Returning a van down rated for a B licence to it's original weight limit

Del2005

Looking at vans and have noticed a few that have been down rated from requiring a C1 licence to a B. Is there much to do to get them rated to their original weight limit? Do you just follow the steps to get a van uprated?

https://www.corkcoco.ie/sites/default/files/2020-02/faqs-on-down-rating-or-up-rating-a-vehicle.pdf

niloc1951

The first step is to check the weight on the current CVRT disc, it may already have been downrated, the vehicle details will have been automatically changed on the NVDF (National Vehicle & Drivers File) at Shannon. The RSA testers seem to be doing this for some reason without being asked at testing time.

Having said that it's not always in the owner's interest as it could lead them to use the vehicle in an overloaded condition. Also, if for example, the plate says 3,850kg and the disc says 3,500kg questions could be asked about the discrepancy by a Garda or foreign police doing a vehicle check.

The correct way is to engage a specialist company like https://www.proassess.ie/ who are familiar with doing the process correctly

Del2005

The vehicle is already down rated. I want to get it back to its original weight limit.

The CVRT people can put down whatever they want. The only thing that affects the weight limit is the plate inside the door fitted by the manufacturer or a different limit plate flitted by following the procedure in my OP

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118073104#Comment_118073104

Mine was downrated 3,850kg to 3,500kg by the tester at the CVRT centre without me asking for it to be done. After I complained that I wanted it to stay at 3,850kg the tester changed it back to 3,850kg.

So, there's proof that the change can be made by a tester at a CVRT centre. The change to the testers (RSA's) CoVIS system automatically updates the NVDF in the motor tax centre in Shannon.

There is and always has been a plate with 3,850kg as well as a plate with 3,500kg.

clivej

And who will make the new weight plates up for you????

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118687910#Comment_118687910

Getting the plate made is easy, the same companies that derated it can do it back to it's correct weight limit.

mervifwdc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118080372#Comment_118080372

I think I'm experiencing the same problem. Can I ask, did you notice on the spot, or after you left? I'm wondering how hard I'm going to have to push....

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118989661#Comment_118989661

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118989661#Comment_118989661

I noticed the change when I read through the test report when I got home. I phoned the RSA and they said it was an issue for the test center, the test center said they were following RSA instructions.

I was told the only way to get the error corrected was to put the vehicle through another test on the heavy lane. It was agreed that I shouldn't have to pay twice so it was tested again for free and came through at the correct 3,850kg. Why it had to be tested again is a mystery and what's a bigger mystery is that ALL the values turned out to be significantly different from the test on the light lane even though the vehicle was in the EXACT same condition except for about 100 extra km on the clock and a few less liters of fuel in the tank.

.

mervifwdc

I've been told twice on phoning the test centre that is what needs to happen, but the RSA based booking system will not allow my van to be booked in as it's not due for another year (almost). They are working on that, and accidentally hinted that I'm not the only person with this problem. The crazy thing is that if you actually wanted to down plate a vehicle, I'd bet its not as simple as that. This sounds like a bug or hiccup in the procedures/system rather than a planned course of action.

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119081125#Comment_119081125

I don't believe it's a bug or hiccup. A person in the office of the center that tested mine said they were following an instruction issued by the RSA. One can only guess what their underlying reasoning is.