Plating of agricultural tractors and trailers
Manufacturer’s plates, authorisation plates, other towed equipment.
This content is for general information only. It does not, and is not intended to, provide legal or technical advice or to represent a legal interpretation of the matters it addresses.
Frequently asked questions
This is a plate attached to a tractor containing the following technical information:
VIN No., manufacturer’s name, design gross vehicle weight (DGVW), permissible axle loads and towable masses.
This is a national weights and dimensions plate on an agricultural trailer containing the following information: Manufacturer’s name, VIN No., maximum design speed, permitted laden weight, maximum drawbar loading, vehicle length and width.
All agricultural tractors and trailers first registered on or after 01 January 2016 must be plated.
This must only be carried out by the original manufacturer or authorised distributor.
This can be carried out by another recognised trailer manufacturer if they are willing to plate it for you.
They will only need to be plated if:
The agricultural tractor has a maximum design speed of more than 40 km/h or is being used to draw a tandem or tri-axle rigid drawbar trailer with a laden weight over 19 tonnes for tandems and 22.5 tonnes for triaxles.
The agricultural trailer is capable by design of being drawn at speeds over 40 km/h or is operating at laden weights exceeding 19 tonnes for tandems and 22.5 tonnes for triaxles.
If the manufacturer is no longer in business and the authorised distributor is unable to determine the age of tractor, you will be limited to towing a trailer whose DGVW* is not more than three times the unloaded weight of the tractor.
*The design gross vehicle weight (DGVW) of a vehicle is its gross weight laden with the heaviest load it can carry according to the design specifications.
Most vintage tractors would not be capable by design of exceeding 40 km/h however, if they can or are being used to draw a tandem or tri-axle rigid drawbar trailer with a laden weight over 19 tonnes for tandems and 22.5 tonnes for triaxles then they would need to be plated.
No. However operators of this type of equipment must adhere to the equipment manufacturer’s specifications provided that the equipment when laden is not heavier than the manufacturer’s rated towing capacity of their tractor.
In this case your tractor or trailer combination is considered to be used in a commercial capacity and therefore all the rules that apply to commercial vehicles will apply here. The trailer must also meet the plating requirements for commercial vehicles as set out in CVRT Manuals. For further information email [email protected].
No. The only time you can use it in public is when you are bringing it to a plating centre and have a new plate fitted. Even then you must not carry a load and you must have an appointment date.