DVLA proof of car age help. Certificate of Conformity?

Hi All,

I have a Y plate tin top GTI. It was registered early 83 but, manufactured in 1982. How do I prove this to DVLA for historic vehicle status? I tried to order a certificate of Conformity from VW Germany and provided the full 17 digit VIN number but, they wrote this:

Unfortunately we are unable to deliver a COC for the vehicle refered to above since it does not meet the standards applicable for  EU type approval.

COC can only be issued under the strict premise the vehicle is type approved. This is evidenced with the type plate located in the engine compartment bearing  the acronyms EG-BE.

For all other vehicles with national approval, the one mentioned above being included, an individual type approval is required before registration.

For registration outside Germany please consult the local Audi or Volkswagen importer of your country of residence.

I don't have an original dealers receipt or, anything like that. Has anyone been through this process and do you know what DVLA approve as proof of age?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Gillie

Are you maybe mistaking 'Certificate of Conformity' with the legally informal cerificate that VW's Classic Parts division in Germany can supply (for a fee of around €100 less postage) -

https://www.volkswagen-classic-parts.com/en_uk/service/certificate-data-sheets.html

That will give you the date of manufacture and later date of delivery amongst other info.

The Govts. own page explains it, follow the various links for both MOT and tax exemption… there's not much else to add.

https://www.gov.uk/historic-vehicles/vehicles-exempt-from-vehicle-tax




 

You could always ask for the Birth Certificate from the VW muesum as they will print it out all pretty with the vin and Date of Birth, point of delivery as well as some of the M codes that it had when I did it a decade ago it was like 40 bucks, I understand it has gone up a wee bit.

Certificate and Data Sheets

Thank you both for your help.

I will order one of those VW museum certificates as that looks like proof to me and will be great to have in the car's history file. I was told on the phone 'Certificate of Conformity' by the DVLA but, I don't think this is possible on the age of the car so, I will order that certificate. As you suggested it looks like it should be covered.

Cheers for the links!

If you email type.approval@vwg.co.uk with your VIN number and address they will provide you with a confirmation of build date for FREE.
VW Germany will charge you nearly 100 Euros for it.

I then sent my V5, cover letter and certificate from VW to the DVLA and all sorted. Mine is also an 83 reg car.



J

It's all very underwhelming, specially for the money.

I got it on a whim a while back, not to find out dates for elligibility but to just have with the car… not sure I'd do it again though.

The 'Data' sheet on it's own or the bundle with both it and the certificate together are particularly poor value.

The only additional info it gave (for my specific car at any rate) were things like  Max. speed / gross weight / dimensions / wheelbase etc., nothing you couldn't print off else where.

The Certificate on its own'll give you what you seem to be after, plus it's at least on a bit of fancy card, the Data sheet's just A4 printer paper.

 

I've just emailed type approval  email address for the confirmation of build date letter. That's all I really need👍🏼 cheers for the heads up on that paceman.

Seems best to go for free option first!

Thanks for your responses Guys!

I have an '82 Gti first registered on 1st Jan '83

Living in London I wanted to get it registered in the Historic Tax Class asap to avoid forthcoming ULEZ charges in outer London (before the powers that be change exemption rules).

I started researching late last year, as to when I could achieve this at the earliest opportunity.

From the DVLA website I found out that if the car was first registered before 8th Jan '83 it was acknowledged/assumed the car was built in '82 and could be registered as historic and exempted from VED on 1st April '23.

So, 1st April I proudly strolled to my local Post Office, armed with my insurance certificate and MOT exemption form to tax my car.

Having entered with much excitement and anticipation, I left disappointed and dejected. The postmaster was unable to tax my car for free. The system would not allow it, as the the vehicle was not already in the Historic Tax class. He suggested I return in a week (when the DVLA system details might have been updated).

I duly returned the following week. Again unsuccessful, he suggested I went to a 'main' post office. I obliged and once again was unsuccessful.
This time it was suggested I phone the DVLA.

Several days and attempts later I got through to someone at the DVLA. I thought finally!, I'll get it all sorted now. How wrong I was!!.

First they told me the car was not old enough to be in the Historic class and that it would only qualify the following year. Incensed, I pointed out that that was incorrect, according to the details published on their own website. Finally acknowledging I was in fact correct, he said he'd make a note against the vehicle and that I should go back to the post office and apply for the VED again.

Again for my fourth visit to the post office I went in with an air of excitement. Once again I left angry and dejected. No such luck! Computer still says no!! FFS!!! 🤬

After further attempts to contact the DVLA, I was advised to send back my V5 logbook to Swansea marked 'Historic Vehicles Dept' (or something similar, I don't recall precisely, sorry) and that I would receive a new V5 up to 6 weeks later.

Perhaps naively, I thought I might get the new V5 back in a couple of weeks. No! A full six weeks later it arrives back. In great anticipation I open the envelope to inspect the brand new document and finally find my cherished car …..is still registered in the PLG taxation class! JESUS WEPT 🤌🤌

I wasn't sure if it was me, or was/is there a conspiracy to dissuade anyone from changing a vehicle class to Historic? 🤔

Nonetheless, shoulders slumped and with little expectation of success, I trundled along to the post office once more to see if I could tax the old girl for nowt. Without even checking the system, the postmistress immediately tore the brand spanking new V5 in half and told me to sign it at the bottom. I'm seething! I've spent months to get to this stage and this lady nonchalantly continues to cross out PLG on the V5 and scribbles 'Historic Tax Class' in biro instead. I'm thinking, yeah like that's gonna work - not!, and to my great astonishment she hands over a printed VED receipt for £0.00 and says, 'done, expect to get a new V5 in the post'. This time I left the post office neither excited nor dejected, just stunned really.

Anyway, not a day earlier than six weeks later I get another new V5 in the post, and low and behold the taxation class is now….. Historic. Alle-bloody-luia!!!

To summarise; I didn't need a certificate of conformity or build sheet/certificate from VW to get the car registered as historic, but by Scott it's far easier and quicker to get new digs from the Govt by jumping in a dinghy from Calais, than it is to get them to change vehicle tax class details!

Ha ha, that did make me chuckle!
I have to wait until next April as mine is a May 83 build