proof of date of manufacture

peanut

XS650 enthusiast & inveterate tinkerer
Top Contributor
Messages
4,054
Reaction score
2,828
Points
263
Location
England
Whats the easiest /best way to obtain proof of date of manufacture ?

The UK Government recently introduced a 40 year rolling program of 'Historic' vehicle tax and MOT test exemption which potentially can save around £146.00 or $196.00 which is not to be sniffed at when you're surviving on a State pension .;)

The issue I have is that the previous owner who imported the bike from the US stated the year of registration as 1979 to the UK DVLA (dept of vehicle licensing agency) .

Using the registration date I will have to wait another 12 months before the bike will be eligible .

However if I can 'prove' to the DVLA that the bike was manufactured in 1978 (which is was) I can register it exempt immediately thereby saving myself some dough .

The DVLA will not accept a simple photograph of the bikes frame label and stamp the dumb fc*ks are demanding proof from Yamaha :umm:

As the bike was first registered in Idaho I was wondering if there was any likelihood of any records surviving or anyone can suggest any other solution ?
xs650 date of manufacture copy.JPG
 
There is no way to get any records like that from a US state DMV.
Drive the bike into their office? Don't know of ANYTHING that could be more authoritative than that DOT REQUIRED official manufacturing label. Seriously that is the gold standard, the manufacturer could face serious consequences for lying on that label.
 
Last edited:
I was hoping that there might be some Government site with historic vehicle registration records or a yamaha date of manufacture record perhaps.

Many years ago there used to be local Government DVLA offices around the UK which you could drive your vehicle to to be inspected.

Since the recession they have all been closed and now there is only 1 office and they don't inspect vehicles anymore.

Usually DVLA insist on a dating verification letter from a relevant club but its expensive and there is no guaranty they'll accept that .
Every DVLA officer I speak to has a different take on this so I might just try sending lots of photographs with my application and see what happens.

I could just wait a year but $200 is $200 and I can't afford to just throw that away.;)
 
I was hoping that there might be some Government site with historic vehicle registration records or a yamaha date of manufacture record perhaps.
Nope.

Bureaucrat roulette was what I was thinking also. A matter of finding one with their head extracted from their, well you know. :poo:
 
What about an affidavit from a local dealer in the UK that “interprets” the manufacturers sticker. If you spent 50 quid and had it drawn up by a solicitor, it might be worth it....
 
What about an affidavit from a local dealer in the UK that “interprets” the manufacturers sticker. If you spent 50 quid and had it drawn up by a solicitor, it might be worth it....

yes you would have thought that the DVLA would accept an affidavit from a local Solicitor or other Professional person just as they do for passports and other documents but they don't ...:rolleyes:

if their offices were a bit nearer I'd ride over there and drag someone out by their ear and say look there it is ok !
There is a vintage Japanese bike club in the UK ai'll try contact them and see if they can help if I grease their palms:)
 
Well I called Yamaha USA and they dont have records for the bike. They go back to about 1990. It was a shot in the dark. Your bike was Mfg in 1978 however it was a 1979 model year and so was registered in the states in 1979. I would argue the fact that yes the bike is regestered as a 79 model but it was made . Wait Yamaha called me back and left a message they found some info. to be continued
 
I'm sure what they mean by date is what's on the registration, not the date it was put together.

But if you think otherwise, contact an antique car place there, in person if possible, and ask what they would do.
 
If you prove the bikes registration is wrong what will need to be done to re-register it .........

Over here it could become an import problem as the bike would have been imported with the wrong papers and i that might take the bike off the road permanently. Then it is a customs import problem..........if that didn't cause problems the the bike would have to have an engineers report and a new Vin sticker attached, (at a cost), new number plates, (More cost), then a Safety or roadworthy certificate, (more cost), and then re registered........Will the cost out way the money saved???..........+ there is the travel involved to and from the different departments and the bike wouldn't be allowed on the road due to not being registered, there is a system where an unregistered vehicle can have a special permit from the police but several of the above costs would have to be incurred before permission allowed.............

Mind you that is here..............may have no reflection on the UK system
 
In the UK a clear distinction is made between the manufacturing date and the registration date of vehicles.
The DVLA Historic vehicles exemption guide clearly states that exemption is 40 years from the date of manufacture not registration.

The registration date of the bike is correct and not disputed but is not relevant to historic vehicle exemption

What I am hoping to achieve is to register the date of manufacture of 1978 which is a separate category on the UK V5c document (vehicle Log book ) Hope that is now clear :rolleyes:
exemption.jpg
 
Well I got an e-mail from Yamaha USA with the serial number range, and it's confusing. Send me your email and I will send you the info on what they sent me. I was hoping for a detailed sheet letter but I did not get much from him. You may end up calling him.
 
Hi peanut,

Give Yamaha uk a call. They will require you to email photos of your engine number and frame number and a fee of £35 I think and they will send you a date of manufacture.

I just did it with an import myself, fairly simple process, takes about 4 weeks though.

Yamaha Motor Europe N.V., branch UK
Units A2 & A3
Kingswey Business Park
Sheerwater
Woking
Surrey
GU21 5SA

Telephone: - 01932 358000

Good luck
 
Brilliant . I can ask d.v.l.a. if it will sufice

Typing on a kindle with my sausage fingers is a right pita Johnny
 
Last edited:
Back
Top