Whats the law on swapping number plates?

[Adambt]

Just wondering if anyone knows what the law is regarding swapping the numberplates on 2 identical cars?
I have 2 MG midgets, one tax exempt and a total wreck, the other solid but a '74.
It's tempting just to swap the plates, and change the colour on the reg documents, then get it retested.
It seems like it should be illegal, but then i can't work out the legal difference between doing that and reshelling the wreck.
Where's the catch? Am I missing something?

[arthurbrown]

It's all about the 'totting up' of points.

If you 're-shell' from the crocked one onto the good shell using all the original grubby bits you will probably not fall foul.

That said, if you swapped the VIN tags etc, & registered the colour change, who'd be to know. Really.
The major issues in this instance are
(a) if you then attempt to sell a '74 car as a '72
and
(b) if someone rumbles you. Swapping from a 74 to a 72 to deliberately avoid paying road tax is very frowned upon, and you can get in all sorts of bother.

Now there have bee instances of persons discussing this sort of thing on forums and then getting busted for it as a result.
If your intentions were 100% honourable you would just run the '74 and be done with it.
TREAD VERY CAREFULLY.

[Adam]

As Pog said, it's dodgy ground.

Why do you want to swap them?

[bstardchild]

^ What he said

[arthurbrown]

You are in effect creating a 'ringer'.

Happens a helluva lot with old Land Rover's. Except they are called "hybrids"

[akku]

The DVLA have actuially gate crashed a Land ROver meeting looking for ringers. If they catch you then your car will be on a Q plate, you will be fined, and any tax exempt status will be lost. Also I think they can now confiscate and crush the car for this.

Reshelling is only OK with a new, unused bodyshell with a reciept to prove it.

[arthurbrown]

Those crazy guys at Doovla!

Land Rover's are notoriously each to ring-a-ding-ding.
Up until about '77 the only proper ID markings was a plate on the bulkhead held on by 4 screws. And because there were so few changes through the production run it's easily done.

Obviously some are more blatant that others, I have seen nearly new 300TDi's with full 90's / 00's spec proclaiming to be 'hybrids' - despite there being no bit that is off a 1962 SII...
It's gotta be subtle. Sneaking a S3 onto a SIIA registration for instance is much easier.

[Adambt]

Hmm, sounds like a bit of a grey area! It does already have the engine and box from the wreck in the '74, not sure that would qualify it as a reshell though!
I guess my reasons for wanting to swap was the obvious financial benefit, and the fact I can run much cooler old skool plates, oh and I've had the wreck since university days, so I'm a bit sad to see it die! Doesn't really sound worth treading a legal tightrope for it though!

[arthurbrown]

No, it's not.
Can you not get a 'heritage' bodyshell for your '72?

[spottedlaurel]

For the sake of saving £110 a year (or whatever the cheap band is) is it worth it? Your car loses its history, and I bet an MG anorak could tell the difference in components fitted, glass markings etc so your car could end up devalued.

[Adambt]

alistairk said:

Reshelling is only OK with a new, unused bodyshell with a reciept to prove it.

Is that true? Harsh!

[Adambt]

Yeah you can get heritage shells, I think they cost about £3500 before paint. A bit out of my price range!

[akku]

the arguement is that a car reshelled with a used body is a hybrid of two existing vehicles and as such should not carry the registration of either. It must have a new VIN and new reg plate, which will be a Q plate. The car will not be tax exempt.

Its not a grey area. Its black & white.

[bstardchild]

alistairk said:

the arguement is that a car reshelled with a used body is a hybrid of two existing vehicles and as such should not carry the registration of either. It must have a new VIN and new reg plate, which will be a Q plate. The car will not be tax exempt.

Its not a grey area. Its black & white.

I hope it doesn't work the other way

A shell with V5 etc that has everything from another car bolted back on to it ;D

[arthurbrown]

bstardchild said:

I hope it doesn't work the other way

A shell with V5 etc that has everything from another car bolted back on to it ;D

DOOVLA said:

Vehicles that have been rebuilt using a mix of new or used parts
In order to retain the original registration mark:

cars and car-derived vans must use:
The original unmodified chassis or unaltered bodyshell (i.e. body and chassis as one unit - monocoque); or a new chassis or monocoque bodyshell of the same specification as the original supported by evidence from the dealer or manufacturer (e.g. receipt).

And two other major components from the original vehicle - ie suspension (front & back); steering assembly; axles (both); transmission or engine.

There's your answer BC.
Could get messy!

[bstardchild]

arthurbrown said:

bstardchild said:

I hope it doesn't work the other way

A shell with V5 etc that has everything from another car bolted back on to it ;D

DOOVLA said:

Vehicles that have been rebuilt using a mix of new or used parts
In order to retain the original registration mark:

cars and car-derived vans must use:
The original unmodified chassis or unaltered bodyshell (i.e. body and chassis as one unit - monocoque); or a new chassis or monocoque bodyshell of the same specification as the original supported by evidence from the dealer or manufacturer (e.g. receipt).

And two other major components from the original vehicle - ie suspension (front & back); steering assembly; axles (both); transmission or engine.

There's your answer BC.
Could get messy!

Better shut up then

[akku]

Always for the best. As well as the VIC they are reffering "hybrid" modifed cars to go have an SVA test as well...

[arthurbrown]

This is where the 'grey area' does kick in.

You can have a car which is like Trigger's Brush.
Change the shell then change every single component over a period of years and that is fine. Do it all at once and it's not.

One piece at a time...

[xbo11ox]

Nail on the head there Pogszbury. This is why it is a grey area not a black and white one.

As for the DVLA rules, it says you must use the suspension or whatever from 'the original' vehicle, how is anyone ever gonna prove the provenance of a midget axle? Impossible.

I don't have a problem with this sort of thing, just don't shout about it and don't take the curse word (like tax-exempt TD5 landies and injected 5-speed mini coopers), and everyone's happy.

[bstardchild]

xbo11ox said:

Nail on the head there Pogszbury. This is why it is a grey area not a black and white one.

As for the DVLA rules, it says you must use the suspension or whatever from 'the original' vehicle, how is anyone ever gonna prove the provenance of a midget axle? Impossible.

I agree

xbo11ox said:

I don't have a problem with this sort of thing, just don't shout about it and don't take the pee (like tax-exempt TD5 landies and injected 5-speed mini coopers), and everyone's happy.

LOL - perfect