Form

Replace HGV or trailer plating certificates or ministry plates

Apply to get replacement heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or trailer plating certificates or ministry plates if the originals have been lost or damaged.

From:
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Published
10 July 2013
Last updated
10 May 2023 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Application for replacement documents for a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or trailer

Ref: VTG59

PDF, 1.04 MB, 2 pages

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Details

If the original has been lost or damaged for your HGV or trailer, use this form to apply for a replacement:

It costs £13.

It’s free and quicker to download a replacement MOT certificate online rather than apply for a replacement.

How to send your application

Apply online

  1. Download and save the form on your computer.

  2. Fill in the form.

  3. Use the service to apply for a certificate for a lorry or trailer to send the form to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Select the Plating and testing application type and then the VTG59 Request for Replacement Documents option.

  4. Pay the application fee by credit or debit card (DVSA will email you to tell you how to pay after you’ve applied), or using a pre-funded account.

Apply by post

Download and fill in the form and post it to DVSA.

Replacements Section
DVSA
The Ellipse
Padley Road
Swansea
SA1 8AN

What happens next

DVSA aims to process your application in 5 days if you have filled in the form correctly. If you have not received the replacements by then, you should contact DVSA.

DVSA customer service centre
Telephone: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

If you’ve applied for a replacement plate and plating certificate, you can still use your vehicle or trailer for national journeys while you’re waiting for the replacement.

However, until you receive the plate and plating certificate, you will not be able to:

  • get an MOT
  • make international journeys

DVSA will email an A4 PDF document to you. This contains an A5-sized plate and an A5-sized plating certificate on the same page.

You will need to print this out and then cut the paper into its 2 parts.

You can print on any type or colour of A4 paper, as long as all parts of the plate and plating certificate are clear to read. DVSA recommends that you laminate the plate to help protect it, but it is not a requirement.

Save the PDF file so you can print out replacements if the plate or plating certificate are damaged or lost in the future.

Display the plate and keeping the plating certificate

You must display the plate:

  • within the vehicle’s cab if it’s an HGV
  • on the chassis if it’s a trailer

Fix the plate securely in a position that’s easy to see and read it from. The plate must be clear enough to read at all times.

You can keep the plating certificate with the other vehicle documents (for example, in an office) or in the vehicle.

Published 10 July 2013
Last updated 10 May 2023 + show all updates

  1. Updated to add that you can now download replacement HGV and trailer MOT certificates online for free.

  2. Added information about what happens after you've applied, as the plate and plating certificate will now be sent to you by email.

  3. Updated with the latest version of the application form.

  4. Updated to latest version of form.

  5. Updated with the latest version of the form.

  6. Updated replacement heavy goods vehicle plating and testing documents application form.

  7. First published.

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