Change of tax class

[craigjm]

My Jaguar XJC was 40 in October 75 so is now eligible for historic vehicle status and hence tax free. Searching on the web suggests you take the V5C with the MOT to the post office and they change the class and send off the V5. I went into the post office yesterday and they said that isnt the case anymore and you just alter the V5 and send it off.

Is that right?

[droopsnoot]

I took my V5 to the Post Office on April 1st and they took it from me, made the change on their system, posted it off to the DVLA and taxed the vehicle, all in one go, with a replacement V5 arriving about five weeks later. It does seem to vary from PO to PO, as to how helpful they're prepared to be - I have spoken to people who swore that I'd have to send it off myself, and others that said the PO would do it.

One thing though - cars become eligible on April 1st of a year, so on April 1st this year anything built in 1975 became eligible, and on April 1st next year anything built in 1976 will qualify. So you could have done this a few months back. If the car is already taxed, you've nothing to lose by posting it off, as you'll (I think) get a refund of any unused tax months once they change the status.

[craigjm]

Yeah i realise I could have done it in April. Might take it to work with me and try a much bigger post office and then if I get the same response just send it off myself. I am currently paying my tax monthly I it doesnt really get to a point where it is due.

[tortop45]

craigjm said:

Yeah i realise I could have done it in April. Might take it to work with me and try a much bigger post office and then if I get the same response just send it off myself. I am currently paying my tax monthly I it doesnt really get to a point where it is due.

You lucky bugger ive got to wait as my coupe is a 1977

[craigjm]

tortop45 said:

craigjm said:

Yeah i realise I could have done it in April. Might take it to work with me and try a much bigger post office and then if I get the same response just send it off myself. I am currently paying my tax monthly I it doesnt really get to a point where it is due.

You lucky bugger ive got to wait as my coupe is a 1977

Its probably in better condition than mine at the moment though haha

[//j17]

The correct process is over the counter at the post office - but not all post office counter staff know about it so you might have to argue the point/get the senior member of counter staff called over.

[craigjm]

I will try a bigger post office
Sorned it for now though while it's being restored so I will do it when I change the colour on the v5 too

[craigjm]

I have just had my V5C back with it now listed as Historic. I just wrote the word historic into the tax class change on the form and mailed it into Swansea. So now when it comes off SORN it will be tax free yay

[tortop45]

That will help your restoration fund.....

[craigjm]

tortop45 said:

That will help your restoration fund.....

I need every penny I can get for that haha

[mgv8]

Do photo copy every thing as the post office and DVLA are good at making things go missing.