Same here,imported cars come to the UK with a Japanese Deregistration Certificate which as it happens is written in Japanese,if the DVLA cannot translate the actual year of manufacture they tend to register the car when it was actually registered in the UK so a 1996 car brought into the UK in 2000 could well be a W registration.
Could well be right ...
But
Does this not go against the policy (DVLA) of not being allowed to put a Reg on a car which makes it look newer than it is.
As when buying a private plate?
Hi no I dont think it does,as it is still the DVLA that registers it,as for private/personal plates, you cannot for instance take a 57 private plate and put it on a 55 plate registered car thereby making it look younger but you can put a J(1991/92)plate on a 03 registered car thereby making it look older,hope this helps - You can make a car look older but not younger.