Tax free... Stroll on...!

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I sorted it out a couple of years ago with a '73 T150 I had then. I went to Meriden post office as I thought the last tax disc the machine would need would be kind of cool if it was issued from the post office closest to it's birth. Not that the factory was in Meriden ever, it wasn't even in the next village to Meriden. I didn't have a problem doing it as the counter staff seemed clued up.
 
After the all the ball ache, you can just be glad it is easier than some countries, an "Historic" vehicle has to be absolutely bone stock.
Looking forwards a couple of years for the (very non stock) guzzi.
 
LAB wrote;
My Commando has "7 75" stamped on the frame plate but it wasn't registered until July 1976, the serial number is also one that's apparently missing from the records so I put 6 months' tax on it (for the 'summer') as usual and will wait until next April when the 'historic year' rolls forward again before I do anything about it.
According to the DVLA database the "Year of manufacture" is "1976".

I know that Andover Norton hold some "missing" serial numbers. I paid £20 to have a photocopy of the despatch records of my Norton which shows the motorcycle serial number, production batch number the date it was "tested and accepted," and the date it was despatched from "No2 works." This is a "service" that they offer. I enclosed this document with a covering letter to the DVLA even though my V5C shows that my Norton was registered on 01/10/75.

Lab wrote;
Likewise, my October '75 built T160 067xx wasn't registered until April 1977 and as T160 records only go up to serial 05943, once again there is no official proof of manufacture. According to the DVLA database "Year of manufacture" is "1977".

With the application for my T160, I sent in a copy of the chart in my link, http://www.tr3oc.com/archive-machine-da ... ng-system/
again with a brief letter explaining how it applied to my T160.

I know it's not that much money to lose waiting another year, but this is what I did and it worked for me.
 
Reggie said:
I know that Andover Norton hold some "missing" serial numbers.

Well, they don't appear to have any dispatch records for mine (Joe = 'ZFD' checked some years ago)!
 
Torontonian said:
Yes , here in Ontario it seems anything 30 years or older is a historic vehicle and the annual sticker fee /road tax is $18 instead of $42. I have yet to take advantage of this.

I've never heard of this before and have been paying full price for both my bikes. Must look into it.
 
Here in Connecticut the registration fees are paid to the state motor vehicle dept. The cost is fixed (about $92 every 2 years for bikes). Taxes are collected by the local tax office and the amount depends on assessed value and the tax rate of the particular town. We have a classic program that you can apply for if the vehicle is 20 years or more old, and besides getting a new plate it also limits your taxes by putting a maximum $500 value for the assessment. I haven't done that yet because up until recently the license plate said "Early American", and I refuse to have that on a Norton. But they've now added "Classic" plates instead of Early American, so next registration period I'll do that.
 
maylar said:
We have a classic program that you can apply for if the vehicle is 20 years or more old, and besides getting a new plate it also limits your taxes by putting a maximum $500 value for the assessment. I haven't done that yet because up until recently the license plate said "Early American", and I refuse to have that on a Norton. But they've now added "Classic" plates instead of Early American, so next registration period I'll do that.

UK "road tax" must be paid in order to use (or keep) a vehicle on public roads and not so much to do with 'registration' which is usually a 'one time only' affair when the vehicle is first put on the road. Historic is just a change of taxation class (Historic = £0) with no limitations on use or change of plate, etc. although under the rolling 40 year rule, post '72 manufactured 'Historic' vehicles can now display 'black and white(or silver)' number plates which they wouldn't legally have been allowed to do when new! :)
 
As Monty Python's four Yorkshiremen would say, "You think YOU'VE got it tough".
Here in backward NSW Australia, we have to "renew" the registration on our vehicles every year. The cost is made up of 2 components:
1. Registration fee which was $63 for the Norton in Nov. 2015. (My ute ((pickup)) was also $63)
2. Tax. $59 for the bike, $456 for the pickup.
But before the vehicle registration can be renewed, we must pay a third party insurance premium to cover personal injury to anyone injured in an accident involving the vehicle which is to be registered. And we are required by our government to pay a separate premium for each vehicle. And the premiums are high:
$340 for the bike, $810 for the pickup.
For anyone with a stable of bikes the cost would be prohibitive.
I don't know how much could be saved by switching to "Historic" registration, which involves a change of number plates, but I recall when looking at it in the 90's for a classic car, the usage restrictions made it not worthwhile.
 
In Germany we have the best regulation (as always) for historic vehiceles. You need to have the "H" number plate. On this number plate you have the additinal letter "H" (for historic vehicle). But nobody want to have this number plate on his bike because it is bigger. And in Germany we have the biggest number plates for motorcycles of the world anyway. But can save 20€ tax. To get this number plate you have to provide an expertise that the bike is in good condition. But you can also registrate it as a normal bike, which is the better way to go.
 
I just checked it out for Western Ausyralia , you can only ride the bike for club events , and you still have to pay the rediculous insurance , so not much saving , ie not worth it for a road bike.
 
