New member here:
I have a very real tale to tell about this subject.
A few years ago I decided on a whim that I would try to get an age-related plate for my Land Rover which got de-mobbed on a J plate. The chaos that ensued was a complete nightmare.
My registration documet's recorded VIN was different to that on my VIN plate. I had never successfully uncovered the number on the front spring hanger and promptly forgot the whole idea anyway. So when this little issue came up at the DVLA, it was like being trapped in a bank vault with all the alarms going off. The next thing I know I've got the Police crawling all over my Landy having warned me that they would confiscate it etc...
I also had threats of prosecution relating to TAX evasion, driving a 'stolen' vehicle, failing to do this or that etc..
At the very least it was looking like I'd need a Q Plate, Q Test and then be doomed to £rd party insurance etc.
The fortunate thing was that the cops found my VIN number on the chassis which matched the VIN plate. I was so ****ed off by all this that I decided to change the rotten chassis anyway.
That's when another problem cropped up. my dream of changing it into a coiler were shattered when i found that it would have to be changed like for like to remain Tax Exempt and would have to be a new chassis. A second hand chassis would make for an instant Q plate requirement.
To add insult to injury, i drove to the DVLA to get my new age related plate. The same Nazi was behind the counter and was smiling. "Here's your new number", he said. " brought it with you? ". I pointed it out in the car park.
" You'll not be driving it home then until you get your new plates!"
What an arse! I had my baby son with me at the time and was left stranded.
So please beware, there are a lot of illegal 'Tax Exempt' vehicles out there that can cause you a lot of heartaches. Even the ones like my legal one can cause you heartaches because the law will want to throw the book at you if they catch you.