DVLA VIC check

[ToolsnTrack]

So i read Utterpiffle's epic Merc thread:

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/155617/1997-mercedes-estate-photoshop-paint#.U7FRfrGfgiI

...and it gave me a slight pang of fear. I'm currently doing something very similar to my Impreza:

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/167763/1997-subaru-impreza-classic-terrorist#.U7FS-LGfgiI

...and owing to the fact that it has had a sizable wallop i wondered if i was going to have the same grief. I haven't actually checked whther it has any form of CAT write off on it. Having checked the DVLA website i got this back:

The enquiry is complete.The vehicle details for R278 DJS are:
Date of First Registration 01 07 1998
Year of Manufacture 1998
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1994cc
CO₂ Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status SORN in place
Vehicle Colour WHITE
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available

Not really any clearer to be honest. Is the Vehicle Type Approval the part normally associated with this? Can anyone help shed a bit of light on whether I'm wasting time with a written off chassis?

[ferny]

No idea how you go about checking the cars status. That thread says the DVLA site tells you, but I've no experience of it.

When a mate went to tax a Corsa he was refused and had to get a Vehicle Identity Check done. We took it along to the local place, they took it inside and pulled down the shutters. As I understand it all they do is look at all of the vehicle numbers in all their hidden places to make sure it's not more than one car. The shutters are down so you can't see where they check. If it all tallies up then you're free to go.

[adam73bgt]

I believe a hpi check should show if the car has been written off in the past?

[dodgerover]

Don't worry about it, a VIC is only an identity check to make sure its not a ringer. The problems with the merc came from someone logging it as scrapped thats what caused the issues not the fact it was written off.

Have you got the logbook for it in your name. If so (and the loogbook has come through since it was crashed) then chances are it doesn't need a VIC as they shouldn't issue a logbook without it being done.

[Dez]

there is no-one or nowhere to do inspections at the minute since they helpfully* shut all local offices and inspectorates, so god knows what will happen until they sort some third party out to do it. first registrations and l-up vehicles have basically come down to self-assessment, as for checks on moderns, who knows how theyll do it. there even talk of it being done by MOT testers!!

[damageandy]

just do a cheap text hpi check, that will tell you if its ever been written off.

[bagss2]

PM'd.

Cheers, Baggers.

[swampy76]

Jun 30, 2014 13:24:51 GMT Dez said:

there is no-one or nowhere to do inspections at the minute since they helpfully* shut all local offices and inspectorates, so god knows what will happen until they sort some third party out to do it. first registrations and l-up vehicles have basically come down to self-assessment, as for checks on moderns, who knows how theyll do it. there even talk of it being done by MOT testers!!

erm thats wrong!

the DVLA never did the checks, these were done by VOSA and none of the VOSA test centres closed down.
Infact most of the centers that do the VIC are also HGv and PSV mot test centres.

Alot of the DVLA went to work for VOSA around the country.

doing a HPI on this car shws that it has not being declared an insurance write off

[sowen]

I had to take my SD1 to a VIC check a few weeks back, as it had previously been written off by the previous owner and bought back off the insurance, and as a change of keeper it's normal policy apparently. The problem I've had is the tester (young guy who'd never seen a Rover SD1 before) took a dislike to my rubbish handbrake (it holds on a slope) so issued a prohibition notice!

I still don't know if it was a cat C or D until the V5 eventually comes through the post...

[Battles]

The VOSA place where they do the VICs down here is in the estate next to our house, want me to stick my head in and see if they can tell you before you put any more work into the car?

[bortaf]

Jun 30, 2014 13:24:51 GMT Dez said:

there is no-one or nowhere to do inspections at the minute since they helpfully* shut all local offices and inspectorates, so god knows what will happen until they sort some third party out to do it. first registrations and l-up vehicles have basically come down to self-assessment, as for checks on moderns, who knows how theyll do it. there even talk of it being done by MOT testers!!

Every VIC check i've had was at at VOSA station not a DVLA centre i thought they only shut the DVLA centres not the VOSA depots ?

