Lorry plating question

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icestationzebra

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Interested to hear from those of you that have taken your own lorries to be plated - specifially 7.5t. Doing it for the first time later this week and want to be prepared. Is there anything I should know, prepare in advance? i.e should I try and jet wash the underside of the truck for example?

Any advice gratefully received!

Thanks
 
Definitely jet wash the underside, they can refuse to test it if its dirty. Most testing stations have 4 lanes, you go to the office get your test sheet and they tell you which lane to go in. The tester then comes out does a walk round check and tests wipers, horn wheel studs etc.
You are then asked to drive over the pit, which is where they check the underside of the truck, ball joints, steering rack etc. This is the hardest part because they have a loud speaker to shout instructions, but so do the other 3 lanes! So keep your window down and pay attention.
Then they do emissions and rolling road brake tests. The rolling road can make your wagon 'jump' out sometimes, don't panic it's just because your brakes are good! FWIW I don't know how old your wagon is, but horseboxes very rarely brake hard, so if you can on the way to the test centre, just stamp on the brakes once or twice to make sure there is plenty of 'stop' in them. (Because we tend to drive and brake slowly it can be that your brakes are almost non existent before you realise!)
Then you are pretty much done, remember to smile sweetly at the tester, and be prepared to be left for hours while they chat amongst themselves!
 
We also put weight into the horse part of the lorry - I used to load lots of bales of hay into it, we now put bags of agricultural stuff. The weight helps with the brake testing I think. Echo the trying to warm the brakes up as well, particularly if you have just had it steam cleaned or jet washed.

Make sure if you don't normally carry one that you have a fluorescent jacket in your lorry as the test station will probably have a fluorescent jackets must be worn at all times rule.
 
While you probably cant check many mechanicaal items yourself,at least make sure the tyres are in good condition and that ALL the lights work.(including for example tacho lights,hazard repeater bulb etc.) Nothing more irritating than failing cos a bulb is gone.
 
I have always found them really nice. At our station you don't go into the office anymore, just pick a lane and wait. They have all the paperwork outside. Take a Hi-viz thing to wear. I've never washed my lorry underside.

They are really helpful and will do everything possible to get the lorry to pass. If you are handy you are allowed to do adjustments to things. They just tend to take the piss out of me when I make scared faces at having to drive over the pit.
 
Mike007 said:
While you probably cant check many mechanicaal items yourself,at least make sure the tyres are in good condition and that ALL the lights work.(including for example tacho lights,hazard repeater bulb etc.) Nothing more irritating than failing cos a bulb is gone.
Click to expand...

Yeah echo that, I took one for my OH last year that had been prepped by his friend, only to find 3 bulbs gone and a punctured inner back tyre (that had obviously been down for ages!)
Was NOT impressed, especially as I used to sell wagon parts to most of the guys that were there that day!
 
When about to do the brake tests make sure you have got your air pressure right up. Rev it between brake tests to get your air back up to maximum. My station is very good at asking me to ensure the pressure is up before we start.

Make sure you take any hub caps off before you go.

Try your horn and make sure that is working along with all your lights.

Double check on their website that they haven't introduced any new rulings. Last year I got caught out with a new rule of not having any gap between wheels and skirts and had to go back after welding on a piece of metal 3 inches wide to the front of the skirt. Apparently they were failing loads of lorries on this as it had only just come out and they hadn't advertised it or put it on their website at this point.
 
Baggybreeches said:
Definitely jet wash the underside, they can refuse to test it if its dirty. Most testing stations have 4 lanes, you go to the office get your test sheet and they tell you which lane to go in. The tester then comes out does a walk round check and tests wipers, horn wheel studs etc.
You are then asked to drive over the pit, which is where they check the underside of the truck, ball joints, steering rack etc. This is the hardest part because they have a loud speaker to shout instructions, but so do the other 3 lanes! So keep your window down and pay attention.
Then they do emissions and rolling road brake tests. The rolling road can make your wagon 'jump' out sometimes, don't panic it's just because your brakes are good! FWIW I don't know how old your wagon is, but horseboxes very rarely brake hard, so if you can on the way to the test centre, just stamp on the brakes once or twice to make sure there is plenty of 'stop' in them. (Because we tend to drive and brake slowly it can be that your brakes are almost non existent before you realise!)
Then you are pretty much done, remember to smile sweetly at the tester, and be prepared to be left for hours while they chat amongst themselves!
Click to expand...



Thanks BB - really useful especially the stuff about the brakes. I've got a 25 min drive to the test station so will give them a warm up! I think I will be smiling very very sweetly at anyone and everyone and be very relieved when it is over!! :D
 
humblepie said:
We also put weight into the horse part of the lorry - I used to load lots of bales of hay into it, we now put bags of agricultural stuff. The weight helps with the brake testing I think. Echo the trying to warm the brakes up as well, particularly if you have just had it steam cleaned or jet washed.

