Uprating (up-plating?) - paper exercise: am I missing something?

[Tiger Bear]

I have started the process of increasing the GVW of our recent purchase from 3500kg to 3650kg. Yes, I am aware that we will no longer benefit from the reduced road tax, but that doesn't really matter; anyway, depending on our usage, we may change it to disabled class.

My understanding was that it was a simple paper exercise, and Auto-Trail sent me the following documents...

A certificate of conformity...

that now shows the permissible GVW as 3650kg...

a covering letter...

a new weight label...

It was my understanding that the certificate of conformity and the covering letter would be sufficient proof when making the application. However, when I spoke with a call taker at the DVLA yesterday, and confirmed what documents I had, he said I would need the go to a DVSA weighbridge and get a print out.

Now I am confused!

Bear in mind that the call taker at DVLA was the only person I spoke with (I couldn't get through to the DVSA), and he also spoke about a possible reduction in VED, which is, as I understand it, no longer possible. Thus, I thought perhaps he was mistaken.

Can anyone offer accurate information?
Thanks in advance

 

[Tiger Bear]

If I understand what is being said here that means that there will be no ved benefit and we will have to drive slower in France. Is that right?

That was my understanding when I started this thread, that the reduced VED no longer applies, after reading this thread...
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...has-been-changed-without-consultation.310528/
It turns out it doesn't come into force until the new tax year.

As for driving conditions on European roads, I can't answer that, but I'm sure others will have more knowledge to share.


EDIT....
I've just realised that you won't receive yours until April. I'm not sure how it affects you with the change in VED. My understanding, albeit I could be mistaken, was that it is according to the first registration; i.e. if yours is above 3500kg from the start, you may benefit.

 

[VXman]

Ok. I understand in UK it’s an odd system, but for me and many of us, the biggest miles we do are abroad (luckily), so upplating comes with lower speeds, and other limitations.

Toll booths don't weigh the vehicle so unless your vehicle had increased dramatically in dimensions as well as weight it actually won't make a difference.

As for lower speeds - For me 10mph is really neither here nor there when travelling for leisure, I'm in no rush. I rarely use tolls for this reason.

 

[poppycamper]

As for lower speeds - For me 10mph is really neither here nor there when travelling for leisure, I'm in no rush. I rarely use tolls for this reason.

100%

 

[Saucer]

Toll booths don't weigh the vehicle so unless your vehicle had increased dramatically in dimensions as well as weight it actually won't make a difference.

As for lower speeds - For me 10mph is really neither here nor there when travelling for leisure, I'm in no rush. I rarely use tolls for this reason.

I know I need to get into that mindset. We’ll be retiring next year so will have a lot more time.

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[BrochMike]

will have to drive slower in France.

Also lots of restrictions excluding anything above 3.5t around towns...

 

[VXman]

Also lots of restrictions excluding anything above 3.5t around towns...

Spent 9 months in France/Europe visiting numerous towns/villages in the last 3 years and never found being over 3.5 a problem.

 

[BrochMike]

Spent 9 months in France/Europe visiting numerous towns/villages in the last 3 years and never found being over 3.5 a problem.

Can't argue with your experience.
Do you enter these restricted areas?
Do you have Angles Morts stickers?
Do you care?

 

[lou020]

Just seen confirmation on Dvla check vehicle tax that my 2020 Rapido has been up-plated to 4000kgs. I used SV tech. started the application to Dvla in mid November.... had to prove to SV tech that I had bought/fitted air suspension to the rear axle. otherwise could only go to 3850kgs. air suspension gives me an extra 240kg on the rear axle. Dvla did send my application back because I hadn't applied and enclosed a cheque for the cheaper tax. not got the V5 back yet as only issued 30/12. very easy process.

 

[Saucer]

Also lots of restrictions excluding anything above 3.5t around towns...

And looking at the limits, the speed limit difference is more like 20mph in most countries. There’s slow and then there’s slow.

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[poppycamper]

It took the DVSA 3 months to tell us that VWE were no longer accredited.

