DVLA and Rebuilding Vehicles

Because of my plans to rebuild my 1972 Series 3 109 and the helpful response of members to my query about fitting power steering, I obtained the latest Guidelines from DVLA (INF26) about the registration of rebuilt or radically altered vehicles. It became apparent that the Guidelines have considerable room for interpretation, so I compiled a list of specific questions to ask the Inspectorate at my DVLA local office who are charged with inspecting rebuilt vehicles and interpreting the Guidelines.

To date, DVLA Swansea have refused to allow me to contact my local office, although they do not have the necessary skills to answer the questions. The last straw with dealing with them was they said that I should go ahead and do what I want to do, provide the documentation and they will tell me AFTER THE EVENT (and after I have spent a considerable amount of money) whether what I had done was acceptable or not! I am at a point with them where, either they give me the facility to get the answers or I will involve my local MP who will get them for me.

It occurs to me that other members may well have specific questions regarding the Guidelines in INF26 that they would like specific answers to. If this is the case, let me have the questions and, if I haven't covered them, I will add them to my list for you and avoid a lot of hassle for all of us in the future.

Blackotter

Would be interesting to know if like-for-like improvements can include new replacements which have been improved upon the design. For instance, you can't get a new chassis anymore (correct me if I am wrong)...but you can get a spanking new galvanised chassis.

unless the vehical has been registerd as a rightoff the why even take it to the ministry
all i would do is rebuild the old girl as you want and just take it to the garage for standard mot
the ministry only need to get involved if your majorlly modifying a vehicle or reregistering a rightoff

Like the guys said above , just get it MOTed and sod the DVLA , Ive seen "series" built on 90 chassis etc and still holing the tax free reg

How naughty would it be say If i had a Q plate Disco and put it on an 88 inch chassis? with an ARC legal body??

If all you intend to do was put power steering on,one could hardly call that radically altering a vehicle.
I would have thought that as long as your insurance co was informed of a modification,and your not defrauding the ministry so to speak ,why open a can of worms?,as has been previously mentioned.

Not surprised DVLA dont have an off the shelf answer - no one else asks; they just get on with it...

Would suggest you do the same and have fun

My feeling is that they would class that mod as a radical alteration and it would be illegal, lets face it power steering is a lot more of a mod than a skull gearknob, or set of ally's.
However I agree with aforementioned comments, just do it and mot it, it will more likely than not pass, so long as it works and is safe, besides due dilligence applies, your not making a drag racer or fitting a super powerfull engine or making something thats a danger to you or others, actually what you want to do can be easily classed as a safety improvement.