V5, MOT, REGISTRATION & EXPORT QUESTIONS

V5 is the document number for the UK Car Registration Document, it contains all the relevant information, ie registration number, age, type, model, engine, colour, etc etc. If you're exporting the car to the US then the V5 is filled in in the export section, and a certificate of export is issued in place of the V5, the V5 being returned to the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority at Swansea. If you are going to use the car in this country, then you need to transfer ownership of the car to your name/address when you purchase it. DVLA then send you a new V5 with your details on it. You can always export it at a later date.

MOT is required for use on UK roads, it is a certificate of roadworthiness at the time the vehicle was inspected. Without this, the V5 and a certificate of insurance you cannot obtain a Tax Disc, which is a requirement before you can use the vehicle on the public highway.

I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at here. If you want to drive it on UK roads you'll need to obtain a certificate of insurance to do so, but this may present some problems if you only have an American driving licence. But you will need a certificate of insureance before you can Tax the vehicle and you will need insurance for the vehicle before you can drive it on UK roads.

Alex

A "V5" is the piece of paper issued by the DVLA (A Government body) that shows who the car is registered to.

A car has to be of a certain standard to pass an MOT. It either passes or fails. An MOT normally lasts for 12 months from date of issue.

Just fill in the relevant bits of the V5 and send it back to the address shown. You will then be sent a V5 in your name.

To get insurance simply phone up an insurance company of your choice and ask them to insure you!

You'll also need a "Vehicle excise disk" (aka Tax disk) which can be obtained from a main post office. In the case of cars of this age it'll be free.

sPoNiX

V5 (or the new V5C) is the British equivilent of the US "title". It says that you are the owner of the vehicle, as well as the specification of the car.

Registration stays with the vehicle - it is purely a number.

To legally drive the car, you need:

MoT - to enure the car is roadworthy. Lasts for 1 year from date of issue, but you can have take another test (and new 12 month certificate) at any time should you wish to.

Insurance - different types:

third party - if you crash, they fix the third party car and anything else damaged in an accident - your car stays broken third party fire and theft - same as third party, but your car is also covered if it gets stolen or catches on fire - your car stays broken fully comprehensive - same as above, but they fix your car.

Tax - on a pre 1973 car it is free but you still need to display a Tax disc in the lower left hand corner of your windscreen. you can only get a tax disc if you show a valid insurance and MoT certificates.

If your going to export the car back to the USA, make sure you send £5 along with a covering letter showing the car's registration number to Information from Records, DVLA, Swansea SA99 1AJ. You'll get a nice fat printout of all the ownership records they have on the car - nice to have! Once it's marked as exported, they become hard to get.

-- Howard Rose

1966 VW Beetle 1300 Deluxe 1962 Austin Mini Deluxe 1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe (cars on website)

And please excuse the really bad spelling in that message! It's late, and my brain went on standby hours ago :-)

-- Howard Rose

1966 VW Beetle 1300 Deluxe 1962 Austin Mini Deluxe 1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe (cars on website)