Am I mixing companies up here?? Don't think i am.. but this to me is a startling comment...
Lots on here swear by VWE over SV Tech because they are cheaper than SV Tech..
So, if so, cheaper ain't always best

 

[1967bowesj]

Am I mixing companies up here?? Don't think i am.. but this to me is a startling comment...
Lots on here swear by VWE over SV Tech because they are cheaper than SV Tech..
So, if so, cheaper ain't always best

Are VWE accredited again?

 

[VXman]

Can't argue with your experience.
Do you enter these restricted areas?
Do you have Angles Morts stickers?
Do you care?

I didn't come across any 3.5 restrictions that affected our plans.

I do have Anglemorts but I must confess to not having actually put them on the van. I keep 'forgetting.' I must admit I have a problem understanding the logic of them. Length is the issue with blind spots - moving from 3.5 to over 3.5 doesn't affect my visibility!

 

[poppycamper]

Are VWE accredited again?

Sorry don't know.. did not know they were un accredited .
Just going by Andysprinter post..
When you say VWE accredited again, is it knowledge that they were no longer DVLA accredited??

 

[Lenny HB]

Dvla did send my application back because I hadn't applied and enclosed a cheque for the cheaper tax.

???.
They send you a cheque for the refund.

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[VXman]

Am I mixing companies up here?? Don't think i am.. but this to me is a startling comment...
Lots on here swear by VWE over SV Tech because they are cheaper than SV Tech..
So, if so, cheaper ain't always best

VWE did a perfectly good job for me. It's not rocket science - more an admin job. I didn't want to be ripped off by SV tech just because they seemed to have a monopoly at the time. I wanted to encourage a newbie into the market place.

I don't know if VWE are taking on clients again but there is nothing on their website suggesting the are not open for business.

Van Weight Engineering

Need to change the weight of your vehicle? You're in the right place.

www.vanweightengineering.com

 

[MisterB]

VWE did a perfectly good job for me. It's not rocket science - more an admin job. I didn't want to be ripped off by SV tech just because they seemed to have a monopoly at the time. I wanted to encourage a newbie into the market place.

I don't know if VWE are taking on clients again but there is nothing on their website suggesting the are not open for business.

Van Weight Engineering

Need to change the weight of your vehicle? You're in the right place.

www.vanweightengineering.com

NOTE: Due to unforeseen circumstances we are currently unable to progress any UK weight change enquiries at the moment (Irish & ROTW cases are unaffected).
I am hoping to be back in action as soon as possible, but unfortunately at this time I am unsure of how long this will take to rectify.
Any new enquiries will be logged, & added to my database of people to contact once I'm back up & running again.
If you're emailing chasing the progress on this, as pinky-promised I'll email you once I'm back up & running again, and your email won't need a reply.

Thank you, Dee

 

[pxh38257]

I had ours uprated Last year but needed a report by one of the recognised vehical engineers. I think the report and new VIN plate cost a total of £250 including VAT

 

[MisterB]

Martech have been in contact with me and i have purchased the 5000kg airbag set at the Black Friday price as they didnt have them in stock when i tried to order !! Nice to see when a business honours their agreeement - thank you Martech !!!

just need to fit them when they arrive next week sometime ...

 

[1967bowesj]

Martech have been in contact with me and i have purchased the 5000kg airbag set at the Black Friday price as they didnt have them in stock when i tried to order !! Nice to see when a business honours their agreeement - thank you Martech !!!

just need to fit them when they arrive next week sometime ...

I did say in a post they are a great company to deal with, helped me with my alko kit and at average good price for what you got

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[1967bowesj]

NOTE: Due to unforeseen circumstances we are currently unable to progress any UK weight change enquiries at the moment (Irish & ROTW cases are unaffected).
I am hoping to be back in action as soon as possible, but unfortunately at this time I am unsure of how long this will take to rectify.
Any new enquiries will be logged, & added to my database of people to contact once I'm back up & running again.
If you're emailing chasing the progress on this, as pinky-promised I'll email you once I'm back up & running again, and your email won't need a reply.

Thank you, Dee

Think they have been removed for a fair few moth now.
Some swear by them others not so, I can only speak of my dealings with them and let’s say he didn’t fill me with confidence in his knowledge. There are even some on here that had their paperwork returned by dvla explaining VWE had been removed and so could not proceed, this obviously should have been explained by VWE upfront.

