First Registration Dates

[Norman_Know-Nowt]

Hello All

I am compiling a parallel timeline of my family history, and my request is (I think) a simple one.

I am in the process am seeking to discover the 1st dates of registration of our cars since my father's first one in 1952. I remember all the plate #s (sad, I know) but in the interests of accuracy would love to discover the actual dates that we took possession. I have tried Google with no success, so have turned to people with greatly more knowledge and experience in these matters: you guys! I would be hugely grateful if someone could point me toward a site or info bank where I can mop up the gen.

Thanks in advance,

Norman

[595Heaven]

Should be straightforward - try https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

It had details of my old (and long demised) W-reg 2CV from 1980, but not sure how far back it goes beyond there

And my dad’s old Vauxhall Victor from 1974

Edited by 595Heaven on Tuesday 29th September 12:25

[CRA1G]

595Heaven said:

Should be straightforward - try https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

A good start but it won't tell you if the vehicle has been scrapped or if the registration has been transferred it will give the month and year of that vehicle and it won't tell you if a plate is on retention.

[595Heaven]

CRA1G said:

A good start but it won't tell you if the vehicle has been scrapped or if the registration has been transferred it will give the month and year of that vehicle and it won't tell you if a plate is on retention.

True, but if all he wants is the first registration date this should work (month and year only). Will get much more complicated if ‘private’ plates are involved though!

[CRA1G]

595Heaven said:

True, but if all he wants is the first registration date this should work (month and year only). Will get much more complicated if ‘private’ plates are involved though!

Or if any have been scrapped.

[595Heaven]

CRA1G said:

Or if any have been scrapped.

The site will tell you when the vehicle was last taxed and MoTed which will give you some guidance as to whether they are still around. Also whether it has been exported. Not sure if it gives SORN details as well if applicable.

OP was only wanting to know date of first registration though...

[CRA1G]

595Heaven said:

The site will tell you when the vehicle was last taxed and MoTed which will give you some guidance as to whether they are still around. Also whether it has been exported. Not sure if it gives SORN details as well if applicable.

OP was only wanting to know date of first registration though...

As i said not if scrapped or if number now on retention and he's going back to 1952?

[Norman_Know-Nowt]

I have tried DVLA, but as I'm searching for cars 1st registered in 50's & 60's they have obviously long perished, and with the added value of prestige # plates have re-emerged as newly registered. These are the only dates available from Swansea.

Ah well, just wondered whether a bright spark may know of a short cut. I'll have to rely on memory by the looks.

Thanks for your help anyway guys.

Norman

[akirk]

if you know the vin number, or if the car currently exists, then you can run a query against the dvla api which will give the date first registered...

you can either buy credits for access to the api and write your own code or you might find an hpi type website that will do it...

[friederich]

Norman_Know-Nowt said:

I have tried DVLA, but as I'm searching for cars 1st registered in 50's & 60's they have obviously long perished, and with the added value of prestige # plates have re-emerged as newly registered. These are the only dates available from Swansea.

Ah well, just wondered whether a bright spark may know of a short cut. I'll have to rely on memory by the looks.

Thanks for your help anyway guys.

Norman

'A history of motor vehicle registration in the UK' by LH Newall (can be found on Amazon/Abebooks) will allow you to identify the area of original registration and approx date of reg based on the span over which each XXXNNN series were issued.

If you are after the exact details of first registration, The Kithead Trust website (http://kitheadtrust.org.uk/) will point you to the contacts for any existing archives of the local authority who issued the registration. You may get lucky and find the archives have been preserved (many were destroyed when all was centralised at the DVLA). I've obtained a photocopy of the page of the hand written ledger recording the first registration of one of my cars this way.