Make sure if you don't normally carry one that you have a fluorescent jacket in your lorry as the test station will probably have a fluorescent jackets must be worn at all times rule.
Click to expand...

I wondered about the weight thing - does anyone/everyone do this?

Good tip about the Hi Vi - I'll pack one! Thanks
 
Mike007 said:
While you probably cant check many mechanicaal items yourself,at least make sure the tyres are in good condition and that ALL the lights work.(including for example tacho lights,hazard repeater bulb etc.) Nothing more irritating than failing cos a bulb is gone.
Click to expand...

I will do - thanks Mike. Checked my lights at the weekend and will check again Fri morning - the only one that doesn't work is my reverse light. It never has done and has passed before which has always baffled me. My mechanic didn't seem that bothered about it either! Is this right?
 
dieseldog said:
I have always found them really nice. At our station you don't go into the office anymore, just pick a lane and wait. They have all the paperwork outside. Take a Hi-viz thing to wear. I've never washed my lorry underside.

They are really helpful and will do everything possible to get the lorry to pass. If you are handy you are allowed to do adjustments to things. They just tend to take the piss out of me when I make scared faces at having to drive over the pit.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. I'm happy for them to take the 'p' out of me as much as they want - as long as they are nice to me!!!
 
bounce said:
When about to do the brake tests make sure you have got your air pressure right up. Rev it between brake tests to get your air back up to maximum. My station is very good at asking me to ensure the pressure is up before we start.

Make sure you take any hub caps off before you go.

Try your horn and make sure that is working along with all your lights.

Double check on their website that they haven't introduced any new rulings. Last year I got caught out with a new rule of not having any gap between wheels and skirts and had to go back after welding on a piece of metal 3 inches wide to the front of the skirt. Apparently they were failing loads of lorries on this as it had only just come out and they hadn't advertised it or put it on their website at this point.
Click to expand...

Great tips about the air pressure and the new rules - thanks muchly!
 
Our test station also doesn't expect you to go in, you just queue in lorry and someone comes out and checks you in. Never been checked on reverse light actually! Hadn't thought til you said.
Both test centres I know (Bicester and Newbury) only have two lanes.
Re weight in the horse area - depends on your lorry's unladen weight. My old Bedford 7.5 was 6t unladen and never needed extra.... My newer merc is only 5.2t unaden and does. This year tried 10 sacks of feed and still came up with insufficient load on back axle! Going to take 20 bales of shavings next time!
I have never needed to rev to pump up air either. But that will depend on your lorry.
Tbh I am paranoid so mine always goes in for full pre plating check at garage, and has very rarely failed. When they have failed it has been stupid things like one year one of my lights on old beddy was at wrong angle, another time the fog light was out (turned out they had changed bulb day before and it had bounced loose on way to test centre - doh!) It's worth knowing if you fail on silly bits like that they will often let you represent immediately if can change bulb/light angle there and then!
 
two points that are easy to do.
1. Remove any hub caps before you go as they will want them removed .

2.If you have a cctv monitor sitting on top of the dash or obscuring the view of any area in front of the lorry ,remove it completely or just unsrew and drop down below the windscreen.
I will add to this any show entrance label or anything that is attached to the windscreen and is within the swept area of the wipers.

3.just another for luck.Make sure your washer bottle has enough screenwash in and the washers all work.

As said before smile nicely and dont be afraid if you dont understand an instruction ask them to explain .For some reason I find young females pass easier than males!!!!
 
popsdosh said:
two points that are easy to do.
1. Remove any hub caps before you go as they will want them removed .

2.If you have a cctv monitor sitting on top of the dash or obscuring the view of any area in front of the lorry ,remove it completely or just unsrew and drop down below the windscreen.
I will add to this any show entrance label or anything that is attached to the windscreen and is within the swept area of the wipers.

3.just another for luck.Make sure your washer bottle has enough screenwash in and the washers all work.

As said before smile nicely and dont be afraid if you dont understand an instruction ask them to explain .For some reason I find young females pass easier than males!!!!
Click to expand...

Purposely don't have hub caps - so that's ok. Also nothing on dash or any posh championship stickers on windscreen :rolleyes: will check my screenwash though - thanks :) I'll be smiling until my face aches :eek:
 
ecrozier said:
Our test station also doesn't expect you to go in, you just queue in lorry and someone comes out and checks you in. Never been checked on reverse light actually! Hadn't thought til you said.
Both test centres I know (Bicester and Newbury) only have two lanes.
Re weight in the horse area - depends on your lorry's unladen weight. My old Bedford 7.5 was 6t unladen and never needed extra.... My newer merc is only 5.2t unaden and does. This year tried 10 sacks of feed and still came up with insufficient load on back axle! Going to take 20 bales of shavings next time!
I have never needed to rev to pump up air either. But that will depend on your lorry.
Tbh I am paranoid so mine always goes in for full pre plating check at garage, and has very rarely failed. When they have failed it has been stupid things like one year one of my lights on old beddy was at wrong angle, another time the fog light was out (turned out they had changed bulb day before and it had bounced loose on way to test centre - doh!) It's worth knowing if you fail on silly bits like that they will often let you represent immediately if can change bulb/light angle there and then!
Click to expand...

