DVLA Classic Vehicle Rules 2025: What Land Rover Owners Need to Know

DVLA’s New Rules for Classic Vehicles: Clear, Fair and Great for Land Rovers

Effective 26 August 2025, DVLA has modernised how repairs, restorations and structural modifications are handled on classic vehicles. The update aims to simplify legitimate restoration while maintaining safety and accurate records - especially welcome news for owners of classic Land Rovers (Series and Defender) looking to restore, upgrade or convert their vehicles

🚗 The Big Picture

• Like-for-like repairs/restorations no longer require notification, provided appearance and V5C details remain unchanged.

• Structural modifications—including EV conversions—now require notification via form V627/3; however, your original VIN and registration can be retained provided the vehicle identity is clear. The V5C will carry a note such as “Modified” or “Electric conversion”

Chassis Replacements: What Counts as “Like-for-Like” on a Land Rover

For body-on-frame Land Rovers, replacing a chassis to the same specification counts as “like-for-like” (even upgrading from non-galvanised to galvanised) but must be notified via form V627/1. DVLA will authorise the original VIN to be re-stamped on the replacement chassis and issue an updated V5C with a note in the “Special Notes” section.

Land Rover owners should:

• Retain before/after photos of VIN stamping, engine number and general vehicle surroundings.

• Keep itemised receipts/invoices or donor V5C (if using second-hand parts).

• Present the vehicle for a voluntary MOT or IVA for safety assurance post-work—strongly recommended by DVLA.

What Doesn’t Require Notification?

Provided the V5C remains accurate and the vehicle’s appearance stays original (or period-correct), you do not need to notify DVLA for like-for-like work such as:

• Bulkhead, footwell, sill, wheel arch or panel replacements (continuously seam welded if not bolt on)

• Steering, suspension, axle or transmission swaps.

• Period-correct additions (e.g. lamps, tow bars, radios).

• Subframe replacement where applicable.

  
  

What Counts as a Structural Modification?

Notify DVLA using V627/3 when the vehicle’s structure or dimensions are altered, such as:

• Cutting, shortening or lengthening a chassis.

• Major body alterations that affect overall dimensions.

• EV conversions (internal combustion replaced by electric motor + battery).

• Any extensive chassis changes - new mounting points close to critical areas, holes, or removal of structural members.

  
  

Out with the Old “8-Point Rule”

DVLA has abandoned its previous “rebuilt” and “radically altered” points-based assessment in favour of the two-tier guidance in INF318. The earlier system no longer applies to structural modifications - though kit-built, kit-converted or reconstructed classics are still governed under Part 2 of the same guidance.

Document Compliance Checklist

Scenario	Requirements
Like-for-like chassis replacement	Form V627/1; whole-vehicle & VIN photos; receipts/donor V5C; VIN re-stamp authorisation; voluntary MOT/IVA
Structural modification / EV conversion	Form V627/3; current V5C; MOT (if required); specialist evidence/owners’ club backing (optional); post-build V5C note (“Modified” / “Electric conversion”)

How Landroid Motors Assists

• Compliance-focused restorations on galvanised, correct-spec chassis with full photographic and documentary records.

• Administration support for V627/1 and V627/3, VIN re-stamping authorisation, and ensuring alignment with INF318.

• Safety assurance via voluntary MOT or IVA so you drive away with confidence.

Further Information & Official Sources

• DVLA press release (20 August 2025) announcing policy change GOV.UK

• DVLA guidance INF318 (published 26 August 2025) covering repairs, structural changes and kit vehicles GOV.UK GOV.UK

• HCVA statement confirming shift from old regime; emphasis on retaining identity and reduced red tape hcva.co.uk

Final Word

These 2025 DVLA changes represent a substantial win for the classic-vehicle community and restorers alike. For Land Rover enthusiasts, this means that properly documented, like-for-like restorations, including chassis swaps (even to galvanised units), preserve the original identity under a clear, pragmatic process. For more extensive structural modifications - body changes, chassis re-engineering or EV conversions - the rules remain owner-friendly: notify DVLA, document fully, and retain your VIN and registration under INF318.

Let Landroid Motors guide you through every step - so you can restore, enhance or convert with confidence and compliance.