Finance Act 1995

26 Immediately before section 61 of the 1994 Act there shall be inserted the following section—

“60A Meaning of “revenue weight”.

(1) Any reference in this Act to the revenue weight of a vehicle is a reference—

(a) where it has a confirmed maximum weight, to that weight; and

(b) in any other case, to the weight determined in accordance with the following provisions of this section.

(2) For the purposes of this Act a vehicle which does not have a confirmed maximum weight shall have a revenue weight which, subject to the following provisions of this section, is equal to its design weight.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), the design weight of a vehicle is, for the purposes of this section—

(a) in the case of a tractive unit, the weight which is required, by the design and any subsequent adaptations of that vehicle, not to be exceeded by an articulated vehicle which—

(i) consists of the vehicle and any semi-trailer capable of being drawn by it, and

(ii) is in normal use and travelling on a road laden;

and

(b) in the case of any other vehicle, the weight which the vehicle itself is designed or adapted not to exceed when in normal use and travelling on a road laden.

(4) Where, at any time, a vehicle—

(a) does not have a confirmed maximum weight,

(b) has previously had such a weight, and

(c) has not acquired a different design weight by reason of any adaptation made since the most recent occasion on which it had a confirmed maximum weight,

the vehicle’s design weight at that time shall be equal to its confirmed maximum weight on that occasion.

(5) An adaptation reducing the design weight of a vehicle shall be disregarded for the purposes of this section unless it is a permanent adaptation.

(6) For the purposes of this Act where—

(a) a vehicle which does not have a confirmed maximum weight is used on a public road in the United Kingdom, and

(b) at the time when it is so used—

(i) the weight of the vehicle, or

(ii) in the case of a tractive unit used as part of an articulated vehicle consisting of the vehicle and a semi-trailer, the weight of the articulated vehicle,

exceeds what, apart from this subsection, would be the vehicle’s design weight,

it shall be conclusively presumed, as against the person using the vehicle, that the vehicle has been temporarily adapted so as to have a design weight while being so used equal to the actual weight of the vehicle or articulated vehicle at that time.

(7) For the purposes of this Act limitations on the space available on a vehicle for carrying a load shall be disregarded in determining the weight which the vehicle is designed or adapted not to exceed when in normal use and travelling on a road laden.

(8) A vehicle which does not have a confirmed maximum weight shall not at any time be taken to have a revenue weight which is greater than the maximum laden weight at which that vehicle or, as the case may be, an articulated vehicle consisting of that vehicle and a semi-trailer may lawfully be used in Great Britain.

(9) A vehicle has a confirmed maximum weight at any time if at that time—

(a) it has a plated gross weight or a plated train weight; and

(b) that weight is the maximum laden weight at which that vehicle or, as the case may be, an articulated vehicle consisting of that vehicle and a semi-trailer may lawfully be used in Great Britain;

and the confirmed maximum weight of a vehicle with such a weight shall be taken to be the weight referred to in paragraph (a).

(10) Where any vehicle has a special maximum weight in Northern Ireland which is greater than the maximum laden weight at which that vehicle or, as the case may be, an articulated vehicle consisting of that vehicle and a semi-trailer may lawfully be used in Great Britain, this section shall have effect, in relation to that vehicle, as if the references to Great Britain in subsections (8) and (9) were references to Northern Ireland.

(11) For the purposes of this section a vehicle has a special maximum weight in Northern Ireland if an order under Article 29(3) of the [S.I. 1981/154(N.I. 1).] Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (authorisation of use on roads of vehicles and trailers not complying with regulations) has effect in relation to that vehicle for determining the maximum laden weight at which it may lawfully be used in Northern Ireland or, as the case may be, for determining the maximum laden weight at which an articulated vehicle consisting of that vehicle and a semi-trailer may lawfully be used there.”