No VIN number on V5C - potential MoT probs?
Discussion
I've given up googling this... anyone know the answer?!
My V5C docs lists a five digit number instead of a full 17-dig VIN - it's for a 1982 Leyland FG550, so should have been recorded (I believe as it's post-1981...) with a full 17-dig VIN.
It's a former library van coachbuilt by CG Smith, then professionally converted to a motor caravan at some point. I don't know when it was converted, but the V5C accurately lists 'motor caravan' under body type.
I can't find a chassis plate/VIN on the vehicle, but there is a GC Smith plate which shows the five digit number that's also on the V5C.
The vehicle is SORN and has been off the road for donkeys years, so no previous MoT info is available on the gov.uk website. So am I going to run into trouble at MoT time when the tester can't find a 17-dig VIN plate?
Assuming I could find out what the full VIN number ought to be (and how would I do that?), then even if I get a
replacement VIN plate made up and attached, will the vehicles still fail as the number isn't recorded on the V5C database?
(Aside from all the other points it will fail on...
)
(It's Private HGV tax class but a Class 4 MoT as a motor caravan - in case that's relevant!)
My V5C docs lists a five digit number instead of a full 17-dig VIN - it's for a 1982 Leyland FG550, so should have been recorded (I believe as it's post-1981...) with a full 17-dig VIN.
It's a former library van coachbuilt by CG Smith, then professionally converted to a motor caravan at some point. I don't know when it was converted, but the V5C accurately lists 'motor caravan' under body type.
I can't find a chassis plate/VIN on the vehicle, but there is a GC Smith plate which shows the five digit number that's also on the V5C.
The vehicle is SORN and has been off the road for donkeys years, so no previous MoT info is available on the gov.uk website. So am I going to run into trouble at MoT time when the tester can't find a 17-dig VIN plate?
Assuming I could find out what the full VIN number ought to be (and how would I do that?), then even if I get a
replacement VIN plate made up and attached, will the vehicles still fail as the number isn't recorded on the V5C database?
(Aside from all the other points it will fail on...
)(It's Private HGV tax class but a Class 4 MoT as a motor caravan - in case that's relevant!)
As far as I can see there are 2 possibilities,
They check V5 VIN against the van, it matches and you're fine - if he says the GC Smith plate isn't OK you can have one made that says VIN 12345.
or they'll see the 17 digit VIN on his screen and fail it because it's not on the van. Doesn't sound likely because presumably if it was on the screen it would be on your V5, but if so, ask him to tell you the number and have a plate made.
If a plate isn't OK you could easily stamp it on somewhere.
They check V5 VIN against the van, it matches and you're fine - if he says the GC Smith plate isn't OK you can have one made that says VIN 12345.
or they'll see the 17 digit VIN on his screen and fail it because it's not on the van. Doesn't sound likely because presumably if it was on the screen it would be on your V5, but if so, ask him to tell you the number and have a plate made.
If a plate isn't OK you could easily stamp it on somewhere.
I can confirm I've had no issues in the past with MOT of a vehicle which pre-dates the 17 digit VIN. The tester will definitely look for a number on the vehicle that matches the V5 - I've had to point out where it is when it was clear the tester was struggling to find it - a 4 digit number stamped in an obscure place on the chassis in this case. I've also had no issue with MOT of another vehicle that had the 5 digit chassis number stamped on a makers plate screwed to the bulkhead.
So long as there is something there that matches the V5, my experience is no issue.
The only caveat - I don't know what year cars were mandated to have a standard 17 digit VIN. All my experience is with vehicles from a much earlier age...
So long as there is something there that matches the V5, my experience is no issue.
The only caveat - I don't know what year cars were mandated to have a standard 17 digit VIN. All my experience is with vehicles from a much earlier age...
Thanks both.... I guess I'll have to wing it and see what the tester says.
I thought it should have a 17-dig VIN as it's a 1982 and the VINs became mandatory in '81.
Yet the DVLA (or DVLC) accepted the original registration without one... I'm wondering how that might have been possible.
I thought it should have a 17-dig VIN as it's a 1982 and the VINs became mandatory in '81.
Yet the DVLA (or DVLC) accepted the original registration without one... I'm wondering how that might have been possible.
Chris-R said:
Thanks both.... I guess I'll have to wing it and see what the tester says.
I thought it should have a 17-dig VIN as it's a 1982 and the VINs became mandatory in '81.
Yet the DVLA (or DVLC) accepted the original registration without one... I'm wondering how that might have been possible.
Just a long shot, but if it was registered in 82, it may have been manufactured in 81, therefore (perhaps) pre-dating the regulations. I am assuming here that the legislation will refer to date of manufacture rather than registration, but I don't know.I thought it should have a 17-dig VIN as it's a 1982 and the VINs became mandatory in '81.
Yet the DVLA (or DVLC) accepted the original registration without one... I'm wondering how that might have been possible.
Lotus used a similar tactic to escape from the crash-test requirements in 74 by declaring that a huge batch of cars was actually made in 73...
was It registered in 82 or built in 82. Could it have been on the production line 80/81 hence old style number ? I had a beemer with a build date over 18 months before registration, it was an 09 plate with a 07 build date. Not quite the same but it might have been a chassis sat somewhere else being converted ?
Armitage.Shanks said:
Am I missing something here? When was a V5 inspection required to have a vehicle MOT'd?
It isn't. However, the VIN on the vehicle should match the details held on the MOT database. One MOT station I used to use asked you to bring the V5 with you as a further check. 
17 digit vin,s were mandatory in 80/81 you need a 6 digit vin on computer if the lorry chassis left leyland to coachbuilders the number could be their body? number .if the last mot was written and not on computer it could i say could throw a wobble but you will have to wing it as the vin cannot be changed on v5c without some hassle but could turnout ok see how it goes good luck atb
Hmm... so if a 17 dig was required in 1980/81, how did my vehicle get registered in Feb '82 with a five digit number on the V5C? It may well be the coachbuilder's serial number, but that shouldn't have been acceptable in 1982 at first registration. Unless the coachbuilder had a pile of old chassis around manufactured before the 80/81 cut-off?
Weirdly the gov.uk vehicles website says the last MoT expired in 1983 - a year after its first test. I know that can't be true because it was used by a local council as a library van from '82 and later converted and used as a motor caravan.
On the positive side, the MoT handbook seems to suggest that if there's no 17 dig VIN on the MoT database, the tester can create a new record, So I just need to make sure I've got a VIN plate on the vehicle...
Weirdly the gov.uk vehicles website says the last MoT expired in 1983 - a year after its first test. I know that can't be true because it was used by a local council as a library van from '82 and later converted and used as a motor caravan.
On the positive side, the MoT handbook seems to suggest that if there's no 17 dig VIN on the MoT database, the tester can create a new record, So I just need to make sure I've got a VIN plate on the vehicle...
British Leyland, in its wisdom, often used a bunch of zeros as the first numbers in their VINs. When official number one copies them from one document to another, he omits them as they are only zeros. Later, official number two informs you that your document is invalid because the VIN number is too short.
I guess it may serve to make money for the heritage organisations producing certificates.
I guess it may serve to make money for the heritage organisations producing certificates.
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