Maverick355
Free Member
Been a bit quiet on here of late, is there anyone still around?...
At the risk of going over old ground again with the MOT / Taxation class and driving licence 'grey areas', yesterday I took my 2500HD Silverado for its MOT test only to be told by the tester that he couldnt test it because it had a 5th wheel hitch in the bed... Despite him testing / passing it last year.
After some discussion he agreed to test it as a Class 7 (which is what Id expected anyway) if I removed the 5th wheel hitch, which I did.
The crux of his arguement was that in his opinion the rules state that any vehicle with articulated capability is classed as a HGV and therefore he couldnt test them (as he wasnt licenced to test HGV). I was grateful he tested it at class 7 but thought I would do some digging on returning home. This is despite me making a lot (so I thought!) of investigations before even buying this set up 2 years ago...
So, searching done this is what I have found. Is this what others also believe to be true and if so there are a few questions at the end which I still have... :
DVLA states on this page: https://www.gov.uk/annual-test-for-lorries-buses-and-trailers
The annual test for lorries, trailers and buses is similar to the MOT test that cars take each year.
The annual test is for:
The page then goes on to say:
Check Form V112/G for a list of vehicles that are exempt from the annual test. You might still need to get an MOT for the vehicle.
So I checked that form V112/G (here: Broken Link Removed)
and it says it is a form for:
Please read the appropriate notes below and over the page before filling in this Declaration. Once this Declaration has been used to tax the vehicle, it should be kept by the applicant. It must not be sent to any other Government Agency.
The form seems to be a self completed document which you send nowhere (??) but lets you claim that your vehicle is not subject to HGV testing requirements. The exemption which covers us is:
35. Heavy motor cars or cars constructed or adapted for the purpose of [FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]forming part of an articulated vehicle and which are used for drawing only a trailer falling within a class of vehicle specified in paragraph 13, 14 or 15 of this schedule or a trailer being used for or in connection with any purpose for which it is authorised to be used on roads by an order under Section 44(1) of the 1988 Act, being an order authorising that trailer or any class or description of trailers comprising that trailer to be used on roads.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]Paragraph 13 reads:[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]13. [FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]Living vans the Design Gross Weight of which does not exceed 3500kgs. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]Paragraphs 14 and 15 are concerned with dentist trailers etc and trailers with over-run brakes. But it is paragaraphs 35 & 13 which I think cover our uses.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]I then got to thinking about what does Design Gross Weight mean (as opposed to GVW or MAM). From what I gather it means the same thing, the gross weight of the trailer when fully loaded. This was a bit of a worry for me as pulling an American 5'er I know it weighs more than 3.5 tons. However the method of specifing a semi trailers maximum laden weight I found to be (here: http://webarchive.nationalarchives....rican-caravan-trailer-brakes-and-coupling.pdf):[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]
As plated on the van, this would still be over the 3500Kg limit, however in reality we dont get to this weight when were towing (will be checked on a weighbridge though..), so I could easily replate the van and then be legal, right?.....
So it seems like my MOT chap was right, in that all vehicles with articulated trailer capability are classed as HGV, however it also seems that by declaring that vehicle to only ever be towing a living van of not more than 3500Kg that it then becomes exempt from HGV (and back to class 7 regs I assume).
My questions to anyone who is more knowledgable in these matters are:
1) Do I just fill in this V112G form and keep it in the truck to prove its 'non HGV' status?
2) Should the truck be declared as anything other than PLG with DVLA?
3) Can I simply replate my caravan to lower its maximum axle weight to 3500Kg?
4) Im driving on 'grandfather rights' licence so should be good for 8250Kg, whereas my in reality Im around 7000Kg (truck is 2900Kg with fuel, wife and boy, junk - hitch load will be 600Kg and caravan axle weight of 3500Kg - will make sure of this). Am I correct in my assumption here too?
As I said at the start (sorry for the long post) I thought I had all this covered 2 years ago when I set out to buy all this equipment, but the MOT guy really threw me yesterday and I thought the regs might have changed. Just after a sanity check and confirmation of my assumptions is all!
Cheers,
Simon
[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
At the risk of going over old ground again with the MOT / Taxation class and driving licence 'grey areas', yesterday I took my 2500HD Silverado for its MOT test only to be told by the tester that he couldnt test it because it had a 5th wheel hitch in the bed... Despite him testing / passing it last year.
After some discussion he agreed to test it as a Class 7 (which is what Id expected anyway) if I removed the 5th wheel hitch, which I did.
