Having imported our Tiffin Motorhome from the US to the UK I am having a long and ongoing problem (18 Months) with the DVLA with regards to registering my RV and getting the authorities to accept my “date of first registration”
I am trying to obtain details of anyone else that has had similar problems importing their vehicles, as my complaint has gone as far as the Parliamentary Ombudsman (which is as far as it can go). The investigating team has asked if I can provide them with any other owners/importers who have had same/similar problems.
From here on it gets really technical and boring but it’s worth explaining what happened to me as the same situation exists today and anyone else importing can get the same unfortunate treatment and errors.
Exporting from the US was simple, straightforward and a pretty good experience; US customs reviewed my paperwork and stamped my title document - job done.
Our vehicle arrived in the UK and within 24 hours British Customs had cleared the vehicle; Signature Motorhomes could pick it up and transported it to their facility for conversion to comply with European specifications (lights, alarm system, 240V, etc.).
During the conversion I was required to send a multitude of documents to NOVA (Notification of Vehicle Arrival) who are primarily interested in importation tax, (as we had been outside the UK for more than a year there was no tax to pay). NOVA contacted DVLA and gave their OK.
Signature completed the conversion and took the vehicle to DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) where they completed an IVA (Individual vehicle approval) test. This is quite a new and comprehensive examination since 2012 when all EU member states agreed a standard test.
So, having paid a lot of money and once again sent all the appropriate documents (the same documents sent to NOVA) to DVSA; they issued an IVA approval document, which was sent to the DVLA.
All that is left is to make an application to the DVLA to register the RV; once again all of the documents that I have sent to NOVA and DVSA are required along with the application and of course the applicable fee.
DVLA tied together all of the documents from other authorities, a number plate is issued and we are now done, driving home fat, dumb but happy.
A month later my V5C (Vehicle Registration Document) arrived with lots of errors, omissions and missing information. OK so we all make mistakes but this was really a mess, the biggest error being the DVLA had registered my vehicle as 01/01/2012, Now this is strange as it was not even built in January of 2012 as we ordered it to be delivered from Red Bay to Nashville and registered it in Montana on 26th June 2012
I have now been able to find out that for RV imports (specifically from the USA) the DVLA primarily use the US Title Document date for registration purposes, this date only refers to the Year of manufacture hence 01/01/2012.
Should the customer complain you have the option to supply a ‘Date of Manufacture’ document BUT it must be supplied on the manufacturers headed paper with a supporting letter (not very useful if your vehicle sat in the dealer’s showroom for a period although still classified as “New”)
At this time I still have not been able to convince the DVLA to accept my Montana registration document.
The Parliamentary Ombudsman has written to me as the DVLA have gone into print stating, “they have never had a complaint relating to any motorhome registration dates. I have refuted this statement as I have spoken to many owners that have had similar problems to myself but have chosen not to follow their long and frustrating complaints procedure.
If any of you have experienced any similar issues, would you kindly let me know – it may help the case and then get changes made. You don’t need to have made an official complaint, as the Ombudsman will investigate the process carried out when your vehicle was imported. So just the registration number of your vehicle
You can either contact me at kevin.walters@btinternet.com or direct to the Parliamentarian ombudsman caroline.mills@ombudsman.org.uk quoting reference PA-218345
Thanks for any assistance
