Historic status - MOT and tax

[minimutly]

My 1981 built, Japanese imported (in the 90's), recorded as manufactured in 1984, theoretically is now eligible for Historic status. The procedure online says I take the V5, mot history (if I have it), or completed Vxx form for MOT exemption along to a post office to get this done. My question is, does this need a current mot cert before doing all this, or does filling the form suffice?
I must stress that the bike is unmodified (as stipulated, other than seat and side covers), is in really good condition all round.
Is it really as simple as turning up at the post office? Don't I need insurance? (Obv will be getting insurance, before someone states the obvious).
TIA

 

[colnerov]

Yes take the form and the V5 where change of 'Tax class' write historic, to a post office where they will send it to DVLA and you should get it back in three to four weeks or so. You don't need an MOT. However not all Post Offices seem to understand. Any confusion or misunderstanding on their part take it back and try another PO. Frustrating I know. The irony is it becomes MOT exempt before the tax but you have to get the tax exemption (although it's not exempt it's just zero rated) first to get the MOT exemption.

See - https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/227449/tax-mot-exemption

 

[Nomad]

I went through this about 5 years ago so things might have changed ..

If you have time, take your V5 to a post office that issues tax disks. tell them you want the tax class changed to "Historic", they will send off the V5 and you get a new one.
When you get the new one back saying historic, take V5, insurance certificate and MOT exemption form (V112 ?) - you should get a years free tax.
* The post office might have the V112 form behind the counter, mine did but knew nothing about it when I asked, when I returned with one printed off UK.GOV website they found their stock..

If you feel lucky take your existing V5, insurance and v112 form and hope they do it all at the same time and give you a years tax.

No need to have an MOT before going to post office. Keep us updated,, hope it all works out for you

 

[minimutly]

Hmm, I wonder if I popped into dvla Swansea I might stand a better chance to get it taxed same day? To be fair every time I've called in they have been really helpful.

 

[minimutly]

I just phoned the dvla, computer told me to take my documents to the PO, the v5 will be taken away to be assigned historic, and provided the mot form is filled in the tax will be issued immediately. I didn't hang on long enough for an actual person to pick up. Insured the Yamaha this morning, footman James, £150. Does this sound reasonable?

 

[bert]

When I did mine I went to the post office and asked to tax and change to historic, they sorted the v5 and gave me the zero rate tax there and then.

 

[JOEPRO]

My oldest classic is a 1987 Mercedes saloon. I am very much looking forward to my cars starting to move into historic status. Mainly due to our norn Ireland MOT testers poking around at restored cars and trying to find problems that don't exist.

 

[minimutly]

When I did mine I went to the post office and asked to tax and change to historic, they sorted the v5 and gave me the zero rate tax there and then.

Good to hear, this is how it should happen but seems to be a bit patchy, depending on the PO...

 

[Morris]

Guide: changing to Historic Vehicle tax class BY POST | Retro Rides

Hi all, thought this might be useful for a few people on here. Reproduced from my blog. THE P

forum.retro-rides.org

 

[minimutly]

I just did an mib check and it returned not insured, obviously not enough time for it to get onto the updates. Will have to wait until Monday.

 

[colnerov]

The MIB are notorious for updating slowly and some of it is down to the individual insurance companies, it can take upto a week or more.

 

[Farside]

Hmm, I wonder if I popped into dvla Swansea I might stand a better chance to get it taxed same day? To be fair every time I've called in they have been really helpful.

They must keep the idiots for the postal side, then.

 

[Nomad]

MIB is known to be slow / inaccurate / incomplete, updates from the smaller specialist insurers (ie classic policies) are the worst for not showing up.

I've always had the insurance certificate emailed to me and printed that to keep in the car in case of any "Our computer says this car isn't insured - we can seize the vehicle here and now" (it's happened to me before!)

Printing your emailed certificate and taking that to the post office has always worked for me. Be lucky !

 

[colnerov]

They must keep the idiots for the postal side, then.

No, they answer the phones. Written replies are done by someone that have a bit more about them. I was told this by someone who worked for the civil service.

 

[Smallfry]

When I did mine I went to the post office and asked to tax and change to historic, they sorted the v5 and gave me the zero rate tax there and then.

Same here.

Did they ask you if you wanted 6 months, or a years (free) tax ? Oooooh, now let me think ........

 

[bert]

I can't remember now it was a few years ago, all online now

 

[minimutly]

So, I rang the dvla, the computer told me to take the v5 and mot exemption form to the local PO (Cardigan).
Nice helpful Lady said yes, no problem, checked mid, took the v5, gave me the green bit and a receipt, said she's done loads, "go get them leathers on"...
Result.
Took my Vmax trike out for its first spin in 2 years tonight, what a blast, mental thing. My grandson on the back went to bed with a massive grin..
Big thanks to all on here for the advice.