Oopa should read the whole thread befor replying

[Dez]

i think theres some confusion between me, the idiot highly trained individual at the dvla ive been playing postal tennis with trying to get the pickup correctly registered, and my closest dvla office being in the same place as the vosa inspectorate. the information i posted came straight from the dvla- they wouldnt be inspecting it as they had no-one and nowhere to do it, i have been given what amounts to a self assessment form called a 'built up vehicle form' told to fill it in and as long as ive got my 8 points they wont inspect it.

where that actually happens or not (and is actually the truth) is another matter though.

[MightyMork]

DVLA / VOSA really do seem to be luck of the draw and not really consistent from my experiance. Depending on who you get will depend on the answer and result of enquiry. Sometimes a winner someone's not, just follow your paper trail and keep a record of everything with them, eventually you get the answer you need.

[welshpug]

It will tell you if it needs a vic when you check tax status.

[bavarianretro]

Jun 30, 2014 16:39:52 GMT sowen said:

I had to take my SD1 to a VIC check a few weeks back, as it had previously been written off by the previous owner and bought back off the insurance, and as a change of keeper it's normal policy apparently. The problem I've had is the tester (young guy who'd never seen a Rover SD1 before) took a dislike to my rubbish handbrake (it holds on a slope) so issued a prohibition notice!

I still don't know if it was a cat C or D until the V5 eventually comes through the post...

It was Cat C. Cat D doesn't need a VIC and cat A and B can't go back on the road, so therefore if it needed a VIC, it was Cat C. 

[damageandy]

Jun 30, 2014 23:54:46 GMT bavarianretro said:

Jun 30, 2014 16:39:52 GMT sowen said:

I had to take my SD1 to a VIC check a few weeks back, as it had previously been written off by the previous owner and bought back off the insurance, and as a change of keeper it's normal policy apparently. The problem I've had is the tester (young guy who'd never seen a Rover SD1 before) took a dislike to my rubbish handbrake (it holds on a slope) so issued a prohibition notice!

I still don't know if it was a cat C or D until the V5 eventually comes through the post...

It was Cat C. Cat D doesn't need a VIC and cat A and B can't go back on the road, so therefore if it needed a VIC, it was Cat C. 

Yes they can as stated in the thread the OP posted a link to, common incorrect knowledge. Ive unknowingly owned a repaired cat B myself.

[spandelly]

It's rare for a cat b to go back on the road but it can happen. The vic is only an identity check through vosa so should have nothing to do with the Dvla until the car has passed the test and the v5 needs issuing. There should not be any road worthiness test until mot time.

[sowen]

Jun 30, 2014 23:54:46 GMT bavarianretro said:

Jun 30, 2014 16:39:52 GMT sowen said:

I had to take my SD1 to a VIC check a few weeks back, as it had previously been written off by the previous owner and bought back off the insurance, and as a change of keeper it's normal policy apparently. The problem I've had is the tester (young guy who'd never seen a Rover SD1 before) took a dislike to my rubbish handbrake (it holds on a slope) so issued a prohibition notice!

I still don't know if it was a cat C or D until the V5 eventually comes through the post...

It was Cat C. Cat D doesn't need a VIC and cat A and B can't go back on the road, so therefore if it needed a VIC, it was Cat C. 

Finally got the V5 through the post, only says "substantially repaired and/or accident damaged", so still none the wiser!

[froggy]

Vic check is being scrapped in October ,

[Deleted]

Jul 5, 2014 9:47:21 GMT sowen said:

Jun 30, 2014 23:54:46 GMT bavarianretro said:

It was Cat C. Cat D doesn't need a VIC and cat A and B can't go back on the road, so therefore if it needed a VIC, it was Cat C. 

Finally got the V5 through the post, only says "substantially repaired and/or accident damaged", so still none the wiser!

That means that it has been crashed (and insurance Co involved) no further action is required on your part and you do not need to get the car checked.
But you should declare this to your insurance Co, they might want a check done to prove it is roadworthy and it will effect the value of your car and may mean a lesser payout should the car be involved in another scrape as it is not A1 condition.