MFB said:
As Monty Python's four Yorkshiremen would say, "You think YOU'VE got it tough".
Here in backward NSW Australia, we have to "renew" the registration on our vehicles every year. The cost is made up of 2 components:
1. Registration fee which was $63 for the Norton in Nov. 2015. (My ute ((pickup)) was also $63)
2. Tax. $59 for the bike, $456 for the pickup.
But before the vehicle registration can be renewed, we must pay a third party insurance premium to cover personal injury to anyone injured in an accident involving the vehicle which is to be registered. And we are required by our government to pay a separate premium for each vehicle. And the premiums are high:
$340 for the bike, $810 for the pickup.
For anyone with a stable of bikes the cost would be prohibitive.
I don't know how much could be saved by switching to "Historic" registration, which involves a change of number plates, but I recall when looking at it in the 90's for a classic car, the usage restrictions made it not worthwhile.

Not all that different here in the State of Connecticut (US). Registration is every 2 years. Those fees go to the state motor vehicle dept, and could be considered a "road tax". Motor vehicle taxes are annual, and are actually called "property tax", which applies to boats, planes, homes, land, etc and is collected by the local (town/city) government. They are separate entities, but connected via computer network and your property taxes must be paid up or you can't renew the registration. Insurance is 3rd party and is also a requirement for registration.

We apply for classic/historic status through the motor vehicle dept. It's an extra fee up front but the recurring registration fees are cheaper. Plus it puts a $500 max assessment on the vehicle, which affects the amount we get charged for property tax. Number plates are the same size but limited to 5 characters. We can also request "vanity" plates (for a fee, of course) and I'm going to request 74NTN or 828CC on mine.

I have "classic" insurance on the Norton at about $175 / yr but that includes roadside assistance (50 mile free tow). The cost is based on agreed value and the level of liability coverage chosen.
 
Just received a cheque of £82 for my XK T160 road tax when it should have been Tax free......Stroll on....!!!

Thanks HM Paymaster General.

Jg
 
MFB said:
...And we are required by our government to pay a separate premium for each vehicle. And the premiums are high:
$340 for the bike, $810 for the pickup...

And I was going to complain about mine...

$25 a year, unless you live in Ada county (which I do), then it's $33. I suppose that's because the Norton eats 32% more asphalt in Ada county than the rest of the state... Going with "Classic" plates drops it to $15 annually, but with stipulations of it not being your "regular" transportation vehicle. I think we all could agree that riding a Norton is not "regular" transportation!

Nathan
 
Eddie, keeping post office staff sweet to get the best out of them is an art form involving every devious trick you can think of. They do have a thankless task and dealing with the great unwashed must test anybodies patience.
 
In Mississippi I just register a 1982 jap bike with antique tags and a change of title. No restrictions on usage. Paid around 60 or 70 dollars. The tags are good thru 2099. Yes 2099. I currently have my norton registered in Tennessee because I had to file for a lost title. Next year I am registering it here in Mississippi. My sympathies to my English and New Zealand brothers.
I am 59. If I quit riding in 20 years there will still be 63 years on the tags. Make a great inheritance for some unborn relative.
 
gripper said:
Eddie, keeping post office staff sweet to get the best out of them is an art form involving every devious trick you can think of. They do have a thankless task and dealing with the great unwashed must test anybodies patience.

That's a fair point. Dealing directly with the masses is something I could not do. I would be Basil Faulty...!
 
I wouldn't go as far as saying we have a "no problems" bureaucracy here in Sweden, but when it comes to classic vehicles it's pretty automatic. We have a rolling 30 year rule, and when the vehicle hits 30 years, you automatically are relieved from road tax. You only pay a small fee, like €5 per year, no hassle with other plates or stickers or going to the post office or anything like that. (BTW your'e not even allowed to put any sticker on the license plate these days!)
Tommy
 
In the USA, 50 different states, so 50 different laws, procedures, and requirements regarding licensing of antique motorcycles!

You need to read up and understand the law in your state BEFORE you go to your state DMV office; they likely won't have a clue.

1) They aren't trained on it.

2) Motorcycles are an anomaly in their world, especially old ones, so they resent it if you bring in something they don't understand.

3) They probably resent that they have to pay (Annually) $60 for tags, $110 local tax, and $300 a year for insurance for their Ford Edge, while you pay $8 one time for your antique tags, no tax, and about $50 a year for insurance.

Lannis
 
I must say, registering a historic vehicle is one of the few times where the State of New Jersey is a bargin. Usually we pay the most for the least. I switched my registration to historic last year - submit the application along with two photos, current registration and proof of insurance. The new plate arrived in the mail about a month later. I paid a one time fee of $45. The registration is to be renewed every two years but it's free. Quite a bargin.
 
David B said:
I must say, registering a historic vehicle is one of the few times where the State of New Jersey is a bargin. Usually we pay the most for the least. I switched my registration to historic last year - submit the application along with two photos, current registration and proof of insurance. The new plate arrived in the mail about a month later. I paid a one time fee of $45. The registration is to be renewed every two years but it's free. Quite a bargin.

David,
Wish I knew that last week. Just re-registered two old ones @ $65.00 each. How does that work with your insurance company?

Pete
 
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