Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hello fellow Lotus travellers…
In the words of Max Bygraves….I’m gonna tell you a story, a horror story! Beware the DVLA!!!!!
I am 77 this year, I completed the nut and bolt restoration of my 71 Sprint just over one year ago, after 50+ years of restoration, and to assure myself of the integrity of my work, I subjected it to an MOT. The test station entered the VIN number reading it from the VIN plate on the car, this of course was forwarded to the DVLA. The next thing I know is a letter from the DVLA querying the identity of the car. After some initial perplexity I realised why this had occurred.
When the car was first registered in Coventry, some brainless vehicle licensing cretin entered the engine number in both the engine number slot and the VIN slot, thus the query when the MOT certification VIN hit the DVLA.
Following the initial questionnaire from DVLA and my comprehensive response there followed many repeated demands for evidence of the cars bonafides. This included photographs and historic documents including a photo copy of the original Green Log Book ( which incidentally had been provided to me by the licensing authority back in 1985). This green log book issued in Coventry clearly showed the original entry error! But no matter how many times this was pointed out, it did not seem to register with the morons. Other evidence included a photograph of the Lotus unit number chinagraphed inside the roof of the coupe. In fact I provided a myriad photographic evidence accumulated during the 50+ years of restoration. Still intransigence!
I then employed the good offices of Andy Graham, the Lotus archivist to verify the car identity, and called upon Alan Morgan, Chairman of Club Lotus to inspect and verify the cars identity. Both Andy and Alan wrote to DVLA in this respect, Alan on more than one occasion he even offered to talk to them personally about the car. He wrote a comprehensive inspection report and submitted it to DVLA, What transpired? Absolutely nothing! Silence!
This all went on over a period of thirteen months! Torturous months. In which I could not legally use the car, I began to think I’d be shuffling off before I got the chance. I even contacted the DVLA chief executive, but was fobbed off to a minion who “investigated” and sent me back to the original idiots.
In desperation and not with much hope I contacted my MP, to my surprise I got an immediate response! I mean, on the scale of things, my car VIN issues must pale to insignificance along side a myriad of political issues.
The MPs man Friday Leanne was straight on the case asking for all my and DVLAs communications, I sent her a file of documents an inch thick. This was in January. At the beginning of February with not a word of explanation from DVLA, a corrected V5C arrived ….. Yipee! He’s got my vote, and I hope that the DVLA cretins that were involved were summarily fired, Particularly Ms Andrea Neale, the worst moron, the name on all of the obstructive communications I received.
I asked during the process that the car be classified as a historic vehicle, a request that was totally ignored, so my next hurdle is to send back the V5C to get this corrected……..to be continued, but this time I have Parliament on my side!

I hope that the DVLA cretins that were involved were summarily fired

No they will be promoted out of danger, after all how do you think the DVLA Chief Executive got the job?
Good luck!

Hi

Congratulations and well done. I do not know what it is with organisations such as the DVLA. They are either firing out fines like they have some sort of projectile fine vomiting disease, or else they are completely intransigent regardless of any evidence contrary to their position. I guess it is a culture of computer says "no" mixed with a poor understanding of their job and a lack of training.

All the best

Berni

Keep us posted on how you get on. You’ve now got the V5C with a correct VIN number so changing the classification should be a straightforward process.

Billelan wrote:Keep us posted on how you get on. You’ve now got the V5C with a correct VIN number so changing the classification should be a straightforward process.

“Should” with Govt departments ??

Assume nothing, absolutely nothing.

Well done getting this far bloodknock. You might want to get your sign-off updated !

Regards,
Richard

Crikey. Well done for making progress with it.

I got a tax reminder this month; for the amount it says NIL

And it doesn't need an MOT. Wonderful.

Good luck with it.

Sean.

Bob
Well done for getting the car through this DVLA mess. At least now you can enjoy it.
Malcolm

I think the problem with DVLA is despite dealing with vehicles every day. They do not have any technical people to make a rational decision when needed. If the manufacturer states a specific car is genuine why would you argue with the experts. The very same experts that the DVLA and Police sometimes call upon to check cars when there is issues of legitimacy.
Insurance companies are similar. I was quoted a British Standard for a car alarm that needed to be fitted to my vehicle. When it was fitted they then rejected it as not Thatcham Cat 2 anti theft proof. (Thatcham is Govt test authority). I then pointed out the British Standard they quoted was specifically for quality of installation and had nothing to do with theft protection. I had to threaten them with refunding me cost of alarm etc before they rescinded and insured me.
A prime example of people stating and asking for things with no comprehension of what it actually is they are asking for.
Clive

I totally agree Clive
They’re just monkeys, but that’s a slur on the primate! They have zero technical competence, even the basics and no common sense.
Despite that in their own online diatribe they list specialist authorities for all marques of car they’re too stupid to refer to their own published data. Both Andy Graham, (official Lotus Archivist) and Alan Morgan (Chairman of Club Lotus) wrote to the DVLA stating the bonafides of my car, they were totally ignored! In fact Alan, was prepared to discus the issue with them on the phone, a fact that I wrote and advised them of giving my permission for the dialogue ….Totally ignored, Alan tried on a number of occasions as did I… phone unanswered.
It took intervention through my MP to move them, in very short order I received a corrected V5C. But not a word of apology. I’m just hoping that a few heads rolled. Worse, no compensation for over a year of being unable to use the car.
Bob

Need to change your tag line now

Sorry to hear about your struggles, excellent to hear about your success so far.

Last year I bought an originally UK S2 Elan in USA and imported it back, it was exported before 1983 so I was entitled to claiming its original registration.

I wrote a polite letter (accompanied by a certificate from Andy Graham) and as advised, used their electronic service (essentially emails) I dealt solely with young sounding nice lady over the phone in their kit car and historic department.

I got the car's original reg, a new V5c and all my documents I posted back, all in the space of about 3-4 weeks.

They can be difficult but they aren't all bad eggs.

Innes

About 3 years ago with a different, more simple problem with the chassis number on my Caterham, the DVLA was efficient. I think it is probably luck of the draw, unless post COVID work from home is hampering their efficiency.