How to change MH revenue weight and taxation class

[GeoffL]

We picked up our MH from the dealers yesterday. When I committed to buy it, I checked the vehicle plate under the bonnet -- 3850kg MAM, which the salesman verbally confirmed. When we got sight of the V5C to tax it yesterday, the V5 said "Revenue weight: 3500kg, taxation class PLG". The V5 said that we should go to a Post Office if we wanted to change the taxation class and revenue weight.

At the Post Office, the teller said she couldn't do it as there wasn't an option on her screen for that. She phoned some sort of help line, who confirmed that she couldn't do what we wanted. My wife really loves this MH and so I got talked out of rejecting the MH until the taxation class issue was resolved and ended up taxing it as PLG.

The dealer said that it's a simple matter to restore the payload. However, now that I have the MH, I Googled, got a mixed bag and I'm not sure the dealer is correct. Some Google results suggest that I need to obtain a replating certificate or certificate of design weight and potentially jump through a lot of bureaucratic hoops to get the revenue weight/taxation class changed. I also suspect things might have changed now that we no longer have tax discs.

I'd be grateful for advice on how to get this sorted. TIA, Geoff

 

[wildebus]

We picked up our MH from the dealers yesterday. When I committed to buy it, I checked the vehicle plate under the bonnet -- 3850kg MAM, which the salesman verbally confirmed. When we got sight of the V5C to tax it yesterday, the V5 said "Revenue weight: 3500kg, taxation class PLG". The V5 said that we should go to a Post Office if we wanted to change the taxation class and revenue weight.

At the Post Office, the teller said she couldn't do it as there wasn't an option on her screen for that. She phoned some sort of help line, who confirmed that she couldn't do what we wanted. My wife really loves this MH and so I got talked out of rejecting the MH until the taxation class issue was resolved and ended up taxing it as PLG.

The dealer said that it's a simple matter to restore the payload. However, now that I have the MH, I Googled, got a mixed bag and I'm not sure the dealer is correct. Some Google results suggest that I need to obtain a replating certificate or certificate of design weight and potentially jump through a lot of bureaucratic hoops to get the revenue weight/taxation class changed. I also suspect things might have changed now that we no longer have tax discs.

I'd be grateful for advice on how to get this sorted. TIA, Geoff

I am having a similar problem with changing the taxation class on my new van.

I have an LT46 (4.6t) minibus and the revenue weight is 4600kg, but the taxation class is LGV for some reason, which makes the tax higher then it should be.
The DVLA info suggests the taxation class is changed at the Post Office when you tax it so I asked them to change to "Private HGV" which they tried to do but failed as it was not a field they could alter.
So had to tax as LGV, and I sent V5C back to DVLA with class changed to Private HGV (and also type from Minibus to 'Van with Windows' as seats mostly out).
DVLA eventually wrote back asking for photos of exterior changes.... called them and told them not made any and all I have done is taken seats out. Took photos of inside and posted those back to them and waiting to hear back now. Been around 7 weeks so far since initial change request.


So .... once you do get replated to 3850kg, then it would seem the fun starts to get the taxation class changed. (How mine ended up being an LGV @£260 a year at 4.6t I don't know? And 16 seat Minibuses are £165 as well, so it is wrong on both weight and type. I know someone with a MWB LT35 from the same original council owner who is paying £165)

 

[Wooie1958]

Exactly the same thing happened to me because the nobhead dealer i bought mine from cocked up :mad2:

The only way the DVLA would change the details on the V5 was to see the Certificate of Conformity that showed the higher weight of 3,850kg.

 

[GeoffL]

Thanks all.

FWIW, the MH is already plated at 3850kg -- at least, that's what on the plate under the bonnet. Looking at previous tax discs it seems that someone (possibly a previous owner) changed the taxation class and revenue weight on or before 2009, I suspect to enable the MH to be driven on a car license by someone who passed their test after 1997 or was over 70 years old and didn't want to undertake the necessary medical.

So the records at DVLA no longer match the physical plate on the vehicle. I was hoping it would be a simple matter to revert the DVLA records to the original specification ...

 

[vwalan]

Thanks all.

FWIW, the MH is already plated at 3850kg -- at least, that's what on the plate under the bonnet. Looking at previous tax discs it seems that someone (possibly a previous owner) changed the taxation class and revenue weight on or before 2009, I suspect to enable the MH to be driven on a car license by someone who passed their test after 1997 or was over 70 years old and didn't want to undertake the necessary medical.

So the records at DVLA no longer match the physical plate on the vehicle. I was hoping it would be a simple matter to revert the DVLA records to the original specification ...

dvla dont issue vin plates . they possibly only have the info that its a 3,500kg gvw vehicle . that sounds normal. many get down rated on paper when being registered . even more abroad.
anyone can knock up a plate . might not be legal as such . but vin plates are available and have been for years to the general public . they have no meaning unless its registered correctly .
i have always found dvla efficient and helpfull when ever i wanted things done .
half the trouble is folk fill the forms in wrong .

 

[Fazerloz]

This really should be your dealers problem. He even says its easy to do. Tell him to stop pissing about and get on with it then as it his fault.

 

[Wooie1958]

Thanks all.

