Correct year number plate

Hello,
I bought a series III last year and am in the process of bringing it back to life.

The car is stated in the v5c as a 1981 and first registered in 08/81 however the number plate is a prefix ‘B’ indicating a 1984 year.
Does anyone know how this could come about, my understanding is that a number plate should not make a car look younger than it is but can make it look older? I should have a suffix ‘X’ plate right?

I’ve contacted DVLA with the same question and they have requested that I send the v5c back along with a cover letter. Question is is this an itch best left un scratched? Is there a chance I could end up unearthing some dodgy past and cause myself an issue. That said I would like an age relevant plate if possible. The Suffix one just look better on classic cars in my opinion.
Any help appreciated.

mike_rotheram said:

Hello,
I bought a series III last year and am in the process of bringing it back to life.

The car is stated in the v5c as a 1981 and first registered in 08/81 however the number plate is a prefix ‘B’ indicating a 1984 year.
Does anyone know how this could come about, my understanding is that a number plate should not make a car look younger than it is but can make it look older? I should have a suffix ‘X’ plate right?

I’ve contacted DVLA with the same question and they have requested that I send the v5c back along with a cover letter. Question is is this an itch best left un scratched? Is there a chance I could end up unearthing some dodgy past and cause myself an issue. That said I would like an age relevant plate if possible. The Suffix one just look better on classic cars in my opinion.
Any help appreciated.

Click to expand...

It will cost you £80 but I’d put B the plate on retention then DLVA would issue an age related plate. Or you could buy an X prefix though this would cost The £80 plus the price of the plate. I’d go for the first option.

Our car is 59 but the number plate suggests 63, I reckon in the past someone wanted the plate for their car, maybe the same happened to yours?

Yes, X is 1981, B is 1984. I think you can rule out an 'identity' swap for tax or MOT purposes, as neither an '81 or '84 year fall under the 40 exemption (yet).

Is the 'B' followed by three numbers and three letters (ie a bog standard plate) or is it a private plate beginning with a 'B'? (sorry).

A 1981 model will have the rear tail lamps and indicators grouped together at the top of the rear corner capping (as per Series 2). A 1984 model will have the indicators separate at the bottom of the capping (beneath the level of the numberplate) with the tail lamps remaining at the top.

Are you satisfied that the VIN number on the documents corresponds with the bulkhead plate and/or the one stamped on the chassis?

Do nothing until you are quite sure this is a good idea. There's no pressing need. If the plate is too new DVLA may issue a correct one free, they did for me, but until you have all matching numbers and are sure about that do nothing.

I had this with a car that was made in 1979 and first registered in EIRE in the same year, i imported it into the UK in 1997 and the dvla initially issued me a 1997 plate, despite me filling out the forms correctly, once i contacted them about it they issued me an age related number plate for free

It’s a B 3 numbers then 3 letters. Unfortunately the stamped chassis number is long gone but the bulkhead matches the v5c and the v5c clearly has the number plate and the earlier first registration date of 01/08/1981. The car is a bit of a triggers broom with an older 3 bearing engine and a front diff from a IIa, both axels with 10 spline diffs.

When I spoke to DVLA they said the registration can’t be retained as the car has been sorned for more than 1 year in the last 5 I could however try by post which could take 8 weeks.

when I questioned about the plate they said it was definitely not correct I should write to them so they could investigate the matter further.....

Where was this first registered?
I have seen A plate S3 .so your motor may have sat in a garage for some time then sold cheap as coils were coming out

My ex-mil was registered when it entered civvy use, some used overseas were similarly registered when they came into the UK. There was no concern for the age of the registration. Now its all different and if the reg is newer the DVLA will change it for free. They did for me.

There is something not right here...where on the V5 does it say first reg in 81 and where does it say date of reg 84...look at this V5...

Shippers said:

There is something not right here...where on the V5 does it say first reg in 81 and where does it say date of reg 84...look at this V5... View attachment 232175

Click to expand...

