Trying to change to Historic Vehicle

Well, along with many of you, I have a 1974 Series III. Have been looking forward to going tax-free next month. When I rang DVLA he said I had to get it changed in a Post Office, so today I set off, full of plumptiousness. 'I want to change the Tax Class to Historic Vehicle; have you got the form please?' Blank stare - 'You don't need a form - just write it on the log book.' 'OK, the DVLA said I needed a form but, if you say so...' filled in the section (7) on the V5C. 'We have never had anyone asking to do this.' Clerk looks on her screen. 'No, you can't do it - the only change you can make to the class is to Disabled.' 'No, the DVLA told me to do it in the Post Office.' Blank stare - 'Well you can't.' (Queue building up.) Manager gives me the 0845 number for Post Office support; then she offered to ring them for me. Came back - 'Sorry, we're not allowed to ring certain numbers...' She did give me the office's number so I could tell them what happened when I rang this premium rate number. Went home and rang. Many menus later, 'for any further enquiries please ring the DVLA.' So I did. Nice Welsh voice. I explained my predicament. 'Well, they're wrong - they can do it.' 'But they told me they couldn't.' 'No need to be rude, Sir.' 'I'm not trying to be rude, but the PO were insistent they couldn't do it.' 'Well, perhaps if you go in after 1st April, it will work.' (!) I rang the town Post Office to tell them. 'Well, it may be because we're not a Crown Office any more.' 'Where's the nearest Crown Office?' (The two nearest are both 20 miles away.) SO has anyone on here managed to get the Taxation Class changed, and could they tell me how they did it? (I have cancelled the Direct Debit for the tax from 1st April).

I got my 1974 Lotus Elan tax exempt last year as I got a letter from Lotus stating it was built in December 1973! I phoned DVLA who were really helpful and told me to complete the green section on the 2nd page to change taxation class and then send it to them along with letter from Lotus.

you could get a historic age certificate from Gaydon then do the above?

if it is a rolling programme of ved exemption why can't the dvla system just do it automatically?

when the mot exemption for pre 1960 vehicles came in, the owners didn't have to do anything you went online and renewed your tax disc - without a current mot - and you got the disc.


why do they need any letters? they already have the build/first registered date.

I'm not 100% but I don't think its a rolling exemption

I know this is of no consolation to you Robert but the rulings are instigated by the government, did you actually expect things to be straightforward? I wish you well in your quest.

Birdbrain said:

I'm not 100% but I don't think its a rolling exemption

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afaik it has been re-introduced by the current government, back to the good old days, it was stopped at pre 1973 some years ago but now is moving forward again each year, I think we are into the second year of it now.

no doubt if there is a change in may it will get scrapped again

This is how helpful the dvla are. I got this the day after I stopped the DD for tax from April 1. The vehicle is of course still taxed till 31/3.

"Vehicle Registration Number: XYX182N

Your bank has told us to cancel your Direct Debit instruction as your bank or building society has cancelled your mandate.

As we have not been able to collect payment we have now cancelled your direct debit mandate.

What next?

The registered keeper must now take one of the following actions. Failure to do this may result in a penalty.

To continue using the vehicle
The vehicle must be taxed immediately. To do this the keeper must buy 6 or 12 months vehicle tax. This can be done online at www.gov.uk/vehicletax, over the phone on 0300 123 4321 or at a Post Office that offers vehicle tax. You will need your V5C registration certificate.

If the vehicle is being kept off the road
The registered keeper must make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). This can be done online at www.gov.uk/make-a-sorn or over the phone on 0300 123 4321."

So they tell me to try changing the vehicle to Historic after 1 April, and at the same time that I need to tax it from 1 April. Why is this happening when the new system has been in place for a year already???

I am strongly tempted just to send the V5C to Swansea as Birdbrain did. I'm certainly not declaring the vehicle SORN when it is taxed for another three weeks.

I rang DVLA today because mine is a 74 series Landy, the lovely lady told me to wait till April, then take my V5c along to the nearest post office, with section 7 filled under tax class as historic, sign section 8 declaration and to also take mot and insurance.The V5c will then be sent to DVLA who will return the amended document within 4 weeks! So I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
The classic car industry is a 3 billion pound business in the UK and employs 28000 people! The present government has sympathy and wishes to preserve our great motoring Heritage! It was the previous Labour government who didn't and therefore immediately stopped the original rolling tax exemption in 1997! Which was originally introduced by the conservatives. Kind regards. Chris

I have now sent the V5C with V70 (change of taxation class) with the MoT to Swansea. I think if I wait till after 1 April our Post Office will still refuse to help, and I shall have paid another month's tax. It seems so odd that I have to send the MoT when DVLA have it on their computer as well as the Insurance. [The V70 says the Insurance cert. is required for Northern Ireland only.] But the V70 I downloaded yesterday is still the 2014 version, including reference to tax disc, so perhaps on 1 April they'll post a new version with updated information.

just think we could be another 7 or 8 years further on if they had left it alone, all series vehicles would be exempt by now

I want me fenderer exempteded!!

At this reate I'll be in my 90's before it will be tax free

Well, good news (thanks James May). Got a letter from DVLA today, confirming 'receipt of your application to tax your vehicle in the historic category.' They say they can't change it till 1 April, but 'the complete application will be held until that date, at which point the taxation class will be changed, a new V5C registration document will be issued and any outstanding balance of payment will be refunded.'
So...it is pointless going to the Post Office; just send it to Swansea and they will do it all. The only slightly unclear point is whether I would get tax refunded back to 1 April. I have got round that as I shall declare the vehicle SORN next Tuesday (31 March) so no tax will be due. It is genuinely off the road as it happens.