Sadly there is now a case of someone having to go from matching numbers to non matching numbers even though they have a V5 which they have been asked to change. A Norton Commando has been restored and presented for an MOT after 8 years, where the tester did not recognise a VIN plate and said the number actually on the frame is different to that on the computer system, and reported it to DVLA. Despite records from the NOC and factory certificate from AN, DVLA are of the opinion that the frame number is the governing number and not the engine number and so a battle begins. With the younger MOT testers I think think this will become more of a problem in the future, and the picture will become distorted for some bikes. The clueless at DVLA only know the modern method of marking vehicles and will apply this logic to historic vehicles, adding fuel to the fire.
This may also be a problem for those who have replaced a frame, it seems that the current guidance is that the engine number must match the frame number actually stamped in the frame, all should match the computer.
This may also be a problem for those who have replaced a frame, it seems that the current guidance is that the engine number must match the frame number actually stamped in the frame, all should match the computer.