Well that's that cleared up then🤔
Many thanks.

As far as i've read if it was a buggy and reg'd as such for 30+ years then MOT exempt.
If not then it isn't.
If the chassis has been substantially modified i.e. cut then not exempt.
As far as i've read for body change the new body should not be a major change from the original i.e. a beetle shape and hard top.
Now as far as i can see even Stevie Wonder would be able to see that a beach buggy open top body shell is nothing like a beetle saloon body so how can that not be a substantial modification?
Changing the body will void the MOT exemption as i was told by the kit cat man at DVLA.
Mine is LWB so not chassis mod but is not MOT exempt as it was not build 30+ years ago and V5 changed to beach buggy in 2004 so mine will be exempt in 24 years.
How anyone can seriously say and think that taking a steel 2 door saloon body off a chassis and bolting a fibreglass open top non beetle looking body to it and say it's not substantially modified and mot exempt must have rocks in their head.
For £45 why don't people just get it done?

Yep - You nearly understood that perfectly

But changing the Beetle shell to a fibreglass one is not actually classed as a substantial modification (well yes it is, but) it actually comes under the caveat of "Radically altered in its visual appearance" - which means that they can see its different before starting to get technical

For £45 why don't people just get it done?  - 

I think half the problem is the V5 doesn't match the car presented for MOT Dave so instead of getting it MOT'd and those worms coming out of the can it seems common place to just ignore it, drive the car illegally and hope it might go away and just say they've never had any problems with plod or other.
Those times are changing and it'll not be long before they start getting pulled off the road as per the black one listed for sale on the other buggy forum that DVLA has pulled the reg off and issued a new VIN for and requested an IVA/SVA test because it was no longer a beetle.

I think half the problem is the V5 doesn't match the car presented for MOT Dave so instead of getting it MOT'd and those worms coming out of the can it seems common place to just ignore it, drive the car illegally and hope it might go away and just say they've never had any problems with plod or other.
Those times are changing and it'll not be long before they start getting pulled off the road as per the black one listed for sale on the other buggy forum that DVLA has pulled the reg off and issued a new VIN for and requested an IVA/SVA test because it was no longer a beetle.

Not strictly accurate. The MOT centres do actually have the abilities to alter the vehicle description for the VOSA database which actually differs from the DVLA database (yeah, I know) and most of the MOT guys are clued up enough to know that a Buggy is still just a VW Beetle in disguise. Present it in a different colour and they should refuse it, But Beetle / Saloon / Buggy? Most with be sympathetic and if you get someone who isn`t, walk away as lets face it, the car has failed its MOT already.

The Black Buggy you refer to is because someone stupidly just wanted the V5 to say Buggy. There are ways and means to do this and the devil is in the detail. Follow the rules and guidelines and it can be done, but if you just send in the paperwork with Buggy simply written on it, then they will just throw the book at you, which is what they did for that poor fella. Thats why it was pulled - no other reason.

A few years back when all of our legislation was being scrutinized for Brexit separation, DVLA threw everything at us, and I took them on personally, with the aid of a few knowledgeable Buggy specialists on here and we ended up not only changing the law for all classic cars, but they recognized that the only way to shut us up was to negotiate a special set of rules with us and also enlisted myself on their panel of experts. It was not easy, but a fair compromise was reached. Whilst it not be right for everyone, it did mean that our cars were not wiped off the roads in one foul swoop - and believe me, that was the goal they were aiming for. This is all well documented on here. But with all that now behind us, the problem of an incorrectly worded V5 whilst being annoying, its not the immediate problem it was back then. There are legitimate ways of having Beetle on your V5 and DVLA and the Police just do not have the manpower to challenge this, and probably won`t for the forseeable future. So whilst I have to advise people to stick to the rules, if you are unable to for whatever reason, then don`t draw attention to yourself with any stupidity.

But if you are building a new Buggy or notifying DVLA of a change to a Buggy, then certain Rules have to be followed - And we are here to help you.

