DownplatingAs well as replating a vehicle to legally carry heavier loads, owners can also reduce the legal maximum weight their vehicle can carry. This is called downplating and it normally occurs for one of two reasons; either licence restrictions applying to drivers turning 70 and those not having the C1 category on their licence, or for Low Emission purposes whereby the owner wants to reduce their payment amount by reducing payload allowance, thus dropping into a cheaper category.

In the past, the DVSA insisted on a physical change happening to the vehicle by reducing the suspension travel and packing out the bump-stops with a “packer kit”. However, the DVSA now realises that a physical change doesn’t have to happen and instead the alteration is made on the vehicle’s paperwork through the UK’s Notifiable Alteration procedure .

Essentially, SvTech is able to downplate 10-12 tonnes HGVs to 7500kg, so that non-HGV licence holders can drive them on their normal licence (this only applies to those drivers who passed their test before 1st January 1997).
Commercial vehicle downrates to 7500kg require that the bodied weight of the vehicle is no heavier than 5500kg, unless specially equipped with fixed equipment.
Start by having your vehicle weighed on a public weighbridge and, if 5500kg or less, contact us for further information. – Quick Enquiry

Downrates to 3500kg have become more popular as more ‘younger’ drivers, who passed after 1997, are capped to this weight.
For commercial vehicle downrates the DVSA rules have been tightened up in the challenge of stopping LGVs being overloaded.
The new rules for plated vehicle downrates to 3500kg are as follows:
Panel vans (not Lutons) with a single integral body, must have a minimum payload of 1000kg.
This means the unladen/empty weight of the vehicle must not exceed 2500kg.
Commercial chassis with body. These vehicles must have a minimum payload of 1250kg, though certain vehicle types are excluded from the scheme (** see below excluded vehicles).
When weighing the vehicle, it must be the bodied weight and not just the chassis cab weight. The unladen/empty weight must be less than 2250kg with body.

If you initially have your vehicle weighed to ascertain the unladen weight, then contact us if you think your vehicle will meet with these figures. Please be aware that you may have to weigh your vehicle a second time through a DVSA process (photos/video etc.) following the initial weight check and we will advise you of this. – Quick Enquiry

Commercial vehicle downrate pack

Important information about your weight ticket – please read      Weighing Guidance Sheet

For motorhome downrates please see the motorhome page for this –  Motorhomes

Would you Like to Know More?

Contact us today though the ‘quick enquiry link’ above or  enquiries@svtech.co.uk.