BVRLA slams new vehicle registration certificate

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is to issue a restyled vehicle registration certificate (V5C). It will be sent to all newly registered vehicles from 15 August and all relicensed vehicles, or those subject to a statutory off-road notification (SORN), after July 2011. The DVLA says the move will help protect motorists from being sold vehicles with false documentation.

The new V5Cs have a predominantly red cover, replacing the current blue, and carry a statement confirming that a V5C is not proof of ownership. According to the government's Directgov website: "The re-designed V5C now makes it clear that it is not proof of ownership and will provide details of where you can get advice on how to avoid becoming the victim of vehicle crime."

In 2006 a large batch of blank V5Cs was stolen and the DVLA has admitted that the theft was a factor in its decision to revise the former design.

Approximately 31 million genuine V5Cs are in circulation. With the production and distribution cost for each new certificate estimated to be around £10, the BVRLA believes the de facto recall of old V5Cs will cost the DVLA £310m. The association regards the move as ill-considered given the disruption and administrative costs this change will impose on fleet owners. It has called for an urgent meeting with the DVLA to discuss the steps the agency should take to minimise the impact for all parties. One proposal the BVRLA intends to table is to only issue a new V5C to recognised fleet vehicles when they are sold and registered to a new keeper.

The old and new V5Cs can be compared on the Directgov website by clicking here...

To visit the BVRLA website or to become a member click here...

source: BVRLA