Registering the Long Wheel Base Doon in 2005
The original Beetle and it's unmodified chassis that I used for the LWB Doon already had a V5C and had been declared SORN since 1998.
The Beetle had become a Historic Vehicle for tax purposes under the then rolling 25 year rule in 1997.
Prior to the Doon going for its first MOT I insured it with Graham Sykes Insurance on the internet, their database had DOON LWB BUGGY with various engine sizes listed so I got a quote and arranged the insurance.
As soon as I received my insurance documents I amended the original V5C, I crossed out VOLKSWAGEN as the Make and wrote DOON beside it, also I crossed out 1300 BEETLE as the Model/Type and wrote LWB BUGGY beside it. The colour and cylinder capacity changes were detailed in the Changes to Current Vehicle section of the form:
I sent the amended V5C with a covering letter which included a link to my web site of photograghs and a Built Up Vehicle Inspection Report Form V627/1 to DVLA at Swansea:
Two weeks later my updated V5C arrived, DVLA had accepted all my changes and updated the Body type from Saloon to Special Purpose, so the Doon was now correctly registered:
I then got the Doon MOT tested, I used the updated V5C to ensure that the details on the MOT certificate matched the vehicle as this was before the computerised certificates started to be issued. After the test I went straight to the Post Office to get my Historic tax disc issued.
Original MOT Certificate and Tax Disc 2005
Note:
The MOT rule changes that came into effect on the 20th May 2018 stated cars, vans, motorcycles and other light passenger vehicles won’t need to have an MOT if:
The vehicle was built or first registered more than 40 years ago or no ‘substantial changes’ have been made to the vehicle in the last 30 years, for example replacing the chassis, body, axles or engine to change the way the vehicle works.
The body change in 2005 on a unmodified chassis was a 'substantial change' so the Doon still requires MOT testing on an annual basis.