Q As a new owner-driver! am buying a new vehicle which
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I understand, will not be plated and tested for 12 months. Could you say how I can determine the maximum permitted gross and axle weights at which the vehicle may be operated? ARegulation 39 of the Motor Vehicles (Con
struction and Use) Regulations 1973 stipulates that every heavy motor car and motor car first used on or after January 1968, not being a passenger vehicle, a dualpurpose vehicle, a land tractor, a works truck or a pedestrian controlled vehicle, shall be equipped with a plate showing the manufacturer's name and, among other things, the maximum gross and axle weights with the weights applicable in Great Britain separately. This is generally referred to as the manufacturer's plate.
Regulation 89 deals with vehicles which are less than one year old or are exempted from plating and, therefore, are not fitted with a Ministry plate.
The gross and axle weights of such vehicles when operated on a road, must not exceed the relevant weight Shown on the manufacturer's plate.
Where adjacent or closely spaced axles are fitted with a compensating arrangement between the axles, the sum of the axles shown on that plate is not to be exceeded.
Similar conditions are imposed for trailers in these circumstances.