HCVA Calls On Classic Vehicle Industry And Enthusiasts To Respond To Government To Future-Proof Historic Vehicles

Mark Harper, Secretary of State for the Department for Transport, has asked the UK classic car industry and community to help future-proof historic vehicles

Transport Minister and DVLA issue a Call for Evidence, following three years’ tireless hard work by the HCVA, to investigate how the DVLA registers classic cars

Owners have to navigate a complex system of DVLA forms that has seen some owners being issued with Q-plates for legitimate classics, instead of an original registration

Current issues put owners of classic vehicles who wish to restore, upgrade or enhance their cars at risk of losing their original registration

HCVA is collating views from its members into comprehensive guidance to inform and assist all historic vehicle enthusiasts in responding to the Call for Evidence

This unique opportunity to revolutionise government treatment of historic vehicles must not be lost in a rush to make a response: HCVA urges all to take time to read its guidance in detail before responding.

Deadline for responses is Thursday 4th July: it’s vital everyone joins the response!

Last week Mark Harper, Secretary of State for the Department for Transport, spoke at an Historic & Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA) hosted event at Bicester Heritage, asking the classic car industry and community to help future-proof historic vehicles.

MP Harper launched an eight-week consultation, open until 4th July, into how to best support Britain’s classic car sector and industry, worth a staggering £18 billion annually, following criticism from the HCVA and the wider classic and historic vehicle community on how the DVLA deals with classic cars.

The DVLA administers the United Kingdom’s vehicle registration system and has sole responsibility for the curation of vehicle records. 10 years ago, the DVLA closed all its 39 local offices, often run by teams with extensive knowledge of classic cars. This change caused owners numerous problems when attempting to register their restored or modified classics via a series of unhelpfully-worded forms.

In the worst cases, this change of approach, especially since 2019, has seen many owners being issued with Q-plates for legitimate classics, and countless others experiencing long delays and laborious processes when attempting to re-register a newly restored or upgraded classic.

Guy Lachlan, Executive Director of the HCVA said: “The DVLA’s current system treats restoration and rebuilding of historic vehicles as having a negative impact on their historical record and UK registration, a misconception that must be corrected. Maintaining the same registration number is a vital part of the history of the UK’s vehicles and is a viewpoint consistent with those applied to historic buildings, fine art, and other protected heritage industries.”

Now, Transport Minister Mark Harper has asked the classic car industry and community for its help in future-proofing classics, news that delights the HCVA which has been at the forefront of efforts to protect the classic vehicle industry since forming in 2021.

The current call for help comes as a result of three years’ tireless hard work by the HCVA, working with the DVLA and ministers directly as well as through the Historic Vehicle User Group, but to work it needs the full support of the classic vehicle community as Mark Harper made clear: ”We want the industry, we want motorists, and we want enthusiasts to have their say. The more responses we get the better, as that demonstrates to government how important this is. ”

The HCVA warns that it is vital for individual responses to clear and constructive. The Call for Evidence is complex with no less than 46 individual questions, and most lead the respondent to acquiesce to the current arrangements and categories. To help interested parties compile their own effective response, the HCVA will publish its own draft detailed response on Friday 24th May and encourages all potential respondents to read it fully and consider its contents when making their own individual responses.

HCVA Chairman, Mark Roper said:

“We must all act on this hard-fought and welcomed opportunity to respond, as classic vehicle owners and enthusiasts now have a unique opportunity to offer a clear response to Government and the DVLA on the challenges we face. Doing so will enable a bright and confident future for the industry, owners and enthusiasts alike and I ask anyone interested in responding to read our own guidance and draft response first, to ensure the industry and our passionate community delivers effective and concise feedback to Government.“

In conclusion, Guy Lachlan added:

“Our detailed response to the Call for Evidence will reduce DVLA workload, help to avoid counterproductive legal actions and remove uncertainty around vehicle restoration that currently hinders the UK specialist industry. And it is now vital the classic car industry, and UK enthusiasts come together to do all we can to protect the future of our cherished classic vehicles for future generations.“

More:

Further information and guidance

The HCVA response, in full, can be found at hcva.co.uk on Friday 24th May

An overview of the announcement can be found on the GOV website

The open call for evidence can be found here

An edited version of the Mark Harper speech at Bicester Heritage can be viewed here

Bespoke, detailed comments, quotes and guidance is available on request

ENDS

For more information contact Guy Lachlan on 07515-641889 or guy@hcva.co.uk

About the HCVA:

The ‘not for profit’ alliance, was launched in May 2021 with a mission to protect and promote the sector and secure its long-term future. It campaigns on behalf of individuals and companies in the classic vehicle world, including specialist restorers, dealers, parts suppliers and a broad cross-section of the multi-billion-pound industry.

HCVA has built a strong membership base across the industry, owners and enthusiasts. It has attracted widespread publicity in mainstream and specialist media and gained the support of politicians, campaigners and leading industry and motorsport figures. HCVA opened a new dialogue with the DVLA to seek solutions to the problem of issuing of original or age-related registrations, led campaigning to raise awareness of the challenges and is also working hard to ensure clarity over the benefits of synthetic fuels.

The sector’s contribution to the UK economy is huge. Annual turnover including substantial international trade is estimated at £18.3 billion, the near two-million-strong British classic fleet is valued at over £12 billion and annual tax revenue generated for the exchequer is in excess of £3 billion.

The trade, in which British craft skills and engineering excellence lead the world, supports around 113,000 jobs in thousands of specialist small businesses and supply chain firms. It also provides training places and apprenticeship schemes, giving opportunities to young people.

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