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To take advantage of lower rates of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) whilst still maintaining the residual value, safety, mechanical capabilities and specification of an existing vehicle. It is now possible (with two exceptions below) to downplate a heavy goods vehicle WITHOUT a technical change being made to the vehicle.
The downplating arrangements are NOT intended as a way for an operator to avoid any legal responsibilities or obligations. For downplating vehicles to 7.5 and 3.5 tonnes GVW, or lower, it is STILL necessary to carry out physical alterations to the vehicle. The requirements for vocational (HGV) driving licences, operator licence and drivers hours (tachographs) are based on the design weight of the vehicle. Downplating as described here does not involve any changes to the design weights. In cases where such alterations are required, operators should contact the original vehicle manufacturer or specialist convertor. Unfortunately, VI Technical Services or Test Stations cannot advise operators on individual options for vehicle downplating. For specific advice on downplating an individual vehicle operators should contact their dealer or vehicle manufacturer. However, VITS can provide information on general downplating procedures (see useful contacts box).
Step 1
Obtain a VTG10 form from your local VI testing station, or the VI Technical Services Branch at Swansea (see useful contacts for full address).
Step 2
Complete the VTG10 form --- a typical downplating statement in part H of that form might be: "I wish to replate the vehicle from 38-tonnes GTW.to 28 tonnes GTW "You can downplate a vehicle WITHOUT a modification to the vehicle purely for VED purposes. However, the design weights and construction requirements remain for the vehicle.
Step 3
Option 1-You can EITHER send the completed VTG10 form, together with the £13.50 fee, back to Swansea to the address on the form (see also useful contacts box) for approval and issuing of a new vehicle plate and plating certificate.
Which ever method you elect to use, you must submit your existing plating certificate or a copy of that certificate with your application.
Step 4
You will receive a new laminated plate (VTG6) which must be displayed on the vehicle AND a plating certificate (VTG7) which must be kept with the vehicle's records. Operators should return their old plate and plating certificates to the VI at Swansea or their local test station, where they made their original downplating application.
Step 5
Having received your new vehicle plate and plating certificate you can now apply to your local Vehicle Registration Office (VRO) in order to tax the vehicle at the new VED rate --details can be found in local phone directory under "Transport, Department of.." or at participating Post Offices. (For details of local VROs see also useful contacts.)
You can EITHER, by arrangement, take the vehicle's Type Approval certificate to your local VI Test Station, along with a completed VTG10 form and the fee , for your type Approval Certificate to be amended. OR you can send your Type Approval Certificate plus VTG10 form and fee to the VI at Swansea. (You should allow time for it to be posted and processed and returned.)
NB You CANNOT register the vehicle at the new weights until the amended Type Approval Certificate is returned to you.
Applications to downplate or uprate a vehicle via a VTG10 form must be accompanied by a fee for £13.50. Where an inspection is required it will be carried out at the operator's local VI test station or at DESIGNATED PREMISES (if appropriate). If the latter, then a supplementary fee will be payable to cover VI's additional costs.
Vehicle Excise Duty bands in most cases change in multiples of 1,000kg, e.g. a typical band for two-axle rigids is "over 15,000 and not over 17,000kg". If an operator wishes to tax the vehicle in this band the maximum GB weight which can be shown on the plate is 17,000kg.
| Main VED rates: | |
| two-axle 18-tonne rigid | £1,600 |
| three-axle 26-tonne rigid | £2,340 |
| four-axle 32-tonne rigid | £4,400 |
| four-axle artic at 33-tonnes | £2,530 |
| five-axle artic ( 2+3) at 38 tonne | £2,710 |
| five axle artic (2+3) at 40-tonne | £3,950 |
| six-axle artic (3+3) at 41 tonnes | £2,500 |
| five axle artic (3+2) at 40 tonnes | £2,500 |
Failure to licence or re-licence your veicle at the appropriate rate is an offence attracting a maximum fine of £1,000 or five times the annual rate of duty which ever is the greater. If you have any queries relating to VED, either contact your local Vehicle Registration Office or the DVLA customer enquiry unit (see useful contacts).
Commercial Motor would like to thank the Vehicle Inspectorate Technical Services Branch at Swansea for all their help and advice in the production of this wallchart.
To take advantage of recent legislation allowing higher maximum gross weights. Typically, for artics from 38 tonnes GTW to 40 and 41-tonnes, and two-axle rigids from 17 to 18-tonnes GVW. (For full details of changes and latest permissible weights see the UK weights & dimensions information on this website)
VI Technical Services and Test Stations cannot advise operator on individual options for vehicle uprating. For advice operators should contact their local dealer or vehicle manufacturer.
In addition you can elect to uprate your vehicle to any weight up to the new maximum limit for that vehicle configuration. In the case of multi-axle vehicles (including three-axle tractors and rigids) you MUST provide details of the vehicle's outer axle spread (OAS), and bogie spread, in metres on the form together with details of the type of suspension fitted declaring whether road-friendly or not. Whichever method you elect to use you MUST submit your existing plating certificate or a copy with your application. NB. The above applies only to vehicles whose design weights allow for uprating without any technical modification, as shown on the current vehicle plating certificate.
Operators may wish to uprate a vehicle which has previously been downplated, or originally supplied at a lower design weight. It is therefore necessary to know what limitation was introduced to the original vehicle before you can assess the viability of uprating it. The first point of reference for this original information should be the vehicle manufacturer's chassis plate. If the design weight on the manufacturer's plate is higher than that on the plating certificate then contact either your local dealer, vehicle converter or the vehicle manufacturer for advice on suitability for uprating. In all cases it will be necessary to correct or modify previous mechanical limitations imposed on the vehicle when it was originally downplated. Typically these mechanical limitations can include the method of attachment of the fifth wheel to the chassis.