Apply to change the weight an HGV or trailer can carry or make a notifiable alteration

Overview

You have to apply to DVSA to:

• report you’ve changed the chassis, weight, tyres or brakes (a ‘notifiable alteration’)
• report a mistake that you want to fix on your ministry plate or plating certificate
• apply for a design weight certificate

Change the weight you can carry

When you apply to change the weight you can carry this is known as:

• ‘up-plating’ if you want to increase the maximum permitted weight you can carry and have not made physical changes to the design
• ‘uprating’ if you want to increase the maximum permitted weight you can carry and the design has been modified
• ‘down-plating’ if you want to reduce the maximum permitted weight you can carry and have not made physical changes to the design (this can lower its vehicle tax rate)
• ‘downrating’ if you want to reduce the maximum permitted weight you can carry and the design has been modified (this can lower its vehicle tax rate)

How much it costs

DVSA can charge £27 for all types of application.

You might not have to pay to fix a mistake if it was DVSA’s fault. DVSA will email you to tell you if you have to pay after you have applied.

How to apply

Fill in the form to apply.

How to send your application

Upload your completed application form online.

You’ll need:

• the vehicle identification number (VIN) or chassis number
• your username and password if you’ve used the service before

You can register in the service if you’ve not used it before.

What happens next

DVSA aims to process your application in 5 days if you have filled in the form correctly.

DVSA will inspect your vehicle if it has been uprated or downrated before they issue it with a new plate and plating certificate at the new weights.

DVSA does not usually inspect up-plated and down-plated vehicles. However, if you are applying to down-plate your vehicle, you will need to provide evidence of its unladen weight before DVSA can issue a new plate and plating certificate.

While your application is being processed, you cannot use your vehicle or trailer at the new plated weight. You can only use your vehicle at the new plated weight after you have displayed the new plate.

Print the plate and plating certificate

DVSA will email an A4 PDF document to you. This contains an A5-sized plate and an A5-sized plating certificate on the same page.

You will need to print this out and then cut the paper into its 2 parts.

You can print on any type or colour of A4 paper, as long as all parts of the plate and plating certificate are clear to read. DVSA recommends that you laminate the plate to help protect it, but it is not a requirement.

Save the PDF file so you can print out replacements if the plate or plating certificate are damaged or lost in the future.

Display the plate and keeping the plating certificate

You must display the plate:

• within the vehicle’s cab if it’s an HGV
• on the chassis if it’s a trailer

Fix the plate securely in a position that’s easy to see and read from. The plate must be clear enough to read at all times.

You can keep the plating certificate with the other vehicle documents (for example, in an office) or in the vehicle.

Other ways to apply

The quickest way to apply is to send the form online.

You can send the form by post if you cannot use the online service.