Problem with DVLA
Discussion
About a year ago I bought an old Land Rover fitted with a Land Rover diesel engine. I believe it was originally a petrol engined version and has been changed over some time during its 41 year life.
Recently I noticed that the fuel type listed on the V5 document is petrol. I completed the change section of the V5 and wrote a note explaining that the vehicle had a diesel engine when I aquired it. I have now recieved back a new V5 but with the fuel type still showing petrol and no other explaination. I telephoned the DVLA 'helpline' but was told that I would need documentation from the manufacturer of the vehicle for it to be changed. Now I doubt that Land Rover still have records relating to a vehicle produced over 40 years ago and even if they did this would only show the original engine type. I was told the only other way would be to pay for an RAC engineers inspection certificate.
I realise I should have checked the documentation a bit more carefully when buying but surely there must be simple way of getting this changed? I could just live with the incorrect information on the V5 but would like it to be corrected.
Recently I noticed that the fuel type listed on the V5 document is petrol. I completed the change section of the V5 and wrote a note explaining that the vehicle had a diesel engine when I aquired it. I have now recieved back a new V5 but with the fuel type still showing petrol and no other explaination. I telephoned the DVLA 'helpline' but was told that I would need documentation from the manufacturer of the vehicle for it to be changed. Now I doubt that Land Rover still have records relating to a vehicle produced over 40 years ago and even if they did this would only show the original engine type. I was told the only other way would be to pay for an RAC engineers inspection certificate.
I realise I should have checked the documentation a bit more carefully when buying but surely there must be simple way of getting this changed? I could just live with the incorrect information on the V5 but would like it to be corrected.
This sounds familiar. 
At least they haven't suggested an SVA/IVA test to line their own pockets. Basically since the engine has been changed from petrol to diesel it represents a loss of revenue to them so you can ask them to check with their records (a Freedom of Information Act request may be needed to do this) and from the point the engine was changed (engine number updated as well as possibly capacity) the car has been in the wrong Road Fund Licence bracket and you need to rectify this to ensure you are paying the correct amount.
This will be a win win for them as they will get more money out of you when you tax the car (unless it's pre-72) and they can try to chase all the previous owners for not paying the correct amount and/or failing to declare the change properly.
To rectify this all the previous owners need to do is write a polite letter to the DVLA saying "sod off I sent you the paperwork correctly it's your fault you didn't update the V5C at the time".
At least they haven't suggested an SVA/IVA test to line their own pockets. Basically since the engine has been changed from petrol to diesel it represents a loss of revenue to them so you can ask them to check with their records (a Freedom of Information Act request may be needed to do this) and from the point the engine was changed (engine number updated as well as possibly capacity) the car has been in the wrong Road Fund Licence bracket and you need to rectify this to ensure you are paying the correct amount.
This will be a win win for them as they will get more money out of you when you tax the car (unless it's pre-72) and they can try to chase all the previous owners for not paying the correct amount and/or failing to declare the change properly.
To rectify this all the previous owners need to do is write a polite letter to the DVLA saying "sod off I sent you the paperwork correctly it's your fault you didn't update the V5C at the time".
Thanks for the reply
It is a 1971 model, historic registered so no Road Fund License issues. It has had many owners over its lifetime so contacting them all is not really an option.
I have left it with the DVLA that I have given them the information and it is up to them if they wish to correct their records. The vehicle is correctly declared to my insurance company as a diesel engine and its not as if this is a performance upgrade I am trying to hide - it is an original 2 1/4 Land Rover diesel engine so slower than before it was changed.
I am now wondering whether I am better off ignoring the issue, pretend I never noticed. Or is there an easy way round this?
It is a 1971 model, historic registered so no Road Fund License issues. It has had many owners over its lifetime so contacting them all is not really an option.
I have left it with the DVLA that I have given them the information and it is up to them if they wish to correct their records. The vehicle is correctly declared to my insurance company as a diesel engine and its not as if this is a performance upgrade I am trying to hide - it is an original 2 1/4 Land Rover diesel engine so slower than before it was changed.
I am now wondering whether I am better off ignoring the issue, pretend I never noticed. Or is there an easy way round this?
Thats exactly how I feel! However it does worry me that I could have problems in the future with insurance or when I come to sell it.
They are a useless set of w
kers.
Had issues with them a few times, first was with a mk2 escort that I bough having had an engine transplant. Filled in the forms to tell them it was no longer a 1300, put the engine number of the 2 litre on the forms sent it all off and got the new v5 back still saying it was 1300cc. fk'em I thought and taxed it with the v5 they had given me.
Then a few years later I bought a second hand mondeo that had started life as a mobility car, wrote to them to tell them it was no longer disabled (ie free) and needed to go to being plg (it came taxed I was just getting things done before I had to tax it again). following year didnt get a tax reminder and ended up going in to the dvla office in leeds. Taxed it, changed the details again so that it was all correct (they had got my address wrong too) and went on my way. The following year still no reminder so I rang them up, they had managed to get my address wrong AGAIN (despite my having checked all the details with one of their employees in their office) and STILL hadnt managed to keep it changed to plg on the tax.
fking useless set of wkers 
kers.Had issues with them a few times, first was with a mk2 escort that I bough having had an engine transplant. Filled in the forms to tell them it was no longer a 1300, put the engine number of the 2 litre on the forms sent it all off and got the new v5 back still saying it was 1300cc. f
k'em I thought and taxed it with the v5 they had given me.Then a few years later I bought a second hand mondeo that had started life as a mobility car, wrote to them to tell them it was no longer disabled (ie free) and needed to go to being plg (it came taxed I was just getting things done before I had to tax it again). following year didnt get a tax reminder and ended up going in to the dvla office in leeds. Taxed it, changed the details again so that it was all correct (they had got my address wrong too) and went on my way. The following year still no reminder so I rang them up, they had managed to get my address wrong AGAIN (despite my having checked all the details with one of their employees in their office) and STILL hadnt managed to keep it changed to plg on the tax.
f
king useless set of wkers I'm not sure it's an issue with a car that old. In t'old days we used to swop engines willy-nilly and just advise the DVLA if we felt like it. Now it's rather more compicated with VEL bands etc but, in your case, I would suggest, a superfluous requirement. You could just claim it was a noisy petrol engine if asked...I'd ignore it.
Blackwedge said:
I am now wondering whether I am better off ignoring the issue, pretend I never noticed. Or is there an easy way round this?
You can't pretend you haven't noticed because you've already written to them about it. Can you pop to your nearest DVLA office, take the puppet outside and show them your engine? Yes I wrote to them but they have ignored the information and sent me back a new V5 with the old (incorrect) fuel type. There was no correspondance with this so presumably they are not bothered and so I'm not sure I should be.
Good call on the local DVLA office though, I would like to get this sorted so will give them a try.
Good call on the local DVLA office though, I would like to get this sorted so will give them a try.
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