Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 section 61A

Certificates etc. as to vehicle weight

Section 61A gives the Secretary of State power to make regulations establishing a system for certifying the design weight of vehicles, which is a key factor in determining the correct rate of vehicle excise duty.

• The Secretary of State may create regulations for applying for, determining, and issuing certificates that state a vehicle's design weight, including who may examine vehicles and how examinations are conducted.
• A design weight certificate issued under these regulations can be treated as conclusive proof of the vehicle's weight for vehicle excise duty purposes, and the Secretary of State may require production of such a certificate before issuing a vehicle licence.
• Where a vehicle has been adapted (for example, modified to carry heavier loads or converted for a different use), the adaptation can only be taken into account when determining design weight, or treated as a permanent modification, if a certificate covering that adaptation has been issued under the regulations.
• Existing plating certificates issued under road traffic legislation can be recognised as equivalent to design weight certificates for some or all vehicle excise duty purposes, provided they meet requirements set out in the regulations.