Changing the tax class of a motor.

[estwdjhn]

My 1970 Minor is currently registered as a Private HGV, with a revenue weight of 3501kg - I'm presuming as the result of a mistake by a DVLA entry clark years ago (It's not been on the road since at least 1996).

Obviously I'd like it to end up with a revenue weight of 3499kg or less, and tax class of historic vehicle.

Normally with a mess like this, I would go to the local DVLA office with the V5, insurance cert, and MOT, and get them to sort it out and tax it on the spot. However, my local DVLA office closes on the 25th of this month, and I won't have an MOT by then (unless some sort of miracle/rather naughty transaction occurs), as the car in question is currently halfway through major re-constructive welding surgery.

Does anyone know what process one has to follow in the future to get a tax class changed for a vehicle which cannot sensibly be taxed in it's current class (I can't tax it as an HGV and then apply to swap the disk without a goods vehicle test certificate). In addition, it's less than clear to me if I can drive it to the MOT without holding an HGV driving licence of some sort.

This is probably also a relevant issue for those intending to put pre-1960 vehicles back on the road without an MOT if they are still in the PLG tax class - I had to go to a DVLA local office to get the tax class changed on a 1958 Landrover I own, as the post office wouldn't tax as PLG without an MOT, and couldn't change the tax class to historic (they needed me to tax as PLG, then write to DVLA to get the tax class changed and the disk refunded).

I'm guessing there will be a a way to solve all this, but probably it will be slow, and require innumerable stages of filling in forms and posting letters to and fro...

[lambrettalad]

I think the process will be the same number of hurdles but ,via post instead of face to face at the local office ,I suggest it's worth the queue to get the facts from your local place whilst it's still open.

good luck

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Go to your local DLVA Office, this is a registration problem, not licencing. I have always found the staff very helpful - use it whilst you can or regret it.

But be honest with them - tell all the facts.

[jagnut66]

I agree, go and see them face to face whilst the service is still available to you. As stated above at the very least you can have a good chat and get it all explained to you and if 'Jowettjavelin' is correct you may come away with the problem resolved (don't forget to take all your documentation with you, just in case....).
Best of luck either way.
Mike.

(Shame we're loosing this service.........)

[IaininTenbury]

Your local post office will have an increased range of services after the DVLA offices close, and they are supposed to be available now, inc. change of taxation class. However there's still teething troubles with staff training and computer/software changes - a friend had to go to the DVLA office to change from PLG to Historic a couple of weeks ago. The PO phoned the DVLA and they told them would be able to do the change, but the system isn't workign properly yet...
So, yes, I'd go to the DVLA ofice whilst you still have one and see what a real person says. Obviously a typo andshould have been PLG but should be easy enoughto change. (I have a Minor van where the engine capacity is amusingly recorded as 9999cc which I'm happy to leave unless they decide to tax on engine size!).

[kevin s]

I did this on my Land Rover by post all I had to supply was documentary evidence that the weight was wrong, in my case an extract from the original handbook showing the heaviest available SWB was 2700kg.(can't remember the exact number)

Above 3500 kg is a N2 class vehicle which requires a different class of MOT, If you find a knowledeable tester thay can ignore the data if it is obviously wrong and test it as a car though. (they did this for the Landrover the first year)

If you passed your test more than 10 years or so ago (will have C1 class on your licence) you can drive up to 7500kg.

I would try getting it corrected now and see what happens, it does not cost anything so you have nothing to lose.

kevin