Q-plate question

[mackemforever]

Just needed a bit of advice from you lovely forum people on an issue I'm currently having with the DVLA.

About 6 months ago I changed the frame in my SV650S, simple reason was because the frame in it was slightly bent. The new one I replaced it with was bought complete with a V5 for that frame.

So anyway, I replaced the frame, filled in the new number of the V5 for my bike and sent it off to the DVLA. They then told me my bike needed to be inspected and after that I was told that I would have to have my bike Q-plated, along with obviously paying for the new registration, the test that they put it through (can't remember the name of it, it's like an MOT but more thorough), new tax, the lot.

The reason they said that this needed to be done was because I had only changed 1 major component, and in order to keep your existing registration mark you had to have replaced at least 3 major components. Seems weird to me that if you only change one thing then you have to get a new registration but if you change more then you don't, but I'll ignore that for now.

For now I have been delaying them each time they send me a letter telling me to sort this out I have simply replied saying that my bike is not currently in a state where it would pass the test they put it through and as such I need to delay it, and for now it's still working.

However, I've been trying to think of a way to sort this issue with the least cost. If I go down the Q-Plate route it will end up costing me at least £400 and will take a lot off the value of my bike. So, what I was thinking of doing was when my insurance runs out in January I am going to send them the V5 for the frame that I bought but with my existing engine number filled in, because then technically I have replaced every major component on that frame and so should be able to keep the registration mark for that frame. It will mean I've got to buy a new plate and get new tax & MOT for it, but it's cheaper than the other way.

I'm just wondering if what I'm thinking of is possible, and how I can prove to them that I have replaced more than 3 major components, when the only one that you can identify with a part number is the engine.

Sorry for the essay, but this is a fairly major issue for me so I need to know exactly where I stand.

Thanks.

[mackemforever]

Ok, infact, I've just had a read of their website again and it seems to be showing a lot of information that wasn't given clearly to me at all before.

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/radically-altered-vehicles

So from that what I can make out is that if I send off the V5 for my current frame with the new engine number in it then they will require an inspection on the bike.

Am I right in thinking that there is no way for them to match the suspension, axles, transmission or steering assembly to my existing registration mark? Because as far as I can tell if I tell them that those parts are original to the from that I am using then they have no way of proving that they aren't, and as such the bike would have enough "points" to qualify to keep the registration mark for that frame.

[Jayneflakes]

When I blew the engine in my old XJ400, I replaced the lump with a same age XJ550 and I was later told that that I needed to have the work inspected due to changing the engine and upping the power a little. I was keeping the frame and thus I kept my number plate.

Am I right in thinking here, that you have told them that you have swapped frames, but are keeping your old number plate and this is what is causing the confusion? Maybe you could simply swap the engine into the new bike that has a V5 etc and scrap your old bike?

I cannot claim to understand half of the bureaucratic nonsense that they push out these days.

[svshaz]

For what its worth, I would of thought it was easier to register the bike under the 'replacement frame's' V5 and Reg No, as replacement engines, etc. would be more common , although i'm no expert in this.

[mackemforever]

Jayne, I had two choices when I did this.

1) Put the new frame number on the V5 for my current registration mark.
2) Put my current engine number of the V5 for the frame I bought, and then change my insurance to that registration mark.

I went with 1 because I was told by several people at the DVLA that I could change the frame and keep my current plate, which turned out to be utter bull****.

So you think that if I put my engine number on the V5 for the frame that's currently in the bike then they shouldn't have a problem with that, and then I'll simply have to transfer my insurance to the registration that matches that frame (as well as getting tax & MOT of course)?

[Biker Biggles]

I believe someTriumphs and some Suzukis were recalled and given new frames a few years ago.I dont think they all ended up on Q plates so there must be a way.

[johnnyrod]

What years are your old frame and new one? Normally if you can prove the year of manufacture then you can get an age-related plate for anything.

[Owenski]

Mackem I've done this a couple of times with Drz's over the last few years.

I choose option two of your above post, it meant calling the insurance to tell them my plate had changed, it meant getting new tax discs and/or MOT's (fortunately never both).
I've changed colours, changed engine numbers changed just about everything you can on the V5 but never have I ever been tempted into changing the plate linked to a frame. Keep the VIN number with its original reg plate and you'll be fine.

Put it this way, to convert it to a Q plate you're knocking a fortune off its value - I'd never buy a Q.

[NTECUK]

I believe someTriumphs and some Suzukis were recalled and given new frames a few years ago.I dont think they all ended up on Q plates so there must be a way.
Read the OP link to the Gov site and your see a "new" frame is part of there accepted critera.
A second hand one is not.