Morris Minor Owners Club

All

I have a 1968 Austin Minor van. It is probably the only (genuine) one in Australia.

I am trying to trace its history.

I know from the British Motor Heritage Centre that it was originally delivered within the UK before being shipped here.

Is there a procedure for extracting registration details from the DVLA? I looked on their website but couldn't see anything relating to this type of inquiry.

Cheers for any advice
Don

Hi Don
Try this link it's for vehicle enquiries at the DVLA
http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/

Hope this helps
Peter

Hi Don
I've recently obtained my Moggie history from the DVLA and the Heritage Cenre. For the DVLA go on their website and print off form V888. Fill this in and send it off with £5 and they will do the search for you. It may take a few weeks but be patient.
The Heritage Centre can provide info of the production date, the dealer it was supplied to and the paint code. Again go onto their website, fill in the car details and pay £5 on line and they will email you back with the info you requested.
Best of luck
Bob

Thanks Bob and Peter

I already have such information as the Heritage Centre was able to find (most of the records were lost in the 'Great BMC Factory Fire'). It cost many times more than 5 pounds too.

I can't find where to print off a V888 form . Remember that I have no information whatsoever about previous registration in the UK. I only have info relating to the vehicle itself, such as chassis number, engine number, etc.

If I can't find a more specific approach, I'll send a fax to the DVLA's general contact number (having worked for the equivalent of the DVLA in New South Wales for over 20 years, I feel that my chances of success will be much greater if I target my enquiry more precisely).

Any further suggestions would be gratefully received.

Don

I can't find where to print off a V888 form

You can download a form from here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItO ... G_10016794

They ask for the registration number though so I think you'd be better off contacting DVLA directly as I'm not sure that they'll be able to do a search with just the chassis number.

Thanks Louise

It is useful to see the form and therefore appreciate how the process works.

In the circumstances, though, I am thinking that I will send the DVLA a fax and ask for guidance of how to proceed in my circumstances.

FYI, I am seeking clarification but down here, it appears that it was first registered in the Australian Capital Territory (which encloses Canberra, the National Capital) in 1974. It appears to have been last registered in 1985--and has been sleeping in garages since.

Regards
Don

Frustration!!!

I can't get through on the fax or voice numbers listed on the DVLA website. It seems that they are not accessible from overseas.

Does anyone know of alternative numbers that I might be able to use?

Otherwise, I suppose I'll have to resort to snail-mail.

Cheers from DownUnder
Don

Don - The DVLA general enquiries number for those phoning from abroad is zero zero 441792 782 341.

Thanks again Louise

You have saved me a lot of wasted time and effort--and probably dollars too.

I spoke to someone at the DVLA on the number you gave me (I had to omit the two leading zeros, though).

The helpful DVLA officer said that their records are based on registration numbers and that they are not set up to search for a vehicle on chassis number or whatever. So, as I don't know anything about my Austin's UK registration, a search was not possible.

He also said that the DVLA was set up in 1974, the year that my Austin seems to have been first registered in Australia, so it is unlikely that it would be in their database anyway. Apparently, local councils registered vehicles before the formation of the DVLA (I'm sure I'm telling you what you already know, but this is just for the record).

The information I received from the Motor Heritage Centre was pretty sketchy, because of the records lost in the factory fire in about 1970.

So it seems unlikely that I will find out anything more about my Austin's life in the UK.

Next I'll try the national authority in Australia that controls the import of vehicles to see if they have relevant records (unlikely). If I am very lucky, they might even have information that will link back the the UK registration.

Cheers
Don