http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/49Road Traffic Act 1988An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to road traffic with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission.1988-11-15texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-01-01Expert Participation2026-01-01 Part II Construction and Use of Vehicles and Equipment Tests of certain classes of goods vehicles Tests of satisfactory condition of goods vehicles and determination of plated weights, <Abbreviation Expansion="et cetera" xml:lang="la">etc.</Abbreviation>491The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for the examination of goods vehicles of any prescribed class—afor the purpose of selecting or otherwise determining plated weights or other plated particulars for goods vehicles of that class, orbfor the purpose of ascertaining whether any prescribed construction and use requirements (whether relating to plated particulars or not) are complied with in the case of goods vehicles of that class, orcfor the purpose of ascertaining whether the condition of the vehicle is such that its use on a road would involve a danger of injury to any person,or for any of those purposes.2In particular the regulations may make provision—afor the determination, according to criteria or by methods prescribed by or determined under the regulations, of the plated particulars for a goods vehicle (including its plated weights), on an examination of the vehicle for the purpose, and for the issue on such an examination, except as provided by regulations made by virtue of paragraph (c) of this subsection, of a certificate (in this Act referred to as a “plating certificate") specifying those particulars,bfor the issue, for a goods vehicle which has been found on examination for the purpose to comply with the prescribed construction and use requirements and the requirement that the condition of the vehicle is not such that its use on a road would involve a danger of injury to any person, of a certificate (in this Act referred to as a “goods vehicle test certificate") stating that the vehicle has been found so to comply, andcfor the refusal of a goods vehicle test certificate for a goods vehicle which is so found not to comply with those requirements and for requiring a written notification to be given—iof any such refusal, andiiof the grounds of the refusal,and for the refusal of a plating certificate where a goods vehicle test certificate is refused.3References in subsections (1) and (2) above to construction and use requirements shall be construed—ain relation to an examination of a vehicle solely for the purpose of ascertaining whether it complies with any such requirements, as references to such of those requirements as are applicable to the vehicle at the time of the test, andbin relation to an examination of a vehicle both for that purpose and for the purpose of determining its plated particulars, as references to such of those requirements as will be applicable to the vehicle if a plating certificate is issued for it.4In this Part of this Act—“examination for plating” means an examination under regulations under this section for the purpose of determining plated particulars for a goods vehicle, and“goods vehicle test” means an examination under regulations under this section for the purpose of ascertaining whether any prescribed construction and use requirements , or the requirement that the condition of the vehicle is not such that its use on a road would involve a danger of injury to any person, are complied with in the case of a goods vehicle.5In its application to vehicles in which recording equipment is required by Article 3 of the EU Tachographs Regulation to be installed and used, this section shall have effect as if any reference to prescribed construction and use requirements included a reference to prescribed requirements of so much of that Regulation as relates to the installation of recording equipment and the seals to be fixed to such equipment.S. 49 (with s. 51(1)) power exercised by S.I. 1991/252.S. 49 (with s. 51(1)) power exercised by S.I. 1991/454S. 49: for exercises of this power see Index to Government Orders.Words in s. 49(1) substituted (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 48, Sch. 4 para. 54(2); S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2,Sch.Words in s. 49(2)(b) inserted (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 48, Sch. 4 para. 54(3); S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2,Sch.Words in s. 49(4) inserted (1.7.1992) by Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40, SIF 107:1), s. 48, Sch. 4 para. 54(4); S.I. 1992/1286, art. 2,Sch.Pt. II modified (16.8.2006) by The Dover Harbour Revision Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2167), art. 27Words in s. 49(5) substituted (2.3.2016) by The Passenger and Goods Vehicles (Tachographs) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/248), regs. 1(2), 12(2)