Classic car experts have called on the DVLA to ensure it protects the historic vehicle industry following a new report which found that enthusiasts do not have the best experience with DVLA services.
Earlier this month, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) review was published and found that the organisation was “critically important” to the Department for Transport.
It noted that millions of DVLA customers were pleased with the service, especially with the changes being made to ensure drivers can check their documents, renew their licences and tax their vehicles online.
However, it noted that customers using a small group of specific services, including the registration of historic vehicles and classic cars, felt that the overall customer experience was “less satisfactory”.
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A report suggested that the DVLA should do more to help the classic car industry
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This was put down to “legislative constraints, dated systems, inexperienced handlers and unoptimised processes”, noting that it could impact their ability to work.
The review, from Lead Reviewer Janette Beinart, suggested that the DVLA should do more to “elevate the customer voice across its business, with a greater focus on engagement, empowerment and transparency”.
The Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA) welcomed the report, saying that the Government’s commitment to act on far-reaching recommendations will improve the agency.
Dave Keller, CEO of the HCVA, said he hoped that the agency could address frustrations over the treatment of historic and classic vehicles.
He noted that Government inaction in the past, classic car owners and businesses had been “trapped in a spiral of uncertainty”.
He added: “The Minister for Future of Roads [Lilian Greenwood] has effectively given the green light for the DVLA to move forward on presenting outcomes and recommendations from the Call for Evidence into registering historic, classic, rebuilt vehicles and vehicles converted to electric.
“This is an area that is specifically referenced in the report as requiring reform, and the HCVA again stands ready to offer its substantial industry expertise to assist the DVLA and DfT in achieving sensible and effective outcomes for consumers, industry and Government.”
Greg Smith, Conservative MP for Mid Buckinghamshire, has previously questioned the DVLA’s treatment of classic cars and accused them of making “absurd decisions”.
The 45-year-old claimed the DVLA was forcing cars with modest repairs to have Q plates, which makes a vehicle registration number invalid and drivers must not display it again.
Speaking earlier this year, he said he had raised the issue with the Transport Select Committee but nothing had been done, prompting him to raise the issue in Parliament.
He called for a debate in Government time to ensure the Department for Transport “gets a grip on the DVLA’s attitude to the classic car sector”.
The DVLA has clarified that it engages regularly with key classic car industry stakeholders, like the HCVA and the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs.
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Experts called on the DVLA to act on far-reaching recommendations
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Speaking previously to GB News, a DVLA spokesperson said: “DVLA is working hard to help preserve classic cars as an essential part of British heritage and an example of British engineering excellence around the world.
“We know that there are concerns and challenges in this area, which is why we are engaging frequently and directly with a wide range of historic vehicle enthusiasts, and the industry, to ensure that the policies in place help to preserve historic and rebuilt cars for generations to come.”