The crux of his arguement was that in his opinion the rules state that any vehicle with articulated capability is classed as a HGV and therefore he couldnt test them (as he wasnt licenced to test HGV). I was grateful he tested it at class 7 but thought I would do some digging on returning home. This is despite me making a lot (so I thought!) of investigations before even buying this set up 2 years ago...
So, searching done this is what I have found. Is this what others also believe to be true and if so there are a few questions at the end which I still have... :
DVLA states on this page: https://www.gov.uk/annual-test-for-lorries-buses-and-trailers
The annual test for lorries, trailers and buses is similar to the MOT test that cars take each year.
The annual test is for:
- motor vehicles with a gross weight of more than 3,500 kilograms (kg)
- vehicles that are built or have been adapted to form part of an articulated vehicle
- semi-trailers
- horseboxes with a gross weight of more than 3,500 kg
- ‘A’ frame trailers and converter dollies manufactured on or after 1 January 1979
- trailers with an unladen weight of more than 1,020 kg with powered braking systems (instead of standard overrun brakes and as well as the required parking brake)
- all public service vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats - not including the driver’s seat
The page then goes on to say:
Check Form V112/G for a list of vehicles that are exempt from the annual test. You might still need to get an MOT for the vehicle.
So I checked that form V112/G (here: Broken Link Removed)
and it says it is a form for:
Claim for Exemption from Goods Vehicle Testing Requirements and Vehicles outside the scope of the Goods Vehicle (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988 (the 1988 Regs) but which may have an allocated Plate. Please read the appropriate notes below and over the page before filling in this Declaration. Once this Declaration has been used to tax the vehicle, it should be kept by the applicant. It must not be sent to any other Government Agency.
The form seems to be a self completed document which you send nowhere (??) but lets you claim that your vehicle is not subject to HGV testing requirements. The exemption which covers us is:
35. Heavy motor cars or cars constructed or adapted for the purpose of [FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]forming part of an articulated vehicle and which are used for drawing only a trailer falling within a class of vehicle specified in paragraph 13, 14 or 15 of this schedule or a trailer being used for or in connection with any purpose for which it is authorised to be used on roads by an order under Section 44(1) of the 1988 Act, being an order authorising that trailer or any class or description of trailers comprising that trailer to be used on roads.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]Paragraph 13 reads:[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]13. [FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]Living vans the Design Gross Weight of which does not exceed 3500kgs. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]Paragraphs 14 and 15 are concerned with dentist trailers etc and trailers with over-run brakes. But it is paragaraphs 35 & 13 which I think cover our uses.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]I then got to thinking about what does Design Gross Weight mean (as opposed to GVW or MAM). From what I gather it means the same thing, the gross weight of the trailer when fully loaded. This was a bit of a worry for me as pulling an American 5'er I know it weighs more than 3.5 tons. However the method of specifing a semi trailers maximum laden weight I found to be (here: http://webarchive.nationalarchives....rican-caravan-trailer-brakes-and-coupling.pdf):[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond][FONT=AGaramond,AGaramond]
In the case of a semitrailer or centre-axle trailer, the maximum mass to be considered for classifying the trailer corresponds to the static vertical load transmitted to the ground by the axle or axles of the semitrailer or centre-axle trailer when coupled to the towing vehicle and carrying its maximum load. As plated on the van, this would still be over the 3500Kg limit, however in reality we dont get to this weight when were towing (will be checked on a weighbridge though..), so I could easily replate the van and then be legal, right?.....
So it seems like my MOT chap was right, in that all vehicles with articulated trailer capability are classed as HGV, however it also seems that by declaring that vehicle to only ever be towing a living van of not more than 3500Kg that it then becomes exempt from HGV (and back to class 7 regs I assume).
My questions to anyone who is more knowledgable in these matters are:
1) Do I just fill in this V112G form and keep it in the truck to prove its 'non HGV' status?
2) Should the truck be declared as anything other than PLG with DVLA?
3) Can I simply replate my caravan to lower its maximum axle weight to 3500Kg?
4) Im driving on 'grandfather rights' licence so should be good for 8250Kg, whereas my in reality Im around 7000Kg (truck is 2900Kg with fuel, wife and boy, junk - hitch load will be 600Kg and caravan axle weight of 3500Kg - will make sure of this). Am I correct in my assumption here too?
As I said at the start (sorry for the long post) I thought I had all this covered 2 years ago when I set out to buy all this equipment, but the MOT guy really threw me yesterday and I thought the regs might have changed. Just after a sanity check and confirmation of my assumptions is all!
Cheers,
Simon
[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]