Retaining a cherished plate from a scrap car

[D1bram]

Hi, wife has sadly lost both grandparents over the last 12 months.

They had an merc 280s (1968) which has slowly rotted away in their back garden: it's well past saving.

Said car has a private plate which the family would like to retain.

I thought that upon scrapping the car we'd be able to do just that; but it seems that the car needs to be taxed to do so?

Can anyone shed any light on this please?

Thanks

[The Moose]

A 'friendly' garage to issue a MOT. Then tax it?

[D1bram]

A few years ago maybe, but I'd think that it'd be VERY hard to get a dodgy mot these days. Massive risk to them with little gain.

[davepoth]

The Moose said:

A 'friendly' garage to issue a MOT. Then tax it?

Depends on how rotten I guess.

Looking online it looks like these go for £8k for a solid project. That buys you an awful lot of welding if you are really desperate for the plate. Any pictures?

[evoivboy]

you dont need an mot or tax to transfer

[B'stard Child]

evoivboy said:

you dont need an mot or tax to transfer

You've said this several times in various threads......

You are correct but only under certain circumstances (with in 1 year of the expiry of the last tax/declaration of SORN)

Incidently I have done this myself too

Polo 6N to Polo 6N2 - Polo 6N had no MOT but was on SORN with no gap between SORN declaration and expiry of VED and under 12 mths - Polo 6N2 had MOT

Polo 6N2 to SLK - Polo 6N2 had no MOT but still had VED - no issues with the MOT expiry - DVLA just didn't send me a new one with the original reg number on it.

However If the 12 mth SORN expired VED no break rule exception isn't met then it needs to be put back on the road effectively MOT, Insurance and VED to then be plate raped.

I'm sure there are non legal ways of doing it but they would all involve deception and applying for VED on a car that has been off the road for many years may trigger an inspection request.

Inspection might be an issue if deception has been involved.

Edited to add

I think I understand where you are coming from - however I think you are mistaken (other than the exception I highlighted earlier)

https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati...

Gov.co.uk said:

Both vehicles must be:

registered with DVLA
available for inspection
of a type that needs an MOT or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) test certificate

Pre-1960 vehicles need a valid MOT to transfer a registration number.

Both vehicles should be currently taxed. However, if the vehicle that currently has the registration number is not taxed, you can still apply as long as:

its vehicle tax has run out in the last 12 months
there’s no break between the date the vehicle tax runs out and the start of the SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification)

So you are reading it as Only Pre 1960 cars need an MOT

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/historic-ve...

Well I think that statement was added as a result of the recent MOT exemption rule for all vehicles manufactured before 1960.

So The requirement for Pre 1960 Vehicles to have an MOT in order to allow transfer of a plate was introduced

It does not exempt post 1960 cars from needing an MOT to transfer the Registration. If the less than 12 months since last taxed doesn't apply.

IMO

Edited by B'stard Child on Wednesday 5th November 01:15

[B'stard Child]

Just to expand on this

https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati...

Gov.co.uk said:

How to transfer a registration number

Complete a V317 ‘application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number’. If the number is being transferred to someone else’s vehicle, both registered keepers must complete the application.

You should also include:

the £80 transfer fee (cheque or postal order, payable to DVLA)
the registration certificate or the new keeper supplement with a completed V62 ‘application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C’ for each vehicle
an MOT test certificate (for cars and motorcycles over 3 years old, and heavy goods vehicles over 1 year old) for each vehicle

so it's not very well worded on the Gov website but I believe the decision tree should read

Registered before 1960 MOT is a mandatory requirement for Reg Transfer regardless of SORN/VED expired exception.

Registered after 1960 (but greater than 3 years old as they are MOT exempt anyway)

Vehicle on SORN starting immediately after VED expiry and not exceeding 12 mths on SORN - No MOT required

Vehicle on SORN starting immediately after VED expiry and exceeds 12 mths on SORN - MOT required

Vehicle on SORN starting but time period elapsed between SORN and VED expiry - MOT required

Vehicle not on SORN and time period and VED expired - MOT required

I think that covers everything

[thelawnet]

Unfortunately, as far as the DVLA are concerned, it's your problem not theirs.

You need an MOT.

http://blog.comparenumberplates.co.uk/2011/04/no-c...
http://blog.comparenumberplates.co.uk/2011/07/why-...

[The Moose]

D1bram said:

A few years ago maybe, but I'd think that it'd be VERY hard to get a dodgy mot these days. Massive risk to them with little gain.

It was ok when I tested it mate

[Bennet]

No experience to draw on, just a suggestion that sounds like it might work in theory:

Pull the physical plates off for posterity, then scrap the car. Once that's done, buy the rights to the plate when the reg becomes "free" again as a result of your scrapping the old car.

If it works, it might be cheaper than trying to get it an MOT.

[adminH]

You need to bear in mind that not every registration number can be transferred. Have a look at the reg doc - bottom of front page. If it doesn't say 'non-transferable reg mark', you're OK.

H