We ve recently bought a beautiful old Clouliner in from Luxembourg.
They were sold in the UK in LHD and RHD form so you would think registering it should be reasonably straightforward - oh no.
I was pretty sure that I didnt need a CofC but enquired before I sent the paperwork in and was told by the webchat (they still weren't answering the phone at that stage) that I didnt need it because of the age of it. So paperwork duly dispatched recorded delivery was signed for on the 19th August. 5 weeks later I received a letter refusing registration because there was no type approval ( the UK version). By this time I was able to telephone them and was told again that I didnt need it because of the age, the chap on the phone went away and checked and came back and quite categorically stated that ' its not needed for any vehicle over 10 years old'. So what do I do? send it back in with a covering letter, so up to the post office, guaranteed recorded. signed for the next day.
It then occurred to me that I had previously sent a covering letter with the same information and the same person who hadn't read it last time was about to get it again and presumably not bother reading this one so I called to clarify and was advised that it would be moved up to the priority team. I duly received a phone call from them promising to expedite it. Fair enough so believing it was a mere formality got all packed up ready to go.
A couple of days later i received a phone call from a very pleasant lady at DVLA who initially said she didnt know what the problem was but she was on the case and could we communicate by email ( despite it being on all the forms and recorded during the 2 subsequent phone calls she didnt have it), We then dicussed what it could be and on discovering it was PHGV told me that because its an HGV its 25 years before it does need type approval so i would need an IVA. I queried this because a Motorhome is M1 and a lorry is N1 and was told that was 'possibly' the reason but she would need to look into it.
Just in case, I called the testing people who after telling me how safe they were keeping everyone by not doing any work eventually answered and told me that they don't test anything over 10 years old. so I emailed the following:
Me
I ve got through to DVSA and they tell me I can't have an IVA test because its over 10 years old its out of scope.
If it was a vehicle less than 10 years old i would be presenting a certificate of conformity and a letter from an MOT station stating that the Speedometer and rear fog lamp arrangement are suitable for use on UK roads. So as its too old to need a CofC surely its just the letter that I need? or am I missing something?
DVLA
Before I answer your question I’ll need to wait to see the application before I can confirm.
So despite sending it to them in their own envelope with a persons name and a reference on it and it being signed for 9 days ago they apparently cannot find it. According to what I'm being told if you send something to them on a 'signed for; service, the local sorting office sign for it and deliver it when they feel like it.
AFAICS the only bit I'm missing is the letter for the MOT station to sign to say its suitable to drive on UK roads (which is somewhat because I only want to use the motorway between here and the tunnel) Has anyone got a copy of this so I can get it sorted?
Jon
They were sold in the UK in LHD and RHD form so you would think registering it should be reasonably straightforward - oh no.
I was pretty sure that I didnt need a CofC but enquired before I sent the paperwork in and was told by the webchat (they still weren't answering the phone at that stage) that I didnt need it because of the age of it. So paperwork duly dispatched recorded delivery was signed for on the 19th August. 5 weeks later I received a letter refusing registration because there was no type approval ( the UK version). By this time I was able to telephone them and was told again that I didnt need it because of the age, the chap on the phone went away and checked and came back and quite categorically stated that ' its not needed for any vehicle over 10 years old'. So what do I do? send it back in with a covering letter, so up to the post office, guaranteed recorded. signed for the next day.
It then occurred to me that I had previously sent a covering letter with the same information and the same person who hadn't read it last time was about to get it again and presumably not bother reading this one so I called to clarify and was advised that it would be moved up to the priority team. I duly received a phone call from them promising to expedite it. Fair enough so believing it was a mere formality got all packed up ready to go.
A couple of days later i received a phone call from a very pleasant lady at DVLA who initially said she didnt know what the problem was but she was on the case and could we communicate by email ( despite it being on all the forms and recorded during the 2 subsequent phone calls she didnt have it), We then dicussed what it could be and on discovering it was PHGV told me that because its an HGV its 25 years before it does need type approval so i would need an IVA. I queried this because a Motorhome is M1 and a lorry is N1 and was told that was 'possibly' the reason but she would need to look into it.
Just in case, I called the testing people who after telling me how safe they were keeping everyone by not doing any work eventually answered and told me that they don't test anything over 10 years old. so I emailed the following:
Me
I ve got through to DVSA and they tell me I can't have an IVA test because its over 10 years old its out of scope.
If it was a vehicle less than 10 years old i would be presenting a certificate of conformity and a letter from an MOT station stating that the Speedometer and rear fog lamp arrangement are suitable for use on UK roads. So as its too old to need a CofC surely its just the letter that I need? or am I missing something?
DVLA
Before I answer your question I’ll need to wait to see the application before I can confirm.
So despite sending it to them in their own envelope with a persons name and a reference on it and it being signed for 9 days ago they apparently cannot find it. According to what I'm being told if you send something to them on a 'signed for; service, the local sorting office sign for it and deliver it when they feel like it.
AFAICS the only bit I'm missing is the letter for the MOT station to sign to say its suitable to drive on UK roads (which is somewhat because I only want to use the motorway between here and the tunnel) Has anyone got a copy of this so I can get it sorted?
Jon
and hope you can still get away before the winter weather arrives. 
