New registration mark versus Q Plate

[sandhurst]

Having made two mistakes in the past [Tiger & NG TF] I intend to do my homework and not rush into my "third time lucky" purchase. I have decided that a Westie is for me and have now thrown away my brochures and notes on other makes.

I am anticipating spending up to £9000 of my hard won pennies on this Westie and wonder if I should go for a "new" registration mark or a "Q" plate?

I have heard that a "Q" plated machine should be avoided like the plague but have to say that some of the ones advertised look the "bee's Knees".

Suggestions as to any pro's and con's for either would be appreciated.

Dave [Morris]

[Blatman]

have heard that a "Q" plated machine should be avoided like the plague

You have been badly advised...

Condition is *everything*. Ignore what is says on the reg plate. That said, a Q plate car is *much* easier at MOT time. If there were 2 identical cars, one a Q and a new/age related plate, I'd buy the Q plater...

[Blatman]

Have a read of this thread from the archives, and this one...

[DavidR]

I used to think the same as you but have changed my mind. As Blatman says "Condition is everything" I would add to his comment that it I think condition includes quality of build.

For two cars of equal quality and condition the only difference between a q plate and an Age plate is provenance.

The age plate has a link to either all new parts  when first registered and the Q plate has parts of "indeterminate age" or "used" status.

Both cars have to go / have been through the same SVA process if recently built.

There end up being benefits of having a Q plate, e.g. lower emissions requirement at MOT.

Also as can be read on various boardrooms, a new registration may no longer be in the same specification as when presented for SVA, e.g. Cat removed, different windscreen / areoscreen, different suspension setup.

The one factor that an age related plate does affect is the WOW factor with the general public, i.e. the uninformed bystander "knows" there's something strange about a Q plate so a"54" reg etc must be pukka.

Go with specification, condition and quality not the label. I am sure you recognise that advice.

Good hunting.

David

PS sorry if this is teaching you to suck eggs.

[mars0505]

     

Hi

I think I am well informed over the Q-plate, but a 53 or 54 registration is new for me. Could anyone explain to me, wat it is and what the benefit of these registration is.

Thanks allready

Marcel.

[Martin Keene]

have heard that a "Q" plated machine should be avoided like the plague

You have been badly advised...

Condition is *everything*. Ignore what is says on the reg plate. That said, a Q plate car is *much* easier at MOT time. If there were 2 identical cars, one a Q and a new/age related plate, I'd buy the Q plater...

Ditto... Q wins every time for me.

[a4gom]

I have heard that a "Q" plated machine should be avoided like the plague

Perhaps they were reffering to standard vehicles and the impact it has on insurance? In my experience the fact a car or bike is a Q can triple the premiums.

As you will be insuring your westie with a specialist company who knows about kits this will not be a problem.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman)]

     

Hi

I think I am well informed over the Q-plate, but a 53 or 54 registration is new for me. Could anyone explain to me, wat it is and what the benefit of these registration is.

Thanks allready

Marcel.

In the UK our standard registration plates contain two numbers corresponding to the six month period of the year in which the vehicle was first registered, so 54 would be between September 2004 and end of February 2005, 05 between march 2005 and end of August 2005 and so on.

Essentially, it means you can spot the rough age of a car from it's license plate; great when looking at second hand cars.

[sandhurst]

Thanks to all who answered my NRM v Q questions - always helpful to have a range of thoughts on a subject.

Thanks also to Blatman for links to relevant threads [i did do a search before posting my query but did not hit on the right term].

Dave

[Chasmon]

Don't wish to hijack the thread.....but this is sort of on topic.

I am building a car and sourcing bits from cars that are 03 (ish). The gearbox is one item that obviously has to be older, however I am thinking of getting a dirty box and exchanging it for a refurbished one.

Will this enable me to get an 03 plate, since the rules state one item can be refurbished...Age related is surely the oldest non refurbished item hence 03..

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman)]

Don't wish to hijack the thread.....but this is sort of on topic.

I am building a car and sourcing bits from cars that are 03 (ish). The gearbox is one item that obviously has to be older, however I am thinking of getting a dirty box and exchanging it for a refurbished one.

Will this enable me to get an 03 plate, since the rules state one item can be refurbished...Age related is surely the oldest non refurbished item hence 03..

I might have got the wrong end of the stick, but here goes...

I don't think so, if all but one of your major components are new, you will get a new (current) plate.

If they're second hand, even if all the same year, they're second hand, so normally Q plate time.

However, if all the major components are from one donor, (there's a scoring system on the DVLA website that'll tell you the precise details) then you can transfer the number plate off the donor, or at least get year plates of that year.

Hope that helps a bit, even if not what you'd like to hear  

[Blatman]

That's how I understand it too...

[wookie]

I've got an SDV for sale on an age related plate

[Chasmon]

It isn't actually that clear of what a major component is....Assuming mechanical parts only can we assume Engine, Gearbox and Diff are all major?

(ie does it have to include the engine   )

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman)]

This is the DVLA page I was thinking of earlier:

clicky

Major components are:

   *  Suspension (front & back)

   * Axles (both)

   * Transmission

   * Steering Assembly

   * Engine