DVLA vehicle inspection should I be worried?

[SteveW]

I’ve registered my 74 CB550 and 80 CB650 with the DVLA with no issues at all and both within 3 weeks.
I decided to finish my Lambretta that I’ve been doing on and off for 9 years.
Sent all the paperwork to DVLA exactly as I did for the 2 Hondas. Month later get a rejection letter saying they didn’t like the dating certificate as it didn’t have the date it was issued on.
Got a new dating certificate with the issue date on and sent all the paperwork off.
Last week get a letter saying they want to inspect the Lambretta, they are coming tomorrow.

Just wondered if I should be worried, can’t see any reason why they need to inspect it, photos show it fully built, frame and engine numbers perfectly visible.

Do they just pick vehicles at random to check, or is it because I’ve registered other vehicles before?

This has now been going on since early June.

[Laverda Dave]

I had to get the Triton inspected when I first built it Steve, in those days you had to take it to them in a van (that was £70 daily van hire straight away)!

They will check it over to make sure it is not a bitsa and so as long as the engine and frame numbers are visible (and the correct(ish)) engine for the frame and it has the original wheels and brakes for the period and model you should be fine. I know you get points for originality and points make prizes as they say. I don’t see you having a problem as long as the bike isn't a hybrid. I managed to register the Triton as a Norton despite it having a Triumph engine in a Norton frame with alloy rims, alloy fuel and oil tanks and a single seat . I got points for the original frame, forks and brake hubs and I borrowed a pair of Norton mudguards and silencers to make it look a bit more authentic and until I got home and they were removed! I was given a non-transferable ex Scottish registration number.

Good luck, make sure you give the inspector a cuppa and a hob nob

[Bryanj]

I think its random

[kevski]

Years ago my old z1000 got pulled in because the reg number had been issued to 2 bikes in 1978, it took until 2006 for them to realise,  I had to take to the police inspection centre at Maidstone,  that was a long couple of hours, it worked out fine though.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Back in the late 1970s Police often did DVLA inspections this was before the advent of the now closed regional LVLOs & VOSA sites. It was a random selection of old vehicles that had not been taxed, write offs that had been put back on the road and some Q plate home built vehicles. One  was a motorcycle that had a  stainless steel frame with a pair of 998 Hilman Imp engines Siamesed to form a V8 unit. The rear panniers contained a radiator plus electric fans on each side. It was under the weight limit for motorcycle (8 cwt?) He called it after his name something like a Betsson.

We were told the checks were generally randomly selected. The V8 bike was featured in a magazine a few years later Circa 1982/3. The bike  builder worked for British Rail Works at Derby before de-nationalization.

I saw him a few times on his monster - he never  fixed the clutch slip issue when I last spoke to him over 30 yrs ago.

Bettson V8  made in Mickleover by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=bettson+V8+motorcycle+pictures&atb=v329-1&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-dGpTtAxvcyk%2FTk06fy47vOI%2FAAAAAAAAZOU%2F56fbXLdsRwI%2Fw1200-h630-p-k-no-nu%2FTckgsFqybM.jpg

[Sesman]

They came to inspect my CB500. They used a contractor. During conversation I got the impression it’s a random inspection to ensure it looks, smells and feels like it was described and significantly representative  of the vehicle it’s supposed to be. Unless you have heavily modified it I wouldn’t worry.

[SteveW]

Thanks for all the info guys.

The guy coming tomorrow is a contractor arranged by the DVLA. Bike is 99% original so hopefully it’s a formality.

You can never tell with the DVLA though.

The most frustrating thing with them is on the V55 form they ask for an email address and phone number in case they need to contact you but they never use them. Instead they just reject your application each time and post the lot back so you end up back of the queue.

[Trigger]

It is just a normal check to make sure the bike is all together. I have known people to try and get a V5 but, all they have is the frame.
They wanted to do a check on my UVA buggy once and asked, was it at the registered address for a inspection. It was already on a Q plate but, i think they wanted to check if it had been modified anymore since its inspection at the time of registration. I advised them that it was at my address in Greece and they were welcome to visit anytime for an inspection. Never heard anymore from them 

[SteveW]

Inspector has just been, he said he can’t see any reason why DVLA would not issue a plate now.

He also said that the inspections are picked at random, so it’s just bad luck if you are chosen.

His report goes back to DVLA now so it’s just more waiting.

[Sesman]

The contractor turns it round immediately. My notice of registration arrived 5 days after inspection.

Congratulations on the approval by the way.

[Bryanj]

Sigh of relief, large mug of tea with additived

[royhall]

Glad it turned out well, stressful time.

[Laverda Dave]

Good news Steve. You'll be on the road by mid September. I was down in Worthing on Friday and there were a lot of old scooters down there.

[SteveW]

Thanks for all the help and support everyone, hopefully it’s just a formality now but you never know with the DVLA.

[SteveW]

Worry over, new logbook arrived this morning