22 replies to this topic

[mini_matt_106]

Good morning all, I'm the owner of a 1973 mini van, I have the reg plate but no V5.

I have contacted DVLA but they seem unwilling to do much as the chassis plate/vin is missing (the front end has been replaced at some point and lost)

I have also tried contacting the place for heritage certificates (britishmotormuseum.co.uk) but they said they don't have records for Reg plates to be able to cross reference and said that the engine number on the block seems to be for an earlier car, I wasn't sure if the van would use an earlier engine block or it's simply not the original block.

 

The info I do know is the car was registered 16th Nov 1973 and the Reg plate (which I don't really want to post in full on a public forum) which is OBW###M

Last logbook was issued in 1981 and has been off the road since roughly 1983 hence not being able to find much info on any databases I can access.

 

If you have any ideas what I can do next that would be a big help. Thanks 

[mab01uk]

You can often find the VIN number using the vehicle registration number on some HPI type searches, especially those who have a subscription for full access to the database in the motor trade. ie. Used Car Dealers, etc.

 

[imack]

Go to chipex.co.uk
Put in reg no. and click 'order'
Right click on the screen that has your vehicle details and click 'view page source'
Loads of lines of text is displayed, scroll to line 693 and you'll find the vin or chassis number in the case of a 73 mini amongst all the vehicle details.

[Shaun78]

Could ask a friendly car parts store i think there systems pull up vin numbers aswell.

[MikeRotherham]

Go to chipex.co.uk
Put in reg no. and click 'order'
Right click on the screen that has your vehicle details and click 'view page source'
Loads of lines of text is displayed, scroll to line 693 and you'll find the vin or chassis number in the case of a 73 mini amongst all the vehicle details.

I'm interested if the OP tried this and did it work?

 

It worked for my 1994 mini but my 1968 mini was 'registration not found'

[mab01uk]

 

Go to chipex.co.uk
Put in reg no. and click 'order'
Right click on the screen that has your vehicle details and click 'view page source'
Loads of lines of text is displayed, scroll to line 693 and you'll find the vin or chassis number in the case of a 73 mini amongst all the vehicle details.

I'm interested if the OP tried this and did it work?

 

It worked for my 1994 mini but my 1968 mini was 'registration not found'

 

 

It works for me on a 1959 Mini which is currently on SORN.

 

Is your 1968 Mini 'registration not found'' currently on Historic Tax or SORNed?

 

An old 1972 Mini that I once owned is still on the DVLA database, listed as not taxed since 1984 and that also comes up as 'registration not found.''

 

I think the vehicle reg being searched has to be 'live' or had reasonably recent activity like a V5 issued on the current DVLA database to show up in the records. Many old and not officially scrapped vehicle registrations are still listed on the DVLA database since it was computerised in the 1970's, but where no reasonably recent activity has taken place, I believe they are stored in a 'back up' area of the computer database and only go live again when an application is made to change to the Historic Tax Class /new V5 Application /change of address /vehicle details /SORN, etc.

Edited by mab01uk, 20 May 2026 - 08:57 AM.

[imack]

It worked on my 1972 mini and both modern cars

Edited by imack, 20 May 2026 - 09:09 AM.

[mini_matt_106]

Unfortunatly that comes up with registration not found    I really appriciate the reply though. I'm assuming maybe something to do with it being off the road for so long and pre electronic records?

 

Go to chipex.co.uk
Put in reg no. and click 'order'
Right click on the screen that has your vehicle details and click 'view page source'
Loads of lines of text is displayed, scroll to line 693 and you'll find the vin or chassis number in the case of a 73 mini amongst all the vehicle details.

[mini_matt_106]

I did try my local motor factors and they also had no results unfortunatly.

checking for tax on Gov.uk does find the details for the car but no VIN/chassis number.

I also tried a CarVertical check which doesn't find anything at all.

 

You can often find the VIN number using the vehicle registration number on some HPI type searches, especially those who have a subscription for full access to the database in the motor trade. ie. Used Car Dealers, etc.

