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Re-building or altering your vehicle

Sometimes, if a vehicle is rebuilt or altered from the manufacturers original specification, the identity of the vehicle may be called into question.

When allocating a registration number to a rebuilt or radically altered vehicle, DVLA’s main interest is to find out if the vehicle is newly constructed with no previous registered identity (in its present form). Vehicles that have been rebuilt or modified will need to be examined at a DVLA local office where they will check the vehicle record and history. This is to establish if the vehicle and its major parts have been subject to a Vehicle Identification Check (VIC) or Certificate of Destruction (CoD).

Vehicle Identification Check (VIC)

VIC has been introduced to stop criminals from disguising stolen cars with the identity of written off or scrapped ones. The check is to help confirm that the vehicle being returned to the road has been repaired following accident damage and has not been stolen.

Any vehicle, which has failed a VIC will not be entitled to keep its original registration number. Before you are able to register your vehicle you will need an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA), Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) or a Motorcycle Vehicle Approval (MSVA) certificate. The DVLA local office will then allocate a ‘Q’ registration number.

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) may reject your VIC application because it’s a rebuilt vehicle. If this happens, your DVLA local office will then need to assess the vehicle against its rebuild guidelines.

• Vehicle Identity Check

Certificate of Destruction (CoD)

Since 2003, cars, light vans and some tricycles (eg Reliant Robin) must be de-polluted to strict environmental standards at the end of their life. These vehicles must be scrapped at an authorised treatment facility (ATF). They will then issue a CoD confirming that the vehicle will be or has been dismantled.

These vehicles must never reappear as ‘complete’ vehicles or be presented for registration under these guidelines. Some minor components from a CoD or dismantled vehicle may be recycled. Parts from a dismantled vehicle bought from an ATF cannot be used as a donor registration for rebuilt, radically altered or kit conversion.

The original CoD vehicle registration number cannot be retained under any circumstances.

• What to do if your vehicle is scrapped or written off

Vehicles with attractive registration numbers

Not all registration numbers are transferable. Check your registration certificate (V5C) first. If it is transferable you should consider securing it before carrying out any alterations or conversions in case the entitlement to the number is lost.

• Transferring a registration mark and how to apply

• Registering a rebuilt vehicle

• Registering a kit built vehicle

• Registering a kit converted vehicle

• Registering a vehicle without identity

• Registering a reconstructed classic vehicle