[GALLERY=] [/GALLERY]

The vehicle log book I posted is a 101 Forward Control built in 75 released by mod in 97 and reg in that year as V5 shows but it also says previously registered but not when...it has been given an age related plate KLG 68N not a 97 plate number as the first registered date....to add to the mix it´s being matriculated here in Portugal and wont be given an age related plate so the bastards can collect the current tax on it every year...to sum up I reckon the 81 reg date might be an input error on the V5 how many owners has it had...have you checked chassis number for build date as you cant swop a reg plate to a vehicle that makes it younger as you know...

What is the lighting arrangement at the rear of the vehicle on the corner cappings?
As previously mentioned, this will differentiate an '81 and '84 series 3, provided it still has the original rear tub/hasn't been bastardised.

BaldRick84 said:

What is the lighting arrangement at the rear of the vehicle on the corner cappings?
As previously mentioned, this will differentiate an '81 and '84 series 3, provided it still has the original rear tub/hasn't been bastardised.

Click to expand...

Looks to be the earlier style from your description. From the condition and two colours of the bodywork being consistent throughout I would say that the majority if not all of the panels are original.

BaldRick84 said:

What is the lighting arrangement at the rear of the vehicle on the corner cappings?
As previously mentioned, this will differentiate an '81 and '84 series 3, provided it still has the original rear tub/hasn't been bastardised.

Click to expand...

Which means it is of no revelance...the point is was it first reg in 81 or 84 and which is correct on the V5 the plate number which is 84 or first reg date 81 you cant have both one is wrong...never mind what bits have been fitted that is immaterial to the fact the V5 needs clarification...personally I´d do nothing and just own and drive it and dont go near DVLA....

Agreed, the up side is some slightly tidier paperwork, the downside is 6 months of letter writing with the DVLA and you may end up where you started. Chances of DVLA sorting anything out are vey slim as they are having big problems with COVID

Shippers said:

Which means it is of no revelance...the point is was it first reg in 81 or 84 and which is correct on the V5 the plate number which is 84 or first reg date 81 you cant have both one is wrong...never mind what bits have been fitted that is immaterial to the fact the V5 needs clarification...personally I´d do nothing and just own and drive it and dont go near DVLA....

Click to expand...

Don't be so quick to shoot the question down. I didn't say anything about bits being added. I said if the body work is original and the vehicle had had the later style lighting arrangement, then it couldn't have been registered in '81, thus you would have a good indicator that '81 on the V5 was the date that was wrong. It wouldn't have been definitive, but it would have been a good indicator to begin with.
Helpfully the OP has posted a picture showing the earlier lighting arrangement, so that still leaves the year of 81 or 84 in play regards to registration.
You are right that both dates obviously can't be right and the V5 needs clarifying.

BaldRick84 said:

Don't be so quick to shoot the question down. I didn't say anything about bits being added. I said if the body work is original and the vehicle had had the later style lighting arrangement, then it couldn't have been registered in '81, thus you would have a good indicator that '81 on the V5 was the date that was wrong. It wouldn't have been definitive, but it would have been a good indicator to begin with.
Helpfully the OP has posted a picture showing the earlier lighting arrangement, so that still leaves the year of 81 or 84 in play regards to registration.
You are right that both dates obviously can't be right and the V5 needs clarifying.

Click to expand...

What I meant is that if you assume the earlier lights indicate 81 and not 84 there is no guarantee that due to say accident damage the tub was replaced and that earlier type was fitted as being available at the time so could be an 84...a lot of ifs and buts I know but not unusual with Land Rovers of that age and type given most were in those days bought for work purposes not school runs\green laning....lol

I was always told to avoid the dvla/dvsa at all costs.
Any time they want my hgv licence I always say I have lost it so I get to keep the original, so if they mess up my new one I can say aha I have now found the otiginal and look you have it wrong.
S2 with tdi all it says on the lobook is diesel, and thats all they need to know! does not matter if it its 2052cc or 5000cc it is not doing them out of money so no harm done.

UPDATE: I applied for a heritage certificate and it came back with a build date of June 1980. I then contacted DVLA the person that I spoke to told me that in their opinion if I sent in the V5c and the heritage cert the most likely outcome would be a new plate applicable to the year of manufacture or first reg although it would be up to the person who does the investigation to decide the outcome. What's the worst that can happen right?