Engine Swap and the DVLA

[DropKickMurphy]

Hi all,

dont want to put the cat among the pigeons but has anyone else seen the brief article on page 24 of this months Practical Classics magazine entitled 'DVLA targets engine changes'?

the article suggests that the DVLA are refusing to issue V5C documents to owners of re-engined cars unless the owner can provide history for the origin of the replacement engine. apparently the owner of the vehicle will need to provide details of the engine's supplier and full details of the car which it originally came from, in order to combat part theft.

Now i need a new engine for my scirocco, however the only one i can find is off Ebay from a company who specialise in 2nd hand engines, what is the likelyhood that they would know the specific donor vehicle it came from? obviously they could say its from a Mk2 golf for example, but what if they cannot be any more specific than that?

I have checked Direct.gov on this but there is nothing i can find on the subject of engine swaps other than that this:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/ChangesToYourRegistrationCertificate/DG_4022054

does anyone else have any more info on this?

DKM

[zollaf]

i havnt read the article myself, but what about buying a reconditioned engine from a reputable supplier. it will have a different number to yours, and you then give your old unit back to be rebuilt and sold on. so will you have to prove its history ?
imho this is unenforcable and will just result in more people not informing dvla. more red tape made up by a jobsworth who has to prove his/her existance or face the chop with all these govt cutbacks.

[DropKickMurphy]

I agree that it will just mean more people dont declare modifications to cars to the DVLA and it will be difficult to enforce - however it doesnt specify what the penalty is if someone chooses not to tell the DVLA.

my concern is that even if a supplier is reputable they may not have detailed records of the origin of an engine, or any other part for that matter, as historically there was no requirement for this. surely most companies would have felt at the time of dismantling all that was needed was to take the model number and part code in order to sell the parts on - what will happen to these? will the whole lot have to be consigned to the bin if the supplier has neglected to take note of the VIN and Reg (which is the way the DVLA would track it, i assume) of the vehicale that the parts originally came from?

apparently the DVLA were unavailable for comment on the issue before PC went to press, so we shall have to see if there is a follow up in next months copy...

DKM

[Eshrules]

it's complete and utter tosh.

What the DVLA need to be targeting is the likes of these 1.2 corsas running redtop engines.

not expecting those who are replacing like for like - there has to be a line drawn somewhere.

I mean, to enforce this would mean a complete industry overhaul. From the moment a car is broken or parts removed, each and every one would have to be catalogued, with the VIN, Reg plate and other details the anally retentive DVLA require.

Most people who simply replace the engine, like for like, don't even bother informing the DVLA.

You can probably tell, this one makes my urine boil - I'm as honest as they come, but sometimes red tape just narks me. Insurance is another one, you try telling (for instance) your insurance that you've done an engine swap, as you're supposed to. The hoops you have to jump through are ridiculous. It's no wonder people don't bother declaring half the mods.

Of course, as a mod and law abiding citizen, that's not something I'd recommend you do.