If only people would come here first rather than just shout out on Facebook and get 1001 different answers most of them totally wrong.

If only people would come here first rather than just shout out on Facebook and get 1001 different answers most of them totally wrong.

I have never understood why people will trawl through pages and pages of experts saying "Don`t do it" until they find that one page on Facebook from Karen that says you can, and then they do it because she said it was ok. How did our society become so stupid ?

Facebook seems to be the go to point for info and it amazes me the stupid questions people ask and the even sillies answers even caravan wise, what can I tow as I passed my test in 2000 or what is the best tow car to buy when a look on .Gov gives correct legal answers and best tow car is personal or we would all have the same make and model.
oh must publish a photo of my breakfast now

The truly stupid will always look for justification of their views. One of my old school friends has gone down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories about pretty much everything. It's made him a complete pariah among his old mates but he feels justified in his views because having delved in there Facebook algorithms just keep serving up more because that's what it thinks he likes b

The truly stupid will always look for justification of their views.

Slightly reworded maybe?

The truly stupid will always look to Karen on Facebook for justification of their views.

I'll let Karen know then.

I'll let Karen know then.

Rumour has it Karen has felt inundated with too many silly questions that she has gone into disguise so she merges with her nearest and dearest...

Call it compassion fatigue or whatever but I'm running out of pity for people who run into registration problems etc after taking advice from Facebook etc. This forum is a brilliant source of facts, not fairy tales, and I try my best to steer people towards it but do they take notice? Seldom if ever.

Yes, I'm having a bad day and am in a grumpy mood but fcuk 'em.

So do ANPR cameras, speed cameras, mobile phone use cameras, Lidl car park cameras etc use the DVLA or DVSA data bases for vehicle descriptions?

I'm thinking DVLA are more concerned with road tax and getting $$$ from Parking Eye etc for your details and DVSA are more concerned if you're MOTd or not.

Any idea how I can find what DVSA have a vehicle described as? I'm not going to ask them as I've found them to be bigger idiots that the Swansea lot.

So do ANPR cameras, speed cameras, mobile phone use cameras, Lidl car park cameras etc use the DVLA or DVSA data bases for vehicle descriptions?

I'm thinking DVLA are more concerned with road tax and getting $$$ from Parking Eye etc for your details and DVSA are more concerned if you're MOTd or not.

Any idea how I can find what DVSA have a vehicle described as? I'm not going to ask them as I've found them to be bigger idiots that the Swansea lot.

Hpi check is the best way.. Some time cars come up on hpi check and not on tax checker

So do ANPR cameras, speed cameras, mobile phone use cameras, Lidl car park cameras etc use the DVLA or DVSA data bases for vehicle descriptions?

Depends on the software they are running and which part of the country you are in as all forces are different. Most "Official" and "Mobile" users will initially use the DVSA to see if the vehicle complies with the Road Traffic Acts, but by the time they are talking to you the DVLA one will have been accessed to establish identity. Cash generators such as Car Parks etc, to my knowledge are not able to access DVSA as they only need to establish identity from DVLA.

I'm thinking DVLA are more concerned with road tax and getting $$$ from Parking Eye etc for your details and DVSA are more concerned if you're MOTd or not.

That is also my understanding

Any idea how I can find what DVSA have a vehicle described as? I'm not going to ask them as I've found them to be bigger idiots that the Swansea lot.

Should already be on your MOT Certificate   

Thinking the authorities have access  to all dvla keeper/ car information through anpr plus the criminal date base for the police and alike but car parks etc just pay dvla for registered keeper info they already have a photo of your car.

Agree with David there is little sympathy for those ignoring the rules since 98 not just on swb buggy builds but all sorts of motors like ford pops which only have a fibreglass body resembling a pop on top of a V8 custom chassis and gear but are on 1950's pop V5 you take the risk and sometimes loose out. There is good clear information on here and DVLA that can be trusted unlike FB.