I forgot that I started this thread at the beginning of the year. Therefore, in the spirit of transparency of where I am with the formal registration document confirming the changes, here’s an update:
I wrote to the DVLA on the 20th February providing the following:
• The car’s existing V5C
• V627/1 Built up vehicle report
• Receipt for the purchase of the electric motor and batteries
• Information regarding the commercially available kit and garage that supported the build
• Photographs of the car demonstrating the build
• I also completed a V55/C although I’m not sure if this was necessary
They wrote back to me on the 17th March and told me the following was required for them to process the conversion:
1. The car must have a valid MOT to apply for a change in tax class and fuel type
2. The car must be taxed (as a petrol car). It was SORN at the time
3. I must provide a letter from the company that completed the conversion
They then reissued me with a new V5c, identical to the one I’d just sent them.
All three of these requests were somewhat daft for obvious reasons. Even the third point is no guarantee that the conversion has been completed in a safe and professional manner. Other than the MOT, there’s no specific inspection relative to the conversion (due to a change of just two major components according to DVLA logic).
Anyway, I got the car MOT’d by our local garage on the 1st May (it was delayed due to covid). The inspector even confirmed that the system allowed the fuel type to be input as “ELECTRICITY” on the system. The car passed and I had an MOT certificate confirming the car was roadworthy and that the fuel type was electric. Happy days..... or so I thought.
*Note that the DVLA shut down almost entirely from March through to June.
On the 3rd May, upon being in possession of a valid MOT certificate, I taxed the car immediately and wrote back to the DVLA. I included a letter from the garage that built the LDU mounting kit and supported the build.
I called the DVLA on the 19th August for an update. After being on hold for nearly 40 minutes, I was told that the relevant department has all of the information they need to process the application, however they were running approximately 8 weeks behind. No problem I thought, I’ll wait.
Today is the 1st October and I am yet to hear anything. I called again this morning – things must be improving as it only took 10 minutes to answer the phone this time (after spending 5 minutes navigating their automated phone menu). The advisor told me that nothing had changed since my last call and that she didn’t even have the means to speak to the relevant department. She offered to send an internal communication to them and ask for a response.
So, I’m presently in limbo. Driving an electric car but taxing it as an ICE. The £25 a month road tax is chipping away at me.
I’ve kept the insurance company informed and they don’t seem bothered by the DVLA bureaucracy and advised in writing that I’m still covered comprehensively.
I've made a note to call the DVLA again in a week's time.
.