Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Has anyone had experience of MOTing a car using the chassis number for reference as my car needs registering with the DVLA for the first time. Their computer will not have the chassis number on record as he car has not been used on the road.

my understanding is that you CAN have a car mot'd with just the chassis no., provided that the chassis number has been recorded on the dvla database......all computerised these days.......
an example if the vehicle has been imported [NOVA scheme] or being registered for the first time [ e.g. reconstructed classic]

fred

From past experience it saves allot of headaches if you apply for a new Registration doc first (assuming its been owned by you since the DVLA change over in the 80's, if you have a modern Reg document it should appear.) as it won't come up on the MOT database when the tester tries to bring up the MOT Test Criteria.

Their computer will not have the chassis number on record as he car has not been used on the road.

Do you mean that you don't have a V5c of any sort? Has the car got a reg. number? The DVLA web site https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/number-plate has lots of advice.

Mike

Don't use the CHASSIS Number use the VIN number, get your VIN number registered as the DVLA chassis number.

Other wise you will have endless trouble later omn.

I had this very problem. The vehicle identity from the documents that came with the car had always been a bit of an argument over the years. When I took the car for its MOT the first time, I had all sorts of problems owing to a previous tester having used the long number written on the chassis, which had been changed and not the VIN number on the build plate screwed to the NS of the engine compartment. I had to take the car to the local VOSA testing station, well prepared with all the relavent paper work. A very nice fellow came out , checked the vehicle and said "well it's exactly what it's supposed to be and I shall get you sent a new V5 with the VIN plate number on it, which is what it should have anyway". New V5 arrives a week or so later and not been a problem since.

billwill wrote:Don't use the CHASSIS Number use the VIN number, get your VIN number registered as the DVLA chassis number.

Other wise you will have endless trouble later omn.

quite right bill........I was rading VIN no. for chassis no.......

fred

billwill wrote:Don't use the CHASSIS Number use the VIN number, get your VIN number registered as the DVLA chassis number.

Other wise you will have endless trouble later omn.

I should have added:

Been There Done That and never even got the T-shirt!

William2 wrote:Has anyone had experience of MOTing a car using the chassis number for reference as my car needs registering with the DVLA for the first time. Their computer will not have the chassis number on record as he car has not been used on the road.

Been through this fairly recently with a Norton Commando. They are similar to Lotus in that they have a stamped frame number & a VIN plate with a build date & different vin number, (which is also the original engine number) In my case, I had built the bike from parts, so not original engine & no records/paperwork of any kind. I had to get a dating/authentication letter from a qualified body, I used the Norton owners club dating officer, which involved sending him photo's of the complete bike, & photo's & rubbings of the frame, engine & VIN plate numbers, he then gave me a letter confirming it was what I said it was & the age etc. Then I had to arrange insurance & MOT, both on the VIN number. The MOT tester had to enter various things manually to enter it on the data base & get the test criteria, but it wasn't a problem. Once I had all this, I filled in a V55/5, sent everything to the DVLA & in due course received a registration & 'entitlement to purchase a number plate' certificate, plus all my other documents back, then later a V5C. It wasn't anywhere near as much agro as I expected & had been led to believe.
Give the DVLA a ring & explain exactly what you need/want to do & they'll put you right, I found them extremely helpful.
Regards, Tim