§ Mr. SarwarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the differences between DVLA's procedures for processing applications for vehicles purchased from(a) car importers and (b) traditional dealers. [121316]
§ Mr. HillWhen presented with an application for the registration of a new vehicle the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) needs to be satisfied that(a) the vehicle is new (b) it meets type approval requirements and (c) VAT has been/or will be paid. Longstanding arrangements allow franchise dealers to register new vehicles without producing documentary evidence. This facility is not currently available to independent commercial importers.
The Agency is developing similar arrangements for importers. It is intended that a revised manual system of registration which will not require documentary evidence will be available to them by the end of the summer. An electronic system should become operational in 2001.