 

[MisterB]

i will be contacting SV Tech on Monday morning - just to ensure i put the correct tyres on for additional weight, as i am changing them ASAP - hopefully the existing Ducato alloys dont need changing, but if they do, then now is the time to do it!!

 

[lou020]

???.
They send you a cheque for the refund.

There was no refund, paid old tax by direct debit. DVLA themselves sorned it from 1st December and I had to send a cheque for the new tax to start 1st January. Whole application sent 20th November...New V5 received 2nd January.

 

[TrudeandDall]

There was no refund, paid old tax by direct debit. DVLA themselves sorned it from 1st December and I had to send a cheque for the new tax to start 1st January. Whole application sent 20th November...New V5 received 2nd January.

Is you MH recorded as "M1" ?

 

[lou020]

Is you MH recorded as "M1" ?

can only see ' M' on the V5. it has got the cheap tax now.

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[MichaelT]

VWE did a perfectly good job for me. It's not rocket science - more an admin job. I didn't want to be ripped off by SV tech just because they seemed to have a monopoly at the time. I wanted to encourage a newbie into the market place.

I don't know if VWE are taking on clients again but there is nothing on their website suggesting the are not open for business.

Van Weight Engineering

Need to change the weight of your vehicle? You're in the right place.

www.vanweightengineering.com

That's why VWE are now not credited I expect as they thought you could just add axle weights up and hey presto but you have to take into account the chassis type and overall limits I believe. I don't think SV are ripping people off for doing a thorough job and from memory only a few quid more than VWE charged, problem is now they are snowed under.

 

[1967bowesj]

That's why VWE are now not credited I expect as they thought you could just add axle weights up and hey presto but you have to take into account the chassis type and overall limits I believe. I don't think SV are ripping people off for doing a thorough job and from memory only a few quid more than VWE charged, problem is now they are snowed under.

Wonder if dvla are looking back at old entries from vwe and assessing if they need changing.? Odd that they havent been accredited again yet.

 

[suavecarve]

Just to add the side of VWE before the rumour continues and ends up as a fact.
I have used them and John Ruffles before them and SV tech just recently for uprating.
JR had a reputation of getting around to dealing with it eventually.
I found SV tech and VWE equally efficient, but I got a personal reply from VWE about the current pause in work for them.
Back in early August, he was hoping for a conclusion by February so it is not a surprise to him that they have not yet been re accredited. He also advised me as to the reason for the audit.

As, if or when VWE are back up and running I would definitely point people in their direction purely because you get the same result for quite a bit less money

 

[1967bowesj]

Just to add the side of VWE before the rumour continues and ends up as a fact.
I have used them and John Ruffles before them and SV tech just recently for uprating.
JR had a reputation of getting around to dealing with it eventually.
I found SV tech and VWE equally efficient, but I got a personal reply from VWE about the current pause in work for them.
Back in early August, he was hoping for a conclusion by February so it is not a surprise to him that they have not yet been re accredited. He also advised me as to the reason for the audit.

As, if or when VWE are back up and running I would definitely point people in their direction purely because you get the same result for quite a bit less money

Why does he not advise the reason on his web site, even the disclosure is hidden away?

 

[Whippet93]

can only see ' M' on the V5. it has got the cheap tax now.

After getting mine up rated the taxation class is private HGV, with lower rate VED.

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[suavecarve]

Why does he not advise the reason on his web site, even the disclosure is hidden away?

That would be for him to know not for me to speculate about.

I note your other comment about VWE documents being returned "Unaccredited" by DVLA, but I can only find the one on here

We’ve been trying to up plate our Sprinter since June. It took the DVSA 3 months to tell us that VWE were no longer accredited. Resubmitted using S V Tech to 4050kg and after 2 months the V5 has come back showing 4250kg!! My local MP , John Whitby , is looking into it. Also having been in touch with S V Tech just before Christmas it now appears we will have our taxation class reduced.

which was obviously tried in June and may be the case of unfortunate timing in that the paperwork was sent off the audit then commenced as this is about the time of VWE disaccreditation. Obviously if there are more, bung me a link.

In comparison part of his email (August) to me was "so I couldn't in good conscience ask you to send your pack/logbook off to the DVLA without my normal guarantee that it will be approved without question"