Registering an imported classic

[veryporky]

Just imported a 65 falcon estate from the states. I have the title document and nova release. One hears all sorts of rumours concerning DVLA. Wondering if anyone has imported and registered a classic lately and what their experience has been?

[KS]

Go to the DVLA website, download the necessary form, fill it in, ignoring all parts referring to Type Approval, etc. Take copies of all original paperwork - you won't get the title paperwork back from DVLA. You don't need to get an MOT, but you will need to get it insured and download a copy of the certificate. Print off some photos showing the whole car, the engine numbers and chassis (or VIN) numbers. Send it all off, along with a cheque for the first registration fee (used to be £85) and sit back. It is hit and miss whether they want an inspection or not to ascertain its historic status. I've had cars registered within 10 days, while others (like my 914) took several weeks after they mislaid the paperwork... Life was so easy when we had regional DVLA offices - for one car I imported from the USA it took just three days before I received the new V5. Sadly those days have long gone.

[veryporky]

Thanks for your guidance here Keith. I have been down this path before but it was many years ago and things often change. The first I did was from Germany in about 2001, the car had no paperwork and was not a historic. I had to drive it to a car park in Luton where it was examined by DVLA along with about 10 other cars. I brought a split bus in from Canada in about 2011, that had everything, title document, customs release and authentication letter from Wolfsburg VW museum. I these to Peterborough regional office and the registration document arrived 2 weeks later.
So question is were you ever required to have the vehicle inspected when you had all the paperwork as in my second case per the above?

[SeanP]

I registered a car earlier this year. I had all of the paperwork etc and they still wanted to inspect the car.
Was offered two dates for the inspection. The car was inspected where it was stored so I did not need to transport it anywhere.
Inspector came and took pictures of the chassis number, engine number, speedo, and general pictures of the car. Just to ensure that my application tied up with what was in front of him. Even the lack of engine number was not an issue as he stated that it could be a factory replacement case. Nice chap who told me that an inspection normally takes 15 minutes to do and is just to ensure that the vehicle is what it is and has not been modified extensively from its manufactured approval.
Had a bit of a chat with the inspector about all this scare mongering of restored cars being rejected or given Q plates as my car had been restored and as long as the parts were compatible with the parts it was built with it wasn't an issue. The thing he did say was "If you are modifying away from what was built then it gets all a little questionable and is down to the inspection report and the DVLA to request more information or refuse the registration as an historic vehicle.

So in short if it looks like what you are registering it as and has chassis and engine that resembles what it came from the factory with it should be ok.

My car is a 912 with a 911 engine and he didn't have any issues at all with the conversion as the chassis and running gear were the same (in the same location), and would be a modification in period! Stating Porsche engine in a Porsche car etc.

Regards

Sean

[KS]

My 912/6 didn’t get inspected just registered as a 911(!). The 914 was inspected by SGS to ascertain it matched the paperwork (which DVLA lost…) and once that was done it went through in a matter days. The whole inspection thing is totally random and there are no set rules, which is why we’re seeing US-built hot rods slipping through as ‘historic’ even though they have zero original parts. Trouble is, DVLA isn’t stupid and more cars are being caught out. However, cars like modded Porsches are less likely to be rejected as for the most part they are altered using Porsche parts, or facsimiles thereof.

[SeanP]

Funnily enough mine was/is registered as a 911 also.

[veryporky]

Thanks, all this is good information. So if they opt to inspect the car at my premises is there an additional charge?

[KS]

No charge - they almost always come to you these days...

[veryporky]

Many thanks. Forewarned is forearmed..

[RobFrost]

Also we need a pic of the falcon.

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