Car with no VIN plate or V5

[richardgrace75]

Hi, I am considering buying an old Mini that has no VIN plate or V5.

Does anyone have any experience or advice as to how difficult or costly it is to get a new one sorted?

DVLA website says they have to assess the car. How long does the whole process take?

Thanks in advance.

Rich.

[guru_1071]

what year and model is it?

[richardgrace75]

Haha, literally have no idea of year or exact model. It is just the shell and nothing much else. Austin Mini is as good as it gets unfortunately.

Appears to be rust free and in fairly good condition. The holes for the rear lights suggest it is a later model with the reversing lights incorporated in the cluster.

[rallycross]

you'd need to provide its ID to get it registered.

or take this route and buy an ID (not a good way of doing things)

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[richardgrace75]

Hmmm, I thought I read something about it being possible to re-register them on Q-plates?

[guru_1071]

it its a late car then the VIN number will be stamped into the rain gutter at the back of the lower bonnet scuttle on the rh side, if you rub your finger under the lip you will be able to feel the roughness of the stamping, you will have to paint strip the gutter to be able to read it though.

if its blank its either had a new scuttle or has been cut out and removed.......

[richardgrace75]

DVLA says this, but it is literally all the information I can find on the subject. There is no indication of cost, or time restriction, if you have to take the car somewhere etc...

When you may need a new VIN or registration:

If you have a kit car, rebuild, or radically altered vehicle, DVLA will usually have to assess it.

You may be able to keep its original registration number if you can prove the vehicle’s original VIN. If you can’t, you’ll have to apply for a replacement identity number.

DVLA will give you an authorisation letter to get the vehicle stamped with the new VIN if your vehicle passes its assessment.

You then need to register the vehicle - you can only do this when DVLA receives confirmation it’s been stamped with the correct VIN.

[richardgrace75]

guru_1071 said:

it its a late car then the VIN number will be stamped into the rain gutter at the back of the lower bonnet scuttle on the rh side, if you rub your finger under the lip you will be able to feel the roughness of the stamping, you will have to paint strip the gutter to be able to read it though.

if its blank its either had a new scuttle or has been cut out and removed.......

Great, thanks. I'll look in to this.

If there is nothing there and the scuttle has been replaced, where do I go from there?

Worth emphasising, I haven't purchased this car yet.

[richardgrace75]

Definitely no number imprinted on the scuttle. Back to square one!