Back in March, we told you about the launch of our ‘Register your trailer to take it abroad’ service, which allows users to register and manage their trailers online. Since its launch, the service has gone from strength to strength and has even picked up its first award.
The story so far
The ‘Register your trailer to take it abroad’ service went live in February 2019, to make sure hauliers could be compliant with the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic, which the UK has ratified. Eight months on, more than 16,000 trailers have been registered with more than 22,500 individual transactions.
A Brilliant Civil Service
We recently received the good news that the service won ‘A Brilliant Civil Service’ award for Improved Outcomes. This award celebrates outstanding examples of the Brilliant Civil Service vision in action across the UK.
As a team, we worked together with colleagues throughout DVLA, the Department for Transport and industry, to take this project into public beta ahead of the 28 March 2019 deadline. Our hard work paid off, and it was great to have this recognised with an award.
A number of firsts
Along with being an award-winning service, it’s the first new DVLA register in 30 years. It’s also the first end-to-end service built entirely on open source technology, meaning it’s the first to be totally digital and independent of our heritage systems.
The use of the new and improved Government Gateway for authentication also improves the user experience with the gateway now providing self-service password reset and super user functionality.
Benefits to users
Based on customer insight, we knew we needed to create a service that would allow users to register and manage their trailers in one place. Feedback to date has been excellent, with users saying how easy the service is to use and that they’re pleased with the ability to manage their own trailer account and pay once for all their registrations.
We’re always looking for motivated people to join our award-winning teams. If you’d be interested in working at DVLA take a look at Civil Service Jobs to see our current live vacancies.
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13 comments
Comment by Andrew Bemment posted on
Really happy with the concept and the allocation of numbers. However, where it does fall down is the size of the plates that are provided - they are too small to fit the plate holders already in situ on the trailers. The plate suppliers will not make them up to fit the holders. I queried the size with DVLA who claimed no responsibility for the size which seems odd.
Comment by External Communications team posted on
Hello Andrew
The format of the trailer register plate was chosen following discussions with the British Number Plate Manufacturers Association. In order not to add any additional burden for manufacturer or suppliers it was decided the trailer plate would be made using already available components. The plate is the same size as the current motorcycle plate but with a white background such as that used for imported vehicle plates, and uses the motorcycle font. I am afraid I cannot comment on the plate holder as that is not a matter for the DVLA.
Comment by Nikaesh Rattan posted on
A Brilliant Civil Service,
Trailers can be registered on line.
A great and easy way to register commercial trailers over 750kg and all trailers over 3,500kg making it lawful to drive through some countries in Europe.
You can use The site to manage your registered trailer details - for example if you sell or scrap a trailer.
Comment by Julie Skilton posted on
We had some trailers registered a couple of months after the new system was launched. Registering the trailers online and receiving the paperwork was very simple. Unfortunately, when we contacted our number plate supplier to have plates made up they knew nothing about it. They had to order the square white plates in which took a week or so. Then when we received our new plates the letters and numbers were too big. We were told that number plate characters only come in one size and they couldn't supply the correct ones. We have only been abroad a couple of times since the plates were fitted and, so far, have had no issues. We hope this continues, but will not be happy if we get fined for having incorrect plates!
Comment by External Communications team posted on
Hello Julie
The format of the trailer register plate was chosen following discussions with the British Number Plate Manufacturers Association. In order not to add any additional burden for manufacturers or suppliers it was decided the trailer plate would be made using already available components. The plate is the same size as the current motorcycle plate but with a white background such as that used for imported vehicle plates, and uses the motorcycle font. If the supplier you dealt with is unable to issue a plate with the motorcycle font I can only suggest you contact another supplier in your area to check if they have the font available. A list of RNPS suppliers can be found at https://www.gov.uk/number-plate-supplier
Comment by Muhammad posted on
Great work. Well done guys.
Amazing stuff all geared towards making life easier for drivers out there.
Comment by Nemisis posted on
Hi,
are these weights gross or nett?
As a trailer owner I know that this would make a difference.
Comment by DVLA's comms team posted on
Hello Nemisis
You must register commercial trailers over 750kg gross weight and all trailers over 3,500kg gross weight before towing them through some European countries. This guidance page will tell you more.
Comment by S Nikam posted on
<a href="https://mahanews.co.in/">Great work, well done</a>
Comment by David Trucker posted on
When will my trailer registration number be shown on my MOT record? Seems a pretty useless service if my paperwork shows different vehicle identifiers when I get stopped on the continent.
Comment by External Communications team posted on
Hi David
The trailer registration scheme was set up solely for the purpose of meeting the requirements of the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which the UK ratified in March 2019. There has been communication with EU authorities about the scheme and they are aware of the information held on the trailer registration certificate.
Comment by David Trucker posted on
David, please let me clarify. To drive in the EU I need a valid MOT for both my Tractor unit and Trailer.
The MOT test certificate for my Tractor unit shows the registration number issued by DVLA so no problem here.
However, my Trailer MOT test certificate does not show the registration number issued by DVLA, big problem here.
I got in touch with DVSA to get my Trailer MOT test certificate changed and was told that they are unable to help me for 2 reasons.
1. The Trailer MOT test certificate template does not have a box for the registration number to be shown.
2. The DVLA do not share Trailer registration numbers with DVSA, very bizarre.
So my conundrum is that my Trailer and Trailer registration document does not match my Trailer MOT test certificate which will be very difficult to explain to Enforcement authorities within the EU.
Is this an oversight in us getting ‘ready’ for Brexit? This could potentially lead to my vehicle being held for a long period or in the worse case impounded. Both of these situations will be at my cost in time, money, failed deliveries and missed ferry crossings.
Can you please advise me on how to tackle this situation if it arises please?
Thank you
Comment by DVLA External Communications team posted on
Hello David
After our consultation with hauliers the UK trailer registration certificate was designed to contain the minimum required information. This is to make roadside inspections or checks as straightforward as possible so we will not be making any changes in the near future.
If there is a need to prove a common link between the trailer MOT test certificate and the trailer registration certificate then they should both contain the same Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) number. If necessary this can be highlighted to any enforcement authorities.
We have not been made aware of any issues on this matter to date.