Registering Rebuilt , Radically Altered Vehicles and Kit Cars
(An Extract from the DVLA Web site)

Before vehicles are used or kept on the public road they have to be properly licensed and registered. When a vehicle is first registered, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency allocates a registration number. This remains with the vehicle until it is broken up, destroyed, permanently exported or the mark is transferred to another vehicle.

Sometimes however, a vehicle needs to be rebuilt and this can call the identity of the vehicle into question. Is it the original which has simply been repaired? Or have so many new or different parts been used that the original vehicle no longer exists?

Vehicles which have been substantially rebuilt need to be examined by a Vehicle Registration Office [VRO], to assess whether the vehicle can retain its registration mark. This will depend on whether enough of the components come from the original vehicle.

A. Rebuilt Vehicles

In order to retain the original registration mark the vehicle must use :-

• Cars and Car-Derived Vans

The Original chassis/body shell, or a brand new one of the same specification as the original.  (supported by receipts from the dealer/manufacturer if it is not original).  [ Please note: if a second-hand chassis/body shell has been used the vehicle will be automatically allocated a Q prefix registration number].

And two other major components from the original vehicle

• Motorcycles

Frame (original or new)

And two other major components from the original vehicle

These are vehicles which are substantially altered from their original specification, but not usually kit conversions.

The major vehicle components have been assigned the numerical value set out in the table below. To retain the original registration number the vehicle must score eight or more points.

C. Kit Cars

The Agency considers a kit car to be one where all the parts of a vehicle are supplied new, by the manufacturer. Subject to the provision of satisfactory receipts and a Certificate of Newness, these vehicles will be registered under a current registration mark. Kit cars which have not more than one reconditioned component will also be registered under a current mark (subject to the provision of satisfactory evidence that the component has been reconditioned to an "as new" standard). An SVA test will be required prior to registration

D. Kit Conversions

A kit conversion is a kit of new parts added to an existing vehicle or old parts are added to a kit comprising a manufactured body/body shell. The appearance of the vehicle will be substantially altered the and the registration document should be amended to reflect the change.

A vehicle will retain its donor registration mark if the chassis and two other major components are used.

If a new body shell is used from a specialist kit manufacturer and two major components from a donor vehicle it will be re-registered under an alternative mark relating to the age of the components. An SVA test will be required prior to registration.

A vehicle which does not use sufficient parts from a donor vehicle or where the original registration is not known will be reregistered under a Q registration mark. An SVA test will be required.