Government petition to restore free road tax

[Bryanj]

Florence, when Historic tax first came in it was a rolling 25 years but somebody in our wonderfull govinment discovered that every year more vehicles became free so they lost more and changed it to a fixed date, AFTER DVLA had already sent out lost of paperwork telling people there cars/bikes/vans/etc would be becoming "Histoiric" and they had to rush out paperwork recinding it.

Consequently you are asking for a removement of an ammendment to an act not a new act

[UKROBK7]

Yes there was! I quote from a classic car site:

"As part of the Chancellor's Budget in 1998, exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for vehicles over 25 years of age will be replaced by exemption for vehicles constructed before 1st January 1973.
This replaces the 25 year rolling exemption date. Unless there is another law change, those of you with 1973 cars will always have to pay Road Fund Tax.

Qualifying vehicles constructed before 1st January 1973 and currently licensed in the "25 Year Exempt" taxation class will now be licensed in the new HISTORIC VEHICLE taxation class and remain exempt from VED.

If you have a vehicle that you believe was constructed in or before 1/1/73 you should obtain proof of construction date."

Rob

[florence]

Sorry, I was, evidently, mistaken.  I shall sign forthwith.

[Tomb]

If you have a vehicle that you believe was constructed in or before 1/1/73 you should obtain proof of construction date."[/i]

I tried to do that with my 500/4 years ago, I think the manufacture date is '72, I contacted DVLA who advised me that all I had to do was get a dating letter from an owners club and they would change the vehicle taxation class to "Historic Vehicle".

I joined the Honda owners club and sent off a letter to the classic section bloke (can't remember his name) who sent back the forms for me to obtain an age related number plate, not what I was asking for!!, again I wrote to him explaining that I already had a registration which I was happy with, all I needed was a letter confirming the date of construction, again he sent me standard forms to fill in to obtain an age related registration, still not what I was asking for!! 

The next time, I contacted the Honda owners club chairman asking if he could ask the classic section bloke to send me a construction date letter, he replied saying it was nowt to do with him.

I gave up and still pay VED  .....and am no longer a member of the Homnda owners club

[hairygit]

You can get a letter/ build date from Honda U.K. to send D.V.L.A that will give you the exemption you're entitled to, it cost about £28 3 years ago, but that's only a third of a years tax, so money well spent.

[Tomb]

I made enquiries at Honda but was naffed off, a very snotty "we don't do that sort of thing" came back, I guess I was trying the wrong dept.

£28 is very cheap compared to lots of years paying tax that I didn't need to, I wonder if its reclaimable if the bike gets historical vehicle status, it works the other way round when the tax man is after money from us.

Just in case this petition doesn't get us a repeal, would you have the contact at Honda for a dating letter?

[Tomb]

I think we've got it all wrong, maybe this is the way to get free road tax, registered as a BSA

[hairygit]

Tomb, I've just spoken to Honda U.K. (01753 590510) The Fee is now £30, payable by cheque or postal order made payable to Honda U.K. You need to send your Frame Number And Engine Number with a covering note to the following address: HONDA U.K., MOTORCYCLE OPERATIONS, YEAR OF MANUFACTURE, 470 LONDON ROAD, SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE, SL3 8QY   This usually takes 3-4weeks, but can take as long as 6 weeks if they have to delve into the archives in Japan, but there is no better way to convince D.V.L.A than info from the manufacturer. So look forward to many years of tax free riding and tax exempt bikes are worth more should you want to sell it

[Tomb]

Woohoo!!   Top geezer!! Cheers Hairy.

Next question I 'spose will be how do I know if my bike is a pre jan '73, I don't mind paying £30 to get free road tax but not if I'm unsuccessful.

I hope you lads will be able to tell me from my frame number   .....and as I'm at work I can't tell you what it is at the mo, I'll have a look tonight. I don't really want to print the frame number here coz of vehicle identity theft, is there a list online or does someone have one of the years and numbers?

[Bryanj]

I have a list, if you PM me the full frame number i will give you an idea

[Tomb]

Another top geezer, cheers Bryan, I'll PM you.

[florence]

I sent a letter to Honda and, £28 poorer, discovered that my bike (cb500/4) was made in December 1974.  Nothing one can do except find an earlier frame.  I keep hoping to find a suitable project but nothing so far, apart from some over-priced examples.

[Tomb]

I sent a letter to Honda and, £28 poorer, discovered that my bike (cb500/4) was made in December 1974.

Thats what I was concerned about, the numbers looked to me like my bike is a '72 and Bryan has confirmed that in PM, (thanks again Bryan). The bike is registered as a '74 but the logbook states it was registered overseas before being registered here.

I'll fire a letter off to Honda as soon as I get some time, it'll tax my brain a bit, its been years since I wrote a letter, everythings email now.

[tom400f]

Surely there has never been a rolling 30 year exemption, as the cut off of Jan 1973 was introduced when the historic vehicle licence was first introduced.  By signing a petition you will simply ask the government to review and posibly amend the law.  Given the current climate, they may make it worse, not better.

I think Liebour introduced the exemption. It was going to be rolling, then they changed their mind and fixed it. Its other people's money, you see.

Sorry - slightly random post given where the thread is now  Confused myself there.... still p1sses me off though

[Bryanj]

Oddjob, how goes your query with Honda? I have done several and only had one problem that was fixed quickly although they could not give a precise date as early records had been lost in a fire---or so they told me---