Singer Owner March/April 2009

Registration Numbers

Martyn Wray

Registration numbers are an important part of a car's history, without the original number many people consider a car not to be complete. For the majority of owners it is not a problem, their car was used regularly and therefore all the paperwork was kept up to date or if it was off the road they realised that it was important that the car's details were transferred to DVLA's computer system but that was back in 1998. Since then a system has been in place that relies on owners' clubs to verify claims that a particular registration number belongs to a specific vehicle.

From the start of the system the Singer Owners' Club has been verifying applications for retention of registration numbers and to date has been successful in 42 cases with only 3 rejected. The majority of vehicles are those that have been off the road for many years with the owners for whatever reason not putting the details on DVLA's computer but some are those that have at sometime in the past been issued with an age related plate and then an application has been made to regain the original number.

During the ten years that the system has been in operation the paperwork required to ensure retention of a registration number has been one or more of three items, an original log book, an old MOT certificate or an old tax disc. With any of these it is very likely that the application will be accepted, the only reason for a rejection would be if sometime in the past the number had been allocated to another vehicle but with all the Singer applications this has never occurred.

Without any of the three items it becomes rather more difficult to make a successful application. DVLA is looking for proof that a registration number belongs to a particular car and specifically a particular chassis and chassis number, submitting a couple of photos of `your' car showing it with the number plates (probably perched on the back seat) will not be seen as proof that those plates belong to that chassis!

Through considerable research and careful documentation three members have been successful without the three magic documents, two putting the original plates on after lengthy rebuilds and one regaining the original number after some years on an age related plate. The important feature of their paperwork was that they were all able to show a link between registration number and chassis number. Some of that information was provided from SOC records (which for Le Mans have been kept from the early '50s), from county records and even with a picture in a 1930's motoring magazine which showed the registration number and gave the driver's name and other documents showed that person to be the first owner of the car on the sales card which also listed the chassis number.

The list of cars that have retained or regained their rightful registration number represents a cross section of club vehicles, the earliest a 1915 Ten, the latest a 1968 Vogue and in between a 1926 six cylinder Tourer, 7 Juniors, 10 Le Mans, 3 Nine Sports, a 1 1/2 Litre Sports, 5 Roadsters, 2 Super Tens, a Super Twelve, 2 tractors, 4 Vogues and 2 Gazelles.

If when reading this you were suddenly reminded that the paperwork for your 20 year restoration project has been in the same drawer, untouched for a similar length of time don't panic, the club can help. An application should be made only when the car is reasonably complete, DVLA will not accept applications for `kit of parts'. Two forms are required V765 and V55/5 only obtainable from a VRO (vehicle registration office) and if you have an original log book that must be copied also at a VRO, the forms and copy of the log book together with any other supporting evidence should be sent to the club secretary with two photos of the car and a cheque for £5 made payable to SOC. The fee is an admin charge but it is quite possible that in the near future it will be a requirement for an inspection of the vehicle to be made by a club representative. If this is necessary then a fee will be agreed with the applicant prior to the visit. If the club accepts the application the paperwork is forwarded to DVLA who usually take about three weeks to make a decision.

Note: In October 2009, webmaster Mark Furneaux successfully returned his 4AD to its original plates using the process outlined above, with grateful help from Singer Owners Club. More in page about My Car