Historic status.

[taysidedragon]

Another hits the 40+ mark. Might as well put it on the road, it’s not going to cost anything. Went to local post office to apply for historic status fully expecting to pay the road tax and then having to claim it back when the historic status changes. Pleasantly surprised when I came away with twelve months road tax without paying anything. Happy days!

Post office variability strikes again! ☹
I filled out the form and took my V5 to the post office to apply for historic status for my Triumph Tiger and the guy behind the counter just looked at me blankly. He'd never even heard about it! I patiently explained the system to him, as published on the DVLA website. "I'll have to ring the helpline", he says. He gets on the phone and the queue in the P.O. starts growing behind me - only one person on the counter.

While waiting for an answer he tried to process the change but couldn't do it. Finally got an answer on the phone, explained his situation and the P.O. helpline said they can't  do it unless I pay to tax the vehicle first or the V5 is changed to historic class by the DVLA!

This is the same post office branch that changed my 400F to historic without any snags.  😣

V5 now winging it's way to Swansea 🤞 ... and the queue in the P.O. is nearly back to normal.

[Johnny4428]

That’s pathetic the lack of consistency across the PO branches. Probably not the staffs fault but just a lack of the correct knowledge through training.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Out of interest was the bike insured?
The Post Office have if I remember never been able to process a change of taxation class that was always done in the past by the LVLO that were shut to save money. You can either take it to the post office with payment for the VEL having also completed the change of taxation status on your V5 or you send the lot off - V5, Mot exemption declaration form plus Insurance to DVLA. My Post Office took my V5 off me sent it to DVLA who sent me a new V5 with no change of taxation class but said I could return it with a VEL form & insurance to their team. I got everything back with change to Historic free tax for 12 months but they kept my Insurance  Certificate! I've not bothered to try and get that back.

[taysidedragon]

Yes, it's insured. Never asked me either. 🤪

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Yes, it's insured. Never asked me either. 🤪

It's a lack of consistency that's for sure - As I was only trying to change the taxation class initially the guy at the PO Counter said no problem just sign the change of taxation class section he will send it to DVLA and it will come back as Historic automatically.

I just got the same V5 re-issued as it was weeks later - the DVLA enclosed a letter asking me to complete the usual taxation form and return it to their team so they can process the taxation change plus change it from SORN to licensed. It appears to be a case of - if not insured then no change of taxation class allowed as the new taxation class is not applicable as it's not being used on a road.

It might be that since your previous experience rules of guidance to Post Offices from DVLA have changed. 
I did check on the DVLA website before I went in and the Post Officer appear to have acted within the rules when they sent my V5 to DVLA (different rules for NI) but DVLA did their own thing.

[taysidedragon]

Latest on my Triumph saga. I got a letter from the DVLA today. Great, I  thought, the V5 didn't take too long. Wrong!

My documents have been returned together with a letter that says,

"Thank you for telling us that you want to change the tax class of your vehicle to Historic.
Before we can change the tax class of your vehicle you will need to re-licence your vehicle in the Historic tax class."

That's exactly what I have been trying to do, first at the post office, second at the DVLA. So now I've filled in another form and sent it off. Third time lucky. 🤞🤪

[Johnny4428]

That is very annoying.😡 There seems to be much inconsistency whin the Post Offices and at the sharp end!

[Bryanj]

Walked into post offfice last Oct with ins, mot exemption form and V5, walked out with it taxed free and all the paperwork i went in with. Jan get a new V5 with "historic" on it

[taysidedragon]

I forgot to add, the letter also included a tax renewal form for a complete stranger's Vauxhall car in Ellesmere Port! 😂

[Nurse Julie]

I forgot to add, the letter also included a tax renewal form for a complete stranger's Vauxhall car in Ellesmere Port! 😂

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[Johnny4428]

I forgot to add, the letter also included a tax renewal form for a complete stranger's Vauxhall car in Ellesmere Port! 😂

😂😂 hilarious and I would think a tad annoying!

[taysidedragon]

Some progress on my Historic change for the Tiger 100. Just got a letter from DVLA confirming that the bike is now taxed. Great. The V5 is coming later, so I can only assume that it has been changed to Historic class.

At least I can ride it at last. 👍

[Johnny4428]

Great news Gareth! Hope you’re got better weather there for a run! Annoying when I do have time and don’t have the weather.😡😡

[taysidedragon]

Great news Gareth! Hope you’re got better weather there for a run! Annoying when I do have time and don’t have the weather.😡😡

Thanks Johnny. It rained most of the day, of course. 😡