DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Several times over the last 30 odd years DVLA have told me the 'Y' reg on my 73T given on importation from Germany has to stay with the car.

The rules at the time of importation stay with the car forever, and i cannot have an age accurate reg, ie 'L' reg.

Was never sure this is the case, but no matter to me.
Reg number usually confuses the observer.

I quite like this simple overview from the MGB side of life:

https://youtu.be/o8rS66RZzhc

911hillclimber wrote: ↑Fri Aug 29, 2025 8:45 am Several times over the last 30 odd years DVLA have told me the 'Y' reg on my 73T given on importation from Germany has to stay with the car.

The rules at the time of importation stay with the car forever, and i cannot have an age accurate reg, ie 'L' reg.

Was never sure this is the case, but no matter to me.
Reg number usually confuses the observer.

I think DVLA did a U turn on this, a number of years ago, as you say it made cars appear newer than what they were, especially when personnel in the Armed Forces returned from Europe with their new cars to the UK. It caused the motor trade a few issues.
Some people on here have argued successfully to get an age related plate back on their car, but for you, the number plate you currently have has an emotional attachment, so I doubt you want to change it back to the correct year registration.

911hillclimber wrote: ↑Fri Aug 29, 2025 8:59 am I quite like this simple overview from the MGB side of life:

https://youtu.be/o8rS66RZzhc

This is the issue when any legislation changes, it is open to interpretation, and it is not actually what is written, (although this helps for guidance/rules) but it is what is not written within that guidance or law, that people then try to do a workaround..........you only have to look at Formula One rules to see how some teams try and work around them, your good old celebrity lawyer who gets somebody off on a technicality..........

The ‘Reconstruction’ part of the new legislation, is the bit that is badly worded, as who is going to find an original 25 year old part that is New Old Stock to fit on their classic, to enable you to keep your registration, or enable registration?

I think it will all get ironed out over the coming months/years as people test the legislation, or make appeals. This is not just about the ‘man (woman) in the shed building / restoring a car’ it is a huge industry, as already stated, employing over 100,000 people with £billions in revenue.

The parts business alone is worth a fortune, and today's modern techniques, CAD, and materials, produce items that are safer, stronger, and hopefully, more reliable. (apart from your Chinese knock offs!)

I was never a great believer in Classics being exempt from a yearly MOT, they need to be checked, even if you had to submit your car for one say every two years?

Indeed, and I'm an advocate of an MoT. If it is over 3 years from new, then an MoT is needed, stock-as-a-stone or modified (whatever that really means)

I read somewhere of a thought to base classic MoT intervals on miles covered, ie an MoT every 2K miles.
That could well be every year, or 2 or 3 etc and maybe make it every 4th no matter the miles.
Reads like a compromise to me and open to forgetfulness.

I have recently done a number of village Car Shows with a good number of classics there, of every shape and size, and some would never get an MoT imho, yet trundle off at the end of the day on very old parts, esp tyres.

This will indeed go on for a long time, and the 25 year rule/new parts only is just silly, and embarrassing to whoever wrote it.

Well I've just had a reasonably sensible to and fro with the DVLA regarding my electric 914. Long story short, I want to register it properly as 'electric' as currently it is 'historic'. Initially I kept it historic due to zero road tax but now I would rather it is registered 'correctly', particularly if I sell it.

So, I filled in the V5 with the only change being the fuel type. I sent this off and it took nearly 8 weeks to receive a folder piece of paper I believe used to be a called a 'letter'. This contained a reply slip and form V627/1.

The reply slip asks whether the car has had a 'kit conversion' ( YES ), has it been modifed (YES) and has the chassis/frame been modified (NO). Form V627/1 is a 'Parts Statement' which is the same old categories as the old 8 points system ( chassis, axles, transmission, steering gear, engine, suspension etc). You have to fill in whether they are from the original vehicle or 'NEW". Answered NEW for engine and N/A for transmission ( Tesla motor is fixed gear ). I also provided photos of the vehicle before and after and a letter from Electric Classic Cars to show it was 'professionally converted' as well as invoices for the parts. I emailed all of this...

After a week I got an email from an actual person who said all I needed to do was provide an MOT then the process is done. I asked whether there is a time limit on providing the MOT and they said no - anytime (the car hasn't yet had one as previously registered historic).

Someone said that Henry Pearman (Eagle) and Richard Hammond had lobbied the DVLA to be a bit more pragmatic. If that's true it seems to have worked.

Well, that sounds promising!

My parting words to the current Executive of the DVLA when he left my organisation was "look after the old cars" - things certainly seem to be more positive....

This time it's uk.gov.crap

viewtopic.php?t=73836

So true, if it's true.

How will DVLA know what work has been done if the the car is MOT exempt as they will have no information .

They expect everyone to be honest and upfront...