Confusion over DVLA Tax Checker output.

[#1]

A friend of mine was checking a vehicle on the DVLA site and after entering the Reg No he got this output:

Date of first registration December 2014 
Year of manufacture 2002 

I'm confused by this as there are 12 years missing from YoM to the first Registration or does this mean something else?

[#2]

I rebuild? Or a rusty heap?

[#3]

@Mook -An import?

[#4]

Ah well that's what's worrying me. It is a RHD but may still be an import, and to be fair it could do with a polish. The guy that's bought it, yes, I know, isn't very savvy with cars and I can't help but think this is a 'bad un', and he can't afford to get ripped off.

Is there any way to find out more about the history of this car? Apart from an fee based HPI.

[#5]

You could contact your local police force, and see if they have a motor vehicle crimes unit... give them the VIN number and see if that produces some info... they may even come over and inspect it to see if it has had the numbers removed, as they are ( apparently) in two or three places on the vehicle.

[#6]

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@Mook wrote:

Ah well that's what's worrying me. It is a RHD but may still be an import, and to be fair it could do with a polish. The guy that's bought it, yes, I know, isn't very savvy with cars and I can't help but think this is a 'bad un', and he can't afford to get ripped off.

Is there any way to find out more about the history of this car? Apart from an fee based HPI.

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Another thought - do you know the make and model?

[#7]

Yes @jab1, I do. Why do you ask?

[#8]

Because 10 years is a long time for a particular model to be produced, and if we know which it is, it MAY give a clue to the gap between manufacture and 'first registration.

Just a thought.

[#9]

Is it Japanese car? As they are usually rhd imports could explain

[#10]

This had occurred to me as well @jab1, but I'm leaning to the fact that this car may be an import, it's the only sane answer there is when you make the assumption that all is well. DVLA as I understand it make integrity checks when a vehicle is registered so with nothing obvious flagged then I'm hoping that it is an import. However,  what @shutter suggests is quite sensible but not my decision to make, but would do no harm if things are OK.

[#11]

Sorry, should have included this in my last reply.

No @Adamtemp, it's a 5 Series.

[#12]

In the hope that they might be of use:

From a comment on another forum [quote]Plate given is age related (based on age of the car)

Date of registration in the UK is then later[/quote] Does plate agree with date of manufacture?

Is it here you looked? https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ViewVehicle

For MOT history and other things http://www.cardatachecks.co.uk/

[#13]

This site can provide some interesting info https://vindecoder.eu/

[#14]

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@shutter wrote:

You could contact your local police force, and see if they have a motor vehicle crimes unit... give them the VIN number and see if that produces some info... they may even come over and inspect it to see if it has had the numbers removed, as they are ( apparently) in two or three places on the vehicle.

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This. I rebuilt a cat c write off years ago and it had to go for a Vic check at vosa. Apparently the vin is put in several places (along with other clues) that only the manufacturer and state authorities know about. 

Does this car have a custom number plate by any chance? 

[#15]

Nope @7up, it's a standard plate that reflects the vehicle's age (52).