FWIW, the MH is already plated at 3850kg -- at least, that's what on the plate under the bonnet. Looking at previous tax discs it seems that someone (possibly a previous owner) changed the taxation class and revenue weight on or before 2009, I suspect to enable the MH to be driven on a car license by someone who passed their test after 1997 or was over 70 years old and didn't want to undertake the necessary medical.

So the records at DVLA no longer match the physical plate on the vehicle. I was hoping it would be a simple matter to revert the DVLA records to the original specification ...

In that case give SvTech a ring 01772 621800 as ***** suggested SvTech

Ask for Gareth or Steve and they will be happy to help you and tell you which way is best.

Good luck :wave:

 

[Hondaboy]

I done it myself, very easy to do. Spoke to the DVLA sent my log book in a cover letter to upgrade the van from 3200 to 3500. Got a letter asking for a CoC, another phone call and the lady says not needed and she sent me the new log book. I got a new vin plate of the internet £42.

 

[wildebus]

I done it myself, very easy to do. Spoke to the DVLA sent my log book in a cover letter to upgrade the van from 3200 to 3500. Got a letter asking for a CoC, another phone call and the lady says not needed and she sent me the new log book. I got a new vin plate of the internet £42.

Might be a bit different in your case as changing from 3200 to 3500 do not affect either taxation rates or driver license entitlements and the DVLA won't really care.
Doing what the OP wants to do changes both.

 

[Hondaboy]

Might be a bit different in your case as changing from 3200 to 3500 do not affect either taxation rates or driver license entitlements and the DVLA won't really care.
Doing what the OP wants to do changes both.

As I understand it changing the weight to 3850 automatically changes the taxation class, don't understand the licence entitlements you have either passed the test for driving that class of vehicle or you would have to take the test.

 

[jennyp19]

Tick the appropriate boxes on registration documents - send log book and a photo of the vin plate to DVLA. I would also add a note with an email address and a phone number for if they need to get in touch with you. We had ours uprated and I forgot photo - ended up ringing them for ages - they then rang and emailed me - them sent photo via email. Tax should then change automatically with change of details (well that's what I assume)

 

[wildebus]

As I understand it changing the weight to 3850 automatically changes the taxation class, don't understand the licence entitlements you have either passed the test for driving that class of vehicle or you would have to take the test.

First one ... no it is not automatic (see my post about having a 4600kg van that is a LGV)
Second one ...if you up the weight past 3500, you need a different entitlement to drive it don't you. In YOUR situation, NOTHING changed in either area. Very different to what the OP needs.

 

[GeoffL]

As I understand it changing the weight to 3850 automatically changes the taxation class, don't understand the licence entitlements you have either passed the test for driving that class of vehicle or you would have to take the test.

The licensing rules changed on 1st Jan 1997, I suspect to comply with an EU directive. As I passed my test before then, my pink slip gave me entitlement to a whole group of vehicles, which included a motor car (manual or automatic), a heavy motor car (up to the imperial equivalent of 7.5 tonnes), road roller, track laying vehicle, pedestrian controlled vehicle, moped, etc. Those who passed after the cut-off date only got cat B, which is a motor car not exceeding 3500kg max gross weight. So anyone who pased their test after 1st Jan 1997 needs to pass an additional test (most go for category C = rigid HGV) to drive a motor home over 3500kg.

So, if you passed your test after the cut-off date and wanted to drive a motorhome plated at 3850kg, you have two options: 1. pass the additional test; 2. get the MH downplated to 3500kg, which removes it from licence category C1 and puts it into licence category B. If you take option 2, which I suspect a pevious owner did, you lose 350kg of payload. I suspect that the previous owners were all driving overweight as the MH has a few extras. Add two people, their bits and bobs, a tank of water, etc. and you're soon over the 430kg remaining payload.

I'm going to give the dealer a call today and ask them to sort this out.

Thanks to all, Geoff

 

[Channa]

Licence entitlement, more favourable VED, all good reasons the previous owner would change the details, However DVLA are bnot concerned with any of that in respect of replating.

The easiest way is sending a certificate of conformity to DVLA with the V5 and a covering letter with contact details and let them ask for additional info ( a lot will depend on the case handler ) I would personally use SVtech who do this thing daily and know the ropes.

I would hope the dealer assists or perhaps agrees to cover the cost, (probably cheaper for SVtech to do it than reply on their own sales admin from experience very few know what they are doing)

Morally the dealer has an obligation but I suspect you may have an issue proving legally they have mis described. I read the post that the issue came to light before conclusion of the contract thus you accepted the new terms and conditions. Any verbal arrangement will be difficult to prove

Channa

 

[wildebus]

Licence entitlement, more favourable VED....

Channa

Just to clarify ... lowering the plated weight will allow a greater range of licence entitlements I.E. allow a B driver to drive it.
But ... lowering the plated weight will give a LESS favourable VED (you go the other way to get a reduced VED)

 

[GeoffL]

Thanks to all for the help. Armed with the info given, I phoned the dealer today. They've agreed to get a certificate from SVTech and arrange for the vehicle to be restored to it's original max gross weight. I may need to get a weighbridge ticket and send them a scan and it might take a few weeks. Hopefully, it'll all work out.