
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 and shall come into operation on 17th March 2025.
2 

(1) The Motor Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (6).
(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—
(a) for the definition of “alternatively fuelled vehicle” substitute—“
 “alternatively fuelled vehicle” means a motor vehicle powered wholly or in part by an alternative fuel and which—
(a) has been approved under the EU Type Approval Regulation; or
(b) has been granted a UK(NI) approval under the Road Vehicle (Approval) Regulations 2020;”;
(b) for the definition of “the Type Approval Regulation” substitute—“
 “the EU Type Approval Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, as that Regulation applies in EU law and as it has effect by virtue of the Windsor Framework, as amended from time to time;”;
(c) in the definition of “vehicle combination”, for “trailer.” substitute “trailer; and”; and
(d) after the definition of “vehicle combination” insert—“
 “zero-emission vehicle” means a vehicle without an internal combustion engine, or with an internal combustion engine that emits less than 1g CO2/kWh as determined in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 595/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council and its implementing measures (as that Regulation applies in EU law and as it has effect by virtue of the Windsor Framework, as amended from time to time), or that emits less than 1g CO2/km as determined in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council and its implementing measures (as that Regulation applies in EU law and as it has effect by virtue of the Windsor Framework, as amended from time to time).”.
(3) In regulation 3 (application of Regulations), for “Article 4 of the Type Approval Regulation” substitute “Article 4 of the EU Type Approval Regulation”.
(4) In regulation 4 (maximum authorised weights)—
(a) in paragraph (1), for “paragraphs (2) and (3)” substitute “paragraphs (2), (3), (5), (7) and (9)”;
(b) in paragraph (3)—
(i) after “is increased by” insert “the additional weight of the alternative fuel powertrain with”;
(ii) in sub-paragraph (a) for “Type Approval Regulation or Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2020” substitute “EU Type Approval Regulation or a UK(NI) type or individual approval has been granted under the Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2020”; and
(iii) in sub-paragraph (b) omit “or train”;
(c) in paragraph (4) for “items 1, 5, 6 or 9” substitute “items 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9”; and
(d) after paragraph (4) insert—“
(5) The maximum authorised weight of a relevant alternatively fuelled vehicle combination is increased by the additional weight of the alternative fuel powertrain with a maximum of 1000kg where—
(a) a type or individual approval has been granted to the towing vehicle under the EU Type Approval Regulation or a UK(NI) type or individual approval has been granted under the Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2020 which provides evidence that the weight of the alternative fuel powertrain exceeds the weight of a conventional powertrain by a specified amount; and
(b) the weight of the alternative fuel powertrain is included in the maximum permitted gross train weight specified on any plates required by regulation 79 (plates for goods vehicles and buses) of the 1999 Regulations.
(6) A “relevant alternatively fuelled vehicle combination” means a vehicle combination of a type described in items 4, 8, 9, 11 or 12 of Table 3 in Schedule 2 that includes an alternatively fuelled vehicle.
(7) The maximum authorised weight of a relevant zero-emission vehicle is increased by 2000kg where—
(a) a type or individual approval has been granted to the vehicle under the EU Type Approval Regulation or a UK(NI) type or individual approval has been granted under the Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2020 which provides evidence that the weight of the alternative fuel powertrain exceeds the weight of a conventional powertrain by a specified amount; and
(b) the weight of the alternative fuel powertrain is included in the maximum permitted gross weight specified on any plates required by regulation 79 (plates for goods vehicles and buses) of the 1999 Regulations.
(8) A “relevant zero-emission vehicle” means a zero-emission vehicle of a type described in items 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 of Table 1 in Schedule 1.
(9) The maximum authorised weight of a relevant zero-emission vehicle combination is increased by 2000kg where—
(a) a type or individual approval has been granted to the towing vehicle under the EU Type Approval Regulation or a UK(NI) type or individual approval has been granted under the Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2020 which provides evidence that the weight of the alternative fuel powertrain exceeds the weight of a conventional powertrain by a specified amount; and
(b) the weight of the alternative fuel powertrain is included in the maximum permitted gross train weight specified on any plates required by regulation 79 (plates for goods vehicles and buses) of the 1999 Regulations.
(10) A “relevant zero-emission vehicle combination” means a vehicle combination of a type described in items 4, 8, 9, 11 or 12 of Table 3 in Schedule 2 that includes a zero-emission vehicle.”.
(5) In Schedule 1 (maximum authorised weights for vehicles)—
(a) in paragraph 1(1), for “paragraphs 1A and 2” substitute “paragraphs 1A, 1B and 2”;
(b) in paragraph 1A, for “items 1, 5, 6 or 9” substitute “items 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9” and
(c) after paragraph 1A insert—“
1B. 
The vehicles described in items 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of Table 1 may exceed the weight specified in column 4 by 2000kg where the requirements of regulation 4(7) are fulfilled.”.
(6) In Schedule 2 (maximum authorised weights for vehicle combinations)—
(a) in paragraph 1(1), for “paragraph 2”, substitute “paragraphs 1A, 1B and 2”; and
(b) after paragraph 1 insert—“
1A. 
The vehicles described in items 4, 8, 9, 11 and 12 of Table 3 may exceed the weight specified in column 4 by 1000kg where the requirements of regulation 4(5) are fulfilled.
1B. 
The vehicles described in items 4, 8, 9, 11 and 12 of Table 3 may exceed the weight specified in column 4 by 2000kg where the requirements of regulation 4(9) are fulfilled.”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Infrastructure on 12th February 2025
Chris Hughes
A senior officer of the
Department for Infrastructure