 

 

Could ask a friendly car parts store i think there systems pull up vin numbers aswell.

[mini_matt_106]

I did apply for a v5 to DVLA without the VIN box filled out, included pictures and a small cover letter explaining that I don't know the VIN but included the engine number because I believed at the time it was the original engine (still unconfirmed it's not but heritage seem to think it's a mk1-2 engine number) and the £25 postal order.

They replied saying they will issue a new VIN but then it will be a Q plate 'constructed from old parts' or something along those lines which I really don't want if I can help it.

[alpder]

Letters 2 & 3 of suffix and prefix numberplates are the code for the local DVLC office which registered the car. There's a list on Wikipedia. The records were ultimately transferred to local councils. But record-keeping has been patchy and even if the original registration is found the record may not contain the VIN (mine didn't :-( ). Most councils will do a search of the records (for a fee) and some will even tell you whether they have a record (for free) but each council has its own way of organising that. The records will probably only go as far as the date that registration was centralised - I'm not sure when that was.

If you can't find the vin, best bet may be to apply for an "age-related registration". There's a list of approved organisations who'll inspect the car - I think on DVLA's website. If successful, DVLA give you a numberplate ending in "M" but not the original. The new number will likely be non-transferable.

[Gaz66]

I applied for a logbook for a shell i bought.
I had reg and vin but no logbook or details of former keeper.
They wanted pics so they got pics of the shell.
Their reply was get it road worthy and send pics.
They may want to inspect before issuing a logbook etc

[mab01uk]

 

Checking for tax on Gov.uk does find the details for the car but no VIN/chassis number.

 

 

If checking for tax on Gov.uk does find the details for the car as you have confimed (but of course no VIN/chassis number) then your 1973 Van is definitely on the central computerised DVLA database which was first created in the 1970's, plus if the last logbook was issued in 1981 this also confirms it made it onto the computerised vehicle database.

 

As I said in my previous post above the full details along with the VIN have almost certainly gone on the DVLA's 'backup' database due to the long period of inactivity, which often happens. However the DVLA won't issue a V5 unless the person applying has the VIN/Chassis number to prevent fraudulent applications for V5's from persons who may not own the car. 

 

I think all the various HPi search databases, etc are only licenced to refer to the DVLA's current 'live' vehicle database and not the 'backup' inactive vehicle database, which is almost certainly why your reg no. comes up as 'registration not found' on them.

Edited by mab01uk, 20 May 2026 - 03:19 PM.

[Quinlan minor]

There was a cutoff date on the old fold-up logbooks to be converted to V5s, early 2,000s, IIRC.

After the cutoff the Registration was void and the DVLA would be able to sell the Reg No. off.

If the V5 wasn't applied for back then all DVLA records are gone, I'm afraid.

[MikeRotherham]

 

 

Go to chipex.co.uk
Put in reg no. and click 'order'
Right click on the screen that has your vehicle details and click 'view page source'
Loads of lines of text is displayed, scroll to line 693 and you'll find the vin or chassis number in the case of a 73 mini amongst all the vehicle details.

I'm interested if the OP tried this and did it work?

 

It worked for my 1994 mini but my 1968 mini was 'registration not found'

 

 

It works for me on a 1959 Mini which is currently on SORN.

 

Is your 1968 Mini 'registration not found'' currently on Historic Tax or SORNed?

 

An old 1972 Mini that I once owned is still on the DVLA database, listed as not taxed since 1984 and that also comes up as 'registration not found.''

 

I think the vehicle reg being searched has to be 'live' or had reasonably recent activity like a V5 issued on the current DVLA database to show up in the records. Many old and not officially scrapped vehicle registrations are still listed on the DVLA database since it was computerised in the 1970's, but where no reasonably recent activity has taken place, I believe they are stored in a 'back up' area of the computer database and only go live again when an application is made to change to the Historic Tax Class /new V5 Application /change of address /vehicle details /SORN, etc.

 

I rather suspect my 1968 mini has gone to the 'great behind in the sky' (to quote Hylda Baker) many decades ago. Which is probably why its not found the reg.