When vehicles are manufactured, they are designed to be driven within a legal weight limit. Overloading causes significant damage to the engine, suspension, brakes, and tires, among others. It reduces a vehicle’s lifespan and reduces fuel efficiency. This in turn leads to unnecessary repair costs and high fuel costs. Overloading also makes the vehicle difficult to control in emergencies, which may result in accidents. With knowledge of the vehicle weight, vehicle keepers may be able to prevent the overloading of their vehicles and improve safety while on the road.
In this article, we will highlight the easiest ways to check vehicle weight by registration number.
How to check the weight of my car by registration number?
There are two easy ways to check vehicle weight by registration number, and they are:
- Through the vehicle’s manual.
- Through a car plate number lookup tool.
Through the vehicle’s manual
To check the vehicle weight by registration number, the first place car keepers or buyers should look is the vehicle’s manual.
Step 1: Locate the vehicle’s manual.
The manufacturer’s manual is usually located in the glove compartment or trunk of a new vehicle. The manual can also be found online, and with it, vehicle keepers can easily check their vehicle’s weight.
Step 2: Identify the vehicle specifications section
As soon as the vehicle manual has been found, look for the “vehicle specifications” section, the “vehicle weight” section, or any other section that provides information about the vehicle’s weight limit.
Step 3: Find the weight information
After identifying the section, take note of the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is a measure of the vehicle’s maximum allowable weight. It shows the maximum weight that the vehicle is allowed to safely carry. This value stands for the total weight of the vehicle, including the actual weight of the vehicle and the weight of passengers and cargo.
Be aware that the actual weight of a vehicle should be less than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating provided for that vehicle. With the manual, vehicle keepers or buyers may gain access to the Kerb weight, which is the weight of the vehicle without passengers and cargo.
Did you know? 52% of U.K. vehicles have a hidden history.
Through a car history check or a car weight check tool
If a car keeper or car buyer is unable to locate a vehicle’s weight from the manufacturer’s manual, they can proceed to get a car weight check with the car plate number lookup tool provided by Smart Car Check.
A car plate number lookup tool is provided by car history report services and provides information on the history and records of a vehicle. It also provides information on the following:
- Auction records
- Previous keepers, plates, and colors
- MOT and tax dues
- Weight and dimensions.
- Detailed vehicle description
- Overall vehicle performance
- Mileage history
- Market value and running costs
- Car alerts
The information provided by the car plate number lookup tool provided by Smart Car Check helps UK car buyers make informed decisions during car purchases and reduces the risk of purchasing vehicles with defects and hidden damages.
With the car weight check tool provided by Smart Car Check, a vehicle keeper or buyer may easily check vehicle weight by registration number. To do this, simply:
Step 1: Locate your vehicle’s registration number.
The first step in having a vehicle weight check done with the registration number of a vehicle is to locate the car’s registration number. This number can be found on a vehicle’s registration certificate (V5C) and can also be found on the vehicle itself. Just take a close look at the license plate and you should be able to find it.
Step 2: Navigate to the Smart Car Check car plate number lookup tool
The Smart Car Check vehicle inquiry service allows vehicle keepers and buyers to gain unrestricted access to their vehicles’ information. To check vehicle weight by registration, you will be required to fill out a form and provide your vehicle registration number and contact information.
Step 3: Find the weight information
A car history report from Smart Car Check provides access to a range of information on a vehicle, including the vehicle’s weight. After a car weight check, vehicle keepers and buyers will be provided with the following weight information:
- Unladen weight.
- Gross vehicle weight.
- Kerb weight.
- Maximum permissible mass.
Why should I check the weight of my car by registration number?
Knowing how much weight a vehicle is legally allowed to carry is necessary to increase safety while driving. A vehicle’s weight directly influences its performance and fuel efficiency. Some of the reasons why it is recommended to carry out a vehicle weight check include:
- It improves the safety of car drivers on the road.
- Vehicles with weights above the weight limit are difficult to control, especially in emergencies. With the weight limit known, drivers may be able to avoid unnecessary weight and improve the vehicle’s performance while on the road.
- Too much weight exerts too much strain on a vehicle’s engine. Regular overloading of a vehicle affects the vehicle’s engine performance, transmission, brakes, and fuel efficiency.
- It helps drivers avoid penalties or fines associated with overloaded vehicles.
Final Words
Overall, checking the vehicle weight by registration number is necessary as it directly affects the performance of a vehicle, prevents unnecessary repairs, and improves the safety of the driver and other road users. To do this, vehicle keepers and buyers can check the manual or use the Smart Car Check vehicle enquiry service. The latter provides information on the vehicle’s weight and also vital records and information on their cars.