Mmmm, mine is 5.2t unladen too..... can they fail it for having insufficient weight onboard. Friends who have taken theirs have not weighted but their lorries are heavier than mine so I guess they have not needed to :confused:
 
They didn't fail me just said to put heavier stuff in the back next time :) think they understand that horses weigh quite a bit and would usually be in there - I did get one tell me in all seriousness that I shouldn't bring the horses to make up the weight tho!
 
A reversing light is not an obligatory light and therefore doesnt count. But air guage lights ,main beam warning light etc are.
 
If there is insufficient weight it is possible to pass on "locks" but this doesnt tell you if your brakes are good or not. Always best to put a tonne or so in the back .Not your horse:D
 
Mike, you'll know this better than me - but is there not some rule about a 'normal person' (ie, not a mechanic) being unable to drive the lorry away from the test station if it fails?

I always pay a few extra £'s for my mechanic to service it, check it over, then take it for it's test at the same time (better for me as I don't have the time) - but I was always under the impression that if I took it and it failed, then I could be in the proverbial......
 
I always want to say that it does carry dangerous goods since if horses are not dangerous not sure what are.

I also always used to give mine a good polish in the cab and a tidy up to make it looked loved and cared for - good first impressions!

All really good tips here. My even better one is to have a lorry mechanic for a husband.....
 
meardsall_millie said:
Mike, you'll know this better than me - but is there not some rule about a 'normal person' (ie, not a mechanic) being unable to drive the lorry away from the test station if it fails?

I always pay a few extra £'s for my mechanic to service it, check it over, then take it for it's test at the same time (better for me as I don't have the time) - but I was always under the impression that if I took it and it failed, then I could be in the proverbial......
Click to expand...

MM - I think that could be correct if your current plating has expired. If you still have several weeks of old MOT you are free to drive away and have the 'failing points' done before representing.
 
meardsall_millie said:
Mike, you'll know this better than me - but is there not some rule about a 'normal person' (ie, not a mechanic) being unable to drive the lorry away from the test station if it fails?

I always pay a few extra £'s for my mechanic to service it, check it over, then take it for it's test at the same time (better for me as I don't have the time) - but I was always under the impression that if I took it and it failed, then I could be in the proverbial......
Click to expand...

No this is not true. I have had a few failures ranging from brakes to horn not working and there is no problem with a normal person driving it away and bringing it back. The only time there is a problem is when they slap a prohibition notice on it which they did when my brakes on my bedford broke completely on the brake test. Then you have to get it towed!
 
icestationzebra said:
MM - I think that could be correct if your current plating has expired. If you still have several weeks of old MOT you are free to drive away and have the 'failing points' done before representing.
Click to expand...


Thanks isz and bounce - that makes sense. As I said, I've never taken mine in myself - easier to get in man in overalls to do it for me! ;)
 
bounce said:
No this is not true. I have had a few failures ranging from brakes to horn not working and there is no problem with a normal person driving it away and bringing it back. The only time there is a problem is when they slap a prohibition notice on it which they did when my brakes on my bedford broke completely on the brake test. Then you have to get it towed!
Click to expand...

Yes thats correct, you are able to drive to and from the testing station for pre-arranged appointments (they all are now) and if the vehicle is dangerous they will issue a GV9 prohibition notice.
 
Interestingly (well I thought interesting!) had a chat with guy doing my test last week and he was saying there was a situation there a while back where a mechanic took a horsebox for test for someone...and some jobsworth inspector (not one of the test guys but a vosa chap) decided to randomly check the tacho...which of course it didn't have (or not functional to be strictly accurate - mine has tacho but hasn't been used for donkeys years!) as its privately owned 7.5t. But he wanted to fine as the MECHANIC was driving for reward ie being paid to take lorry to test centre. Apparently the test guys talked him out of it and he just gave them a warning and I believe the regulations may now have been clarified to make sure this is OK but was an eye opener as although I always take my own lorry I do know plenty of people who pay someone to take theirs!
 
The best tip about lorry plating is that it lasts until the end of the month a year later - so if you have it plated on 25th June 2011 it will last until 30th June 2012. But if you waited 6 days and got it done on 1st July 2011 it would last until 31st July 2012 - you get an extra month! I picked the dates at random - no idea if they are sundays.

Your Tacho needs to be sealed with a sticker on it - which if you have plated it before and its passed it should have one - don't pick them off. And they do actually test my Tacho - even though I don't use it. You have to sign a bit of paper to say it is tacho excempt.

If lorries are like cars as soon as your lorry fails its plate its doesn't have one any more. And I also have driven home a lorry that has failed. Mine also normally doesn't have any tax when I take it, just insurance I always think it's a miracle I don't get pulled over by the cops on the way there.
 
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