The 'E' Type Forum

I have today been told by one of the archive departments at a local council that they are no longer allowed, by DVLA, to provide access to the original registration records for vehicles registered before DVLA took over.

This is an outrage and serious loss of resource important to all those who do not have a current V5C and want to restore the correct UK registration number to a car. I suspect that DVLA do not want owners bothering them with proof a car carried a certain number as they have either already sold it at auction or wish to do so. I have written to the Chairman of the Commons Historic Transport Committee and I suggest that anyone who shares my concerns does the same. Creeping bureaucracy again.

Oh Great my car did not come with a V5,but i have a letter from the local DVAL center that I can can keep the reg on production of car
I wonder if this still case

I tried to trace the history of mine before the DVLA took over around 1974, however when I contacted the local registration office Manchester County Borough Council told me they'd taken the decision and destroyed the historical records.

I feel sure that if the local DVLA have given you a letter you should be ok, but perhaps you should get on with the authentication. You can always ask a representative of an authorised club to confirm body, frame, engine numbers and that should enable you to get a V5C or whatever its called now!

The good news is that following my letter to Sir Greg Knight, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicle Group, things have moved very quickly indeed. The local Archives office received a call from DVLA clarifying their earlier directive which purely relates to the release of ownership information and not vehicle records. I received a letter back from Sir Greg informing me that he contacted the Department of Transport as well as the DVLA and presumably from the extremely helpful reaction from the Archive in question, has clarified the importance to all of the freedom to access these historic vehicle records . So the records remain available to be searched by anyone, but you may have to sign a disclaimer on non disclosure of ownership details where they are included on the key cards.

I for one, feel a sense of great relief that there are those in positions of influence who recognise our collective interest and move to represent us. Well done Sir Greg Knight and the APPHVG

For anyone looking to research their vehicle, check out the excellent book "How to trace the History of Your Car" by Philip Riden.

Well done Andrew!! in addition to Sir Greg !!

Good to know that in these times of efficiencies a few well written letters can still sort things out.