Apply to change the weight an HGV or trailer can carry or make a notifiable alteration
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-24)

Report you’ve changed a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or trailer chassis, weight, tyres or brakes (a ‘notifiable alteration’) or change the weight you can carry.

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

Change the weight you can carry

When you use the form to apply to change the weight you can carry (https://www.gov.uk/specialist-tests-for-lorries/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 to send your application

Apply online

Download and save the form on your computer.

Fill in the form.

Use the service to apply for a certificate for a lorry or trailer (https://www.gov.uk/apply-vehicle-test-certificate-lorry-trailer) to send the form to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

If you are applying to fix a mistake on your plate or plating certificate you need to attach evidence that it’s wrong. Depending on how the vehicle was approved, you will need to attach a photocopy of either the certificate of conformity or IVA certificate.

Pay the application fee by credit or debit card (DVSA will email you to tell you how to pay after you’ve applied), or using a pre-funded account (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vosa-pre-funded-customer-account-application-form).

Apply by post

Download and fill in the form and post it and any supporting documents to DVSA.

HGV Team / Trailer Team (as appropriate)DVSAThe EllipsePadley RoadSwanseaSA1 8AN

What happens next

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

Your vehicle will be inspected by DVSA if it has been uprated or downrated before it’s issued 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.