Changing the plated weight of a lorry

[Andy_Pag]

I have a truck which is rated to at 8,500kg gross (laden) weight.

Empty it is just over 4000kg and I wont be loading it up to more than 7500kg.

I'd like to know how to downgrade the rated (plated) weight of a vehicle with the DVLA.

I think this is just a paper exercise but perhaps someone has done it already?

Thanks

Andy

[moodybloo]

you dont say the make of truck,but normally you contact the main dealer who will give you contact details of the company used to downplate vehicles(Iveco use a company called kingswood),they will sort out the paperwork with dvla & issue a new chassis plate all for a fee of course.

[Andy_Pag]

Thanks Moody

Do they have to see the truck to inspect it or is it a paper exercise?

Is there no way of doing it yourself?

The truck is a ford Cargo.

Andy

[Quintin]

You can do it yourself but it can be quite a pain and you made need to carry out a physical modification-eg to springs to do so. I suggest you contact your local dealer and, more importantly, VOSA-number in phone book or go to the local VOSA test station. In my experience, the local guys are pretty helpful. I did this years ago with a Ford D series (so it would have to be years ago!) and it turned out simply to be a paper exercise. It was so long ago that I've forgotten how I did it!

Q

[moodybloo]

hi
in my case it was only a paper exercise,& normally is, for down plating ring your local dealer either ford or iveco as the cargo was a joint venture, they should be able to supply the right contact details.

[cedar]

Hi Andy
If you are turning it into a camper, you don,t need to down rate it, just convert it, (supposed to have various things, like room for hanging clothes) but if it looks like a camper and has NO USABLE LOAD SPACE then you can just get your body type on V5 changed to camper. Get MOT at your local council depot, as no one else will have a big enough pit.
Bruce

[nigel_all]

Hi Andy

Why downrate your truck in the first place? I assume it's the usual reason,to put it into the 7.5 tonne limit for an ordinary car licence, otherwise there is no point. However if that is so, then if the police stop you they will look at the original plate and treat it as an 8.5 tonner so you'd better have the right HGV licence or you're in big trouble!

As both Quintin and Moodybloo say, get on to Ford or VOSA and they will tell you what to do. It may well be just a paper excercise but you will need a new plate and only the manufacturer or their authorised agent can issue one at the relevant fee. You can't just make your own and put whatever you want on it!

If you convert permanently to a camper you would be advised to change the taxation class to 'Private HGV': as Cedar says you must not, ever, use the truck for commercial goods carrying from then on. DVLA will change the reg. doc. to Motor Caravan, Private HGV and show the newly plated weight foc on application. Of course you should also display the notice "Not for hire or reward" on the bottom of the driver's door just like we all do, don't we? (Any vehicle from 3.5 tonnes MGW upwards cannot be classed in Private Light Goods whatever it's use but if a permanent camper on an HGV base it only requires a class 4 (car) MOT. At least up to 7.5 tonnes, I don't know above that weight.

Sorry if I sound pedantic Andy, but this is a complicated subject with lots of pitfalls and misinformation flying around, not a few grey areas, and penalties for getting it wrong can be heavy. And I've not even ventured into Tachograph regulations!

IMHO you would be well advised to cough up the fee ( I think Moodybloo's was about £250, mine cost £100 but both were different types of upgrades involving no mechanical changes on 4-tonne Ivecos) and let the professionals do it, then it should be straightforward and you are not risking big fines.

Ring Ford Trucks tomorrow!

Nigel