I have imported a car and I would urge anyone doing the same to get FULL documentation where you buy the car. Thank you so much Mika.

Hope this adds to the help already outlined in this thread.


Regards
Mike

[Lightweight_911]

.

Excellent news Mike !



Now we just need you to update your Targa restoration thread ...

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