Registration number

You will need to know where is was first registered and then hope the old Vehicle records have been retained by the local council after the transfer to the DVLA. Next step will be to ask if you can search the records and hope you can find the record, start by finding out the despatch date and maybe the dealer it was sent too. You can apply for an age related plate and other than the first registered date the V5C will still show the manufacture date as the NOC records and the reg number will be an old one.

Hi Andrew,

Assuming that you own this bike and want, eventually, to register it, if it has ever been on the DVLA database, then by whatever means you try to register it than the DVLA will (should!) check their records when they process your application and if it is listed then they will write to the last registered keeper to see if they still own it or have a claim on it, if not you will get the original number back. In fact if you submit a V62 ( I think) with the frame number on as an application for a V5C then that may be all you need to do.

Back when the local offices were open it was sometimes possible to persuade them to do a search, and at least find out if it was on record as it makes the registration procedure different and much easier in fact, than with an 'unknown' bike.

If you do decide to search local records, be aware that it is a laborious, time consuming and usually fruitless task, Be aware what Borough, County Borough, or County your original dealer was in pre 1974, as they all had separate records some of which survive, most do not, also if the original customer is listed, check what registration authority they lived in. For example when my Dad bought his bike new in 1960, he bought it from Kings in Blackburn, but because he lived in Penwortham RDC, the bike has a Lancashire County plate rather than aBlackburn Borough one.

It is all very complicated so with a relatively modern bike like a Commando I would try DVLA first.

Good Luck,

Cheers,

Niall

My experience was fairly simple, The records officer, NOC, supplied the factory records from my frame number, these listed dealer and name of first owner. The dealer and first owner were from York. The City Archivist at York was happy to look up the registration details for me, the registration office being long closed. She sent me photocopies of the appropriate register entry page which showed frame number, owner, dealer and registration number. She stamped these with her official stamp to authenticate. The fee was very little.

With this unbroken chain from factory to registration the appropriate forms and with a very helpful lady at DVLC Swansea I was able to recover the original registration .

Good luck.