source of the information was the RF60/VE60 old style logbook, handed in during the tax renewal process in the 1970s. The year of manufacture was not recorded on that document, so could not be transposed to the DVLA computer record. These days when an historic vehicle is registered, the year of manufacture is also recorded, typically from a V55/5 form and the sponsoring clubs dating letter or V765 form.

Although some historic vehicles don't have a date of manufacture recorded, all vehicles will have a date of first registration. To illustrate how DVLA copes with the situation where legislation relates to the date of manufacture and DVLA only have the registration date, it will be helpful to look at the taxation class for historic vehicles. Historic vehicles are exempt from vehicle excise duty if they were manufactured before 1st January 1973. DVLA state that provided a vehicle 'was registered from 1st January 1973 up to and including 7th January 1973, the DVLA will let you register it as an historic vehicle, based on the assumption that the vehicle would have been made in the previous year'. (See DVLA leaflet INF34.) If DVLA follow the same logic with the pre-1960 MOT threshold, vehicles registered on or before 7th January 1960 will be exempt from an MOT test.

There will be a small proportion of vehicles manufactured before the end of 1959 but registered after 7th January 1960 where DVLA don't have a year of manufacture recorded. Examples would include second-hand imported vehicles, and vehicles disposed of by the military.

Sometimes it is not clear from the V5C if DVLA do have a record of the year of manufacture. One source of information is via the RAC website: www.rac.co.uk - just scroll down to 'Other Services', and click on 'Car Checks'. On the 'Car Data Check' page, it infers that there is a charge for checking a vehicle record, however, there is no charge for just the display of the basic 'vehicle details', which is a copy of DVLA data.

As an example, using one of my own vehicles, input the registration number 748 UPF and click on 'Buy Now'. A page will be displayed headed 'Vehicle Check'. In this example, there is no value against year of manufacture, so DVLA have not recorded the data. There is also vehicle information on the DirectGov web site at www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk which can sometimes be misleading. If DVLA don't have a declared value for the year of manufacture, for some vehicle records, there is an entry generated and displayed for the year of manufacture. Sometimes, although not in this case, it can be incorrect.

If your vehicle was registered after 7th January 1960, but made before 1960, and there is not a year of manufacture recorded (as indicated on the RAC website), for the vehicle to be exempt from the MOT, DVLA will need to be notified of the correct date. The appropriate specialist vehicle club should be able to produce the necessary dating letter, once they have carried out the necessary checks, which could well involve an inspection, and a fee for the dating letter.

Vehicles most likely to be affected by this missing data are ex-military vehicles under 3500 kg GVW, and second hand imported vehicles, first registered by local registration authorities in the 1960s or 1970s, but manufactured in the 1940s or 1950s.