DVLA's classic car registration reforms deliver results one year on, with more changes announced 

Published: 26/08/2026

One year after DVLA first introduced major reforms to its registration process for historic and classic vehicles, it’s clear that owners, restorers and specialist businesses across the UK are reaping the benefits.   

The historic vehicle sector has praised the greater clarity, fewer complaints and a steady flow of vehicles safely and successfully returning to the road as the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) report on some positive stories.  

A look back...  

Following an extensive call for evidence in 2024 that received more than 1,350 responses, changes to the way historic and classic cars are registered were implemented on 26 August 2025. These changes made it significantly easier for enthusiasts to register repaired, restored and modified vehicles.  

The reforms included two main changes: the first change was that like-for-like repairs and restorations no longer need to be notified to DVLA. Secondly, vehicles with significant structural modifications, or those converted to electric power must be notified to DVLA but are able to retain their original identity. Previously, this kind of work could have resulted in a vehicle losing its original registration number. 

The FBHVC says the impact of these changes has been "immediate and positive," with one 1940s sports car, where the chassis had been distorted in a decades-old collision and previously judged to be a modification under the previous rules, has now been re-registered with its original, age-related registration number. Two modified cars based on derelict pre-war models, both of which would previously have required Individual Vehicle Approval, have also been successfully registered. 

A look forward...  

Building on this success, from 3 August 2026, DVLA introduced further refinements to its ‘Reconstructed Classics’ policy, addressing additional concerns raised by the sector. This second phase of the reforms was introduced earlier this month, and the changes provide greater clarity for owners, restorers, kit and classic car enthusiasts, owners' clubs and the wider historic vehicle sector, while ensuring the policy is fit for purpose in a more modern world.   

The recent changes raise the minimum age for major components from 25 to 40 years, aligning with exemption for taxations and MOT rules for historic vehicles.

Vehicle keepers also gain more flexibility as where an original body is beyond repair, newly built replacements can now be used, provided they match the period specification, and period-correct interchangeable bodies originally offered by the manufacturer are also permitted. Historic "Specials"—built on 1930s chassis with 1950s or 1960s bodywork—are now formally recognised. Reconstructed vehicles less than 40 years old must follow the standard registration process.

Complete knock down (CKD) vehicles for which little documentation is available can be registered using the date the vehicle was manufactured in its CKD form.

According to the FBHVC's 2025 National Historic Vehicle Survey, the classic car industry now contributes £7.3 billion a year to the UK economy, up £100 million since 2020.  Against this backdrop, DVLA's reforms give owners and restorers the clarity and confidence to keep investing in this important and valuable sector, helping to protect the UK's motoring heritage for years to come. 

Tim Moss CBE, DVLA Chief Executive, said:  "It's fantastic to see the real difference these changes have made for the historic and classic car community over the past year. We worked closely with owners, clubs and the wider historic vehicle sector to design policies that genuinely reflect how restoration and modification happen in practice, and it's rewarding to hear that vehicles which might once have been lost are now back on the road, safely, correctly registered and ready to be enjoyed."  

Ian Edmunds, FBHVC Technical Director, said:  "The impact on the historic vehicle world has been immediate and positive. Owners who had been struggling for years to find a way to register restored, repaired or modified vehicles suddenly had a clear path before them. An added bonus of the new policies is that historic vehicle owners can now embark on a restoration, with all the commitment of time and money that implies, with far greater confidence that they will be able to register the vehicle once the work is completed."  

• The changes can be found in the INF318 leaflet, available to download here.  

• The text of INF318 can be viewed online here.  

• A full DVLA guide for registering any vehicle can be seen here.  

• The 2025 National Historic Vehicle Survey, published by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs can be found here.