DVSA is reminding operators a “significant number” of specialised heavy vehicles – including breakdown vehicles, tractor units pulling exempt trailers, and mobile cranes – have now fallen into scope of annual testing for the first time.
To declare their weight and load, DVSA said most of the vehicles will need to be plated before they are tested.
The Agency said it is implementing a phased approach for most vehicle types affected. This will extend the date for compliance, under certain circumstances up to May 20, 2019 at the latest.
The phased approach will be based on the Vehicle Excise Duty renewal date for the relevant vehicles, it stated – with the aim being to help ensure the implementation allows operators more flexibility to balance out the testing of their fleet over a longer period.
It said vehicle owners or operators will need to:
- Establish whether their vehicle is subject to annual testing
- Assess whether the phased approach applies to their vehicle
- Make sure their vehicle’s safety inspections are up to date
- Apply for plates and book the vehicle’s test in good time before the vehicle needs to be tested
- And ensure the vehicle has a valid goods vehicle testing certificate in place by the point of Vehicle Excise Duty renewal after May 19, 2018.
