The UK’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has announced a series of registration-policy changes that will benefit owners, restorers and specialist businesses in the historic vehicle community.
These new measures follow ongoing discussions between the DVLA, the Historic Vehicle User Group (HVUG) and the Historic & Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA).
The reforms align the age of components permitted in vehicles registered as Reconstructed Classics with the UK Government’s rolling 40-year definition of a historic vehicle. They also bring the treatment of Reconstructed Classics and Completely Knocked Down (CKD) imports into line with wider registration reforms introduced in August 2025.
Under the updated policy, Reconstructed Classics built using genuine period major components that are more than 40 years old can qualify for an age-related registration number and Historic Vehicle tax status, provided they are certified by a recognised owners’ club as authentic examples and meet the relevant registration requirements. In addition, all eligible vehicles will benefit from the rolling 40-year MoT exemption once registered.
The revisions also allow newly manufactured replacement bodies to be fitted to body-on-frame vehicles where no suitable period body exists. Genuine period specials certified by recognised owners’ clubs will also now qualify for registration.
Changes affecting CKD vehicles provide more flexibility when the date of overseas assembly or registration cannot be identified. In these cases, the DVLA will accept evidence showing when the component kit was manufactured for export, along with manufacturer records confirming when the vehicle was shipped in CKD form.
“These latest changes represent another positive step by the DVLA in developing a vehicle-registration policy that better reflects the specialised nature of historic vehicles,” said HCVA CEO Dale Keller. “Previous arrangements had left many owners frustrated, while exposing businesses within the sector to unnecessary risk.”
The latest policy amendments build on reforms introduced in August 2025, which removed the requirement to notify the DVLA about like-for-like repairs and restorations, and allowed modified classics and electric-vehicle conversions to retain their original identities and registration numbers – as long as they continue to adhere to the agency’s identity rules.
Updated guidance can be viewed on the DVLA website here.
