MVT Vehicle Verification Service

To register a restored vehicle for use on the road, the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency) require proof of the year in which it was built.  The MVT are authorised by the DVLA to do this.
To help more people to "restore and conserve" their ex-military vehicles and get them back on the road, the MVT run a Vehicle Verification service. 

Our Verification Officer is Richard Adams who is very experienced and works closely with the DVLA.
Our Verification Service supports members with their applications to the DVLA for a Vehicle Registration Document (Form V55/5) or to retrieve an existing registration number (Form V765).

Unlike some other verification services, our service is not just a desktop report; we offer advice throughout the restoration process and send an authorised MVT Verification Inspector to visit every vehicle to ensure that the verification is thorough and accurate.  We can also support appeals against a Q plate within 12 months of the original application.

How does the process work?

We recommend that you consider the verification process at the start of a restoration process and seek advice from Richard, our Verification Officer, at an early stage.  Many members contact him for advice before they have even purchased a project; his advice always proves extremely helpful.

We also recommend that members have a realistic timescale of how long it takes for the MVT to verify the vehicle (which depends on your location, but usually 2-3 weeks) and then the DVLA to process the application (which is currently on average 4 weeks). Please discuss this with our Verification Officer.  
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When you are ready to register your vehicle and have it inspected, please submit an application letter (see below).
You can only apply for a verification inspection if your vehicle is 90% complete,  including all major components, and it is running to appropriate MOT standards. The DVLA will not register an incomplete or unroadworthy vehicle. If your vehicle was built overseas, whatever the date, you will need a NOVA (Notification of Vehicle Arrivals) certificate and number from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Please apply for this form online here. If the vehicle has been recently imported, this may be with your import agent’s paperwork. It shows that custom duties have been paid.

When your vehicle is complete and roadworthy

​Please send your application in an email letter with the following information and scanned copies of your original paperwork. We can only accept applications by email.
  1. Your full name with no abbreviations
  2. Your contact address, including post code
  3. Your contact telephone number
  4. Your email address
  5. The address where the vehicle will be inspected including post code
  6. Your MVT membership number, if applicable
  7. The full vehicle chassis or hull number
  8. The vehicle engine number
  9. Two good quality, clear recent photographs of the vehicle as it will be seen by our inspector
  10. One good quality photograph showing the chassis number clearly
  11. The following wording must be included in the letter: “ I freely give this information to the MVT with the understanding that it will only be used for my vehicle verification application subject to the Data Protection Act 2018.”  Your data will be held by the MVT for 12 months only and then destroyed
  12. If your vehicle was built overseas, please scan your NOVA certificate and attach it to your application email
  13. Please provide as much additional information as possible, including the history of the vehicle and any relevant scanned copies of proof of ownership documents, sales receipts, etc. This may help with confirmation of verification and dating of the vehicle: the more  information the better
  14. Do not send the verification service fee with your initial email
  15. You will receive a confirmation email and a vehicle inspection will be organised
  16. Our vehicle inspectors are all unpaid volunteers and long serving members of the MVT and are authorised and appointed by the MVT Verification Officer. Many have professional vehicle inspection qualifications They travel to inspect your vehicle in their own time and only ask you to pay a fixed rate of 45p per mile (reviewed annually) towards their travelling expenses from their home address to your site and return. We have inspectors throughout the UK and one should never be too far away from you. They will contact you directly and agree a price for the travel expenses for inspection. Please pay the inspector at the time of the inspection. Payments are non-returnable so please ensure your vehicle is in a ready condition for verification inspection
  17. Your local MVT authorised inspector will then visit and check the vehicle to confirm it as it is as described in the application, that the chassis and engine numbers are as stated, that it is 90% complete and roadworthy and up to the MOT standard
  18. Once the vehicle has been checked, the inspector will send their report back to the MVT Verification Officer. After consideration and providing the vehicle has been verified as genuine and there are no issues or problems, we will issue a formal letter to you to present to the DVLA in support of your registration application
  19. If any problems are found, you will be sent a copy of the inspector’s report with recommendations and any further inspection will need to be re-inspected with further associated travelling expenses being charged.  This is why it is important to ensure your vehicle is ready for the first inspection
  20. When you receive your verification letter from the MVT, you can apply to the DVLA for registration
  21. Please note that the DVLA reserves the right to have your vehicle inspected by their own contractors at your premises in addition to our inspection
  22. Inspection reports only apply for 12 months - if you delay sending in the paperwork, you may need to pay for a reinspection .

Individual Members

The main aim of the MVT verification service is to help  members get their vehicle verified. As a benefit for continuous membership, we offer one free verification per membership year, subject to conditions.

A second application in the same year, is available at a reduced cost shown below.  In circumstances where a member in any membership year has already applied for two verifications, the MVT considers them as a commercial business and the commercial fee rate will apply.

​A new member will be charged at the reduced rate shown below and non-members will be charged the full private rate. All fees subject to the inspection expenses fee (see note 16)

Businesses

For commercial businesses, the fee shown below will be charged for verification services plus the inspector’s costs (see note 16).
A VAT invoice is issued for the inspection fee.

Many of our members own ex-military vehicles and may be customers of such commercial businesses and the MVT ask them to consider helping us offer this mutually beneficial service by advertising with our magazine "Windscreen".

Please contact Ian Young for details:
MVT MEMBERS
with OVER 12 months
membership
  • This cost is for one vehicle.
  • Additional inspection fee applies (see above).
  • One extra verification within a year will be charged at £25 inc VAT
  • Further verifications will be charged at commercial business rates.
MVT MEMBERS
with LESS than 12 months membership
  • This cost is for one vehicle.
  • Additional inspection fee applies (see above).
  • Two verifications per year can be charged at this rate.
  • Further verifications will be charged at commercial business rates.
NON MEMBERS
  • This cost is for one vehicle.
  • Additional inspection fee applies (see above).
  • Two verifications per year will be charged at this rate.
  • Further verifications will be charged at commercial business rates.
COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES
  • This cost is for one vehicle.
  • Additional inspection fee applies (see above).
  • Unlimited applications
If you have any queries, please contact Richard by completing the contact form, sending an email to [email protected] or telephoning the MVT helpline 03333 218977 and choosing the option  (Verification Officer)