Vehicle History Records

Registration

This section covers:

RLC Archive - British Army Pre 1985 (Can-Am).
Merlin Archive - British Army 1985 - 2013 (MT500 Armstrong, MT350 Harley Davidson).
Additional.
RAF vehicle history records.
James Database - 2009 - Present.
Additional

British Army Pre 1985

For pre-1985 British Army vehicles (Can-Am). Records are held with the Royal Logistics Corps Archive (formerly Royal Corps of Transport).

1. https://www.rlcarchive.org/

Create an account (make a note of your login name for future access).

2. https://www.rlcarchive.org/VehicleSrch

Carry out a chassis number search. The chassis/frame/vin number can be found stamped on the left side of the headstock. It is best to go off this number and not the aluminium data plate on the right of the headstock or any other registration marks. As sometimes the data plates are missing, damaged and/or could have been swapped with another bike in a past life.
Also do not use any painted on military registrations or military registration plates. As these parts may not be original to the bike. Eg. painted on petrol tank registration mark, registration plate, painted on pannier box registration mark etc.
This search fee is £10.

3. https://www.rlcarchive.org/VehicleSrch

A vehicle chassis number order can sometime take a week or two for the museum volunteers to conduct an archieve search.
If 2 - 3 weeks have lapsed, it is advisable to send an email with your order number to chase it. But usually searches are responded to within a few days on average.
Also check the museums opening times. As they may be closed/annual shutdown.

4. If successful, you will receive an email with your 6-figure military vehicle registration mark. Or an email to say that it is not on record.

Mk1 Can-Am - xx GX xx
Mk2 Can-Am - xx HG xx

5. https://www.rlcarchive.org/VehicleSrch

Carry out a Registration Mark search ERM (Equipment Registration Mark).
This search fee is £35.

Vehicle Not On Record?

In the rare case that a record is not held for your vehicle. You will need to book a Vehicle Dating Officer. Such as the MVT or VMCC.
Further details explained on the Q registration page.

6. https://www.rlcarchive.org/Order/orders

Once purchased, then follow
'My Account'
'Order Status'

7. Click the 'Download' hyperlink to download your PDF file of the History Card.

Merlin Archive - British Army 1985 - 2013

https://merlinarchive.uk/

1. Post 1985 military vehicle records (MT500 Armstrong & MT350 Harley Davidson) can be found via the Merlin Archive.

2. To do this, you will require the vehicle military registration. This can be found on the Disposal Form.

3. If you don't know the vehicles military registration or don't have a copy of the Disposal Form. You can find out the mil reg by doing an FOI request on the frame number to 'whatdotheyknow'.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/

5. Alternatively, you can try the Merlin Archive ERM search form.

https://merlinarchive.uk/contact/ermSearch

4. Once you have an email back and have your military reg, then simply pop it into the Merlin search.

Additional

If your vehicle served over the span of both archives. It is worth inputting the ERM on both systems to check results.
As an example, below imagines are from a Can-Am which served from 1980 - 1993 and has a History Card held on the RLC archive. And also data from 1989 to 1993 on the Merlin Archive.
Data prior to 1989 is recorded as 'unknown'. This is often seen on Armoured vehicle records such as FV432s & Cheiftains which entered service in the 1970s on the paper records. And eventually disposed during the demilitarisation of 1990 - 1993 and also feature on the digital Merlin Archive.

RAF Vehicles

https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/default/archive-collection/vehicle-records/

RAF records can be obtained by emailing the RAF museum London.

https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/default/archive-collection/

Email - askcollections@rafmuseum.org

For this service, you will require an RAF military registration plate to request a search - AX reg. The RAF museum are unable to carry out Vin searches.

"The Royal Air Force has used many types of Motor Transport over the years. The Museum has several thousand record cards for vehicles with registrations in the post-war style.

Although the card gives details such as chassis number, they are filed by RAF registration number (in the form 12AA34) and it is essential to quote this number when requesting a copy. Vehicles with registration letters beginning K (such as 12KA34) were managed by the Army; some were allocated to the RAF but we have not received the relevant record cards. They are probably among the vehicle records held by the Royal Logistics Corps Museum."

This service is free, but response times can be slower. Allow 2 - 3 weeks.

James Database - British Army 2009 - Present

To conclude, current military vehicle records are now held on the James database.
Vehicles manufactured from 2009 to present are held on this system.

Additional

Additional information relating to 'B vehicles' can be found on the RLC archive - https://www.rlcarchive.org/Help/Vehicles
'A vehicles' or Armoured Vehicle records are held with Bovington Tank Museum.
RAF vehicle records are held with RAF Museum London.
Royal Navy Library (Portsmouth) holds approx 3,000 'B vehicle' data cards for vehicles managed directly by the Navy before 1974. Post 1974 are held with the RLC museum.
Royal Engineers Museum for plant, construction, and specialist 'C vehicles'.

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