Registers and Services

RRA Fact Sheet No.1

Lost and missing Registration marks - V765 Scheme etc

The DVLA at Swansea introduced a scheme in the 1990s, known as the V765 Scheme, whereby various clubs and societies were authorised to appoint a person who would act on their behalf in vetting applications for reclaiming of ‘Lost Registrations’. Genuine applications for the retrieval of index marks on steam and/or motor rollers which past owners have not registered on the Swansea computer may thus, under certain circumstances, have their previous registrations reissued.

However, this scheme is not as simple as one might have hoped. There are several caveats, the most important of which is that the applications will only be considered for complete vehicles, more or less ready for the road. Applications have to be forwarded through one of the specialist Historic Vehicle Clubs for authentication and the Road Roller Association is on the DVLA’s list of recognised organisations for this purpose (See Form V765/1).

There will be a charge for this service to cover its costs, as detailed below. An inspection of the roller will be necessary and an extra charge will be levied to cover a proportion of the travel costs for an RRA Officer, or a nominated representative, to call and examine the machine concerned.

There are two categories of application to be considered to register a roller under its original number:

1. Those which may have already been issued with an age related mark, (i.e. SU/SV/BS/DS etc).
2. Those referred to as ‘new’ cases: i.e. those which have not been issued with an age-related mark and are therefore not on the Swansea computer.

The following need to be submitted to the DVLA by the Club's nominated Officer.

Category 1. Vehicles to which age-related marks have been issued.

1a) V765 - ‘Application to Register a Vehicle under its Original Number’.

1b) Old style ‘Buff’ log book. If this is not available, the DVLA may consider other traceable documentary evidence that the vehicle was previously registered under the mark claimed - such as an authenticated Archive Office detail or an authenticated copy of the roller’s Build Register, supported by brass rubbings or photos of any identifying marks on the machine.

1c) Photographs of the machine in its complete condition showing where the relevant identifying marks are located.

1d) New style registration document (V5 or V5C) bearing the previously issued age-related number.

Note: There is no need to include a V55/5 with this 1d) category of application.

Category 2. New Cases.

a) V55/5 – titled ‘Application for First Licence for a Motor Vehicle and Declaration for Registration’.

b) V765 – titled ‘Application to Register a Vehicle under its Original Number’.

c) Old style log book and/or other documentary evidence as in Category 1b) above.

d) Photographs of the machine in its complete condition showing where the relevant identifying marks are located.

Note: Forms V55/5 and V765 referred to above are downloadable from the DVLA’s website.

In either category, the forms concerned, after completion by the applicant, require to be sent to the address below. The RRA’s V765 Authenticating Officer will then arrange for an inspection of the roller to be carried out and on receipt of the completed Inspection Form, will send all the paperwork to the DVLA, along with a covering letter. This will only be done when the Officer is satisfied that the application is valid and sufficient traceable documentary evidence has been provided. Please note – laminated documentation is not acceptable. If it is not considered that the application is reasonable, the documents will be returned to the applicant and the Officer is bound to inform the DVLA that an application for that index mark has been refused and he will recommend another relevant course of action.

The DVLA will consider each case on receipt of the appropriate information, duly authorised by the Officer. Applicants will be advised of their success or failure in due course. Whilst it is possible to check details of index marks previously issued to steam vehicles through the good offices of the Road Locomotive Society’s Records Officer, motor roller information is sometimes much more difficult to obtain. In this respect, the Association’s Motor Roller Registrar may be able to help.

It is clear from the foregoing that the responsibility placed by the DVLA on all Clubs and Associations that are party to the V765 scheme is an onerous one. DVLA have reserved the right to verify any or all recommendations and it was obvious during the early life of the scheme that all applications were being carefully checked.

It is pleasing to note, however, that with some meticulous and sometimes extensive research, RRA applications have generally been successful. This has been achieved by being extremely careful that only genuine cases are approved and that they are supported by the appropriate traceable documentary evidence. Clearly the Association does not want to loose the privilege that has been granted to it and very thorough consideration is given to each application as it is presented. With this in mind, some patience is requested whilst applying under this scheme. There will almost certainly be occasional delays in the process, caused by the necessity of verifying facts and gathering information – and also holiday periods. Please be patient and do not submit claims that you know to be false; you will be making extra work and there will be no hesitation in refusing any application that is in any way dubious or that cannot be adequately substantiated.

In so far as the RRA is concerned, V765 applications are for the taxation class of ‘Historic Vehicle’. In view of the definition by the DLVA of Radically Altered Vehicles (RAV), any applications for vehicles that come under the RAV category, which bring them out of the ‘Historic Vehicle’ taxation class category, will be referred to the DVLA at Swansea for them to be dealt with separately. This is when the vehicle’s present form is not that in which it was when built or when it was originally issued with the registration mark being claimed.

It should be noted that registration marks received as a result of V765 applications are non-transferable. Also, registrations originally issued in the Republic of Ireland cannot be re-issued.

The fee payable for this service is £15.00 for members of the RRA; (£30.00 for non-RRA members) and this fee must be enclosed with the application. Members must also include their current membership card with the original application. Cheques should be made payable to the RRA for steam and motor roller applications. A mandatory visit by an RRA representative is required by the DVLA to inspect and verify the roller’s details and an additional charge of up to £40.00 will be payable for this.

Applications should be sent to:-

RRA Lost Registrations,
c/o DARayner, "Invicta",
9, Beagle Ridge Drive, Acomb,
YORK YO24 3JH.

If anyone is unsure how to fill in the forms quoted above, or requires assistance with the sources of provision of the suitable traceable objective evidence necessary to support applications, then please contact the Officer concerned who now has a considerable knowledge and experience of how to satisfy the DVLA's requirements in these respects. His advice is only a letter or email away. Please do not telephone, as the situation may be complicated and require some considerable research before a considered reply can be given and this is not always possible over the phone.

Dating letters – see RRA Fact Sheet No 2 for more details.

Dating letters for imported rollers or for those not previously issued with a registration mark can also be provided on receipt of similar traceable documentary evidence as indicated above. The fee for this service is £10 or £20 for a non-member. However, a mandatory visit by an RRA representative is required by the DVLA to inspect and verify the roller’s details and an additional charge of up to £40.00 will be payable for this service.

Note: When a V5C is received, check all the details on it are correct and what you expect. If incorrect details are found, photocopy the form as it is - keep the copy - and return the original newly-issued V5C to Swansea and enclose a note explaining the error(s). Another V5C, hopefully correct this time, will be issued. When satisfied that the V5C is correct, take it to a Licence-issuing Post Office together with the vehicle’s Certificate of Insurance; complete other paperwork as required and obtain verification in the form of a receipt that the roller is taxed for the road.

DEREK A RAYNER CEng. MIMechE.
RRA V765 Authenticating Officer
Vice Chairman and Steam Archivist - Road Roller Association
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