About » Guide to registering your Historic or Classic vehicle » Original, Repaired & Restored Vehicles
Original, Repaired & Restored Vehicles
DVLA policy changes in August 2025 introduced clarity on repairs and restorations that allow for many sensible upgrades that do not impact a vehicles appearance or structure. These are now considered as a normal occurrence in the continuous history of an historic vehicle and do not need to be notified to the DVLA where there are no changes to the vehicle information details shown on the V5C registration certificate (logbook).
Repaired and restored vehicles qualify for an age-related or original registration number (VRN) in most cases provided the vehicle identity is not in doubt.
Important: Always refer to DVLA full guidance INF318
When to notify DVLA:
The DVLA must be notified of any changes to the vehicle information details shown within the vehicle details section of the V5C such as colour, engine, capacity etc.
Where repair or restoration necessitates a like-for-like replacement chassis/frame, monocoque bodyshell or motorcycle frame, it is essential to notify the DVLA on a Vehicle Parts Statement V627/1 with required photographs and documentation.
For information on notifying the DVLA, including changes to the V5C, please refer to pages at Change Vehicle Details on a V5C registration certificate (log book).
Other notifications:
You should notify your insurance company of any changes from original specification.
It is recommended to obtain an MoT following major repairs even where a vehicle is exempt as Historic. Please refer to our MoT guidance here.
Example of the revised Repaired & Restored policy:
Ford Capri
Hannah purchased a 1980 2 litre Ford Capri Mk 3, in need of some love and various bodywork repairs. During the restoration, she decided to update the external appearance to reflect the original ‘x-pack’ wing conversion option to allow for the use of wider wheels and tyres.
Q: Does Hannah need to tell DVLA about this conversion?
A: There is no need to notify the DVLA since adapting front or rear wheelarches or adapting front or rear wings to allow for wider wheels is an accepted repair/restoration provided other vehicle information in the vehicle details section of the V5C has not changed.
Delighted with the end result of the body rebuild, Hannah decided she would now like to upgrade her Capri to the 3.1 litre V6 engine and fit a modern 5 speed gearbox
Q: Does Hannah need to tell DVLA about this conversion?
A: In the case of the modern 5 speed gearbox conversion, Hannah does not need to tell DVLA provided the monocoque firewall and transmission tunnel has not been structurally altered. However, because the engine number and engine capacity are both shown in the vehicle details section of the V5C then Hannah does need to notify DVLA of both these changes and an updated vehicle record actioned.