Vehicle Weights & Licence Categories

Harry Brown

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Hi Guys,

I'm trying to work out (before I go and purchase a van too heavy for my licence) what the maximum weight is that the licence covers? Is it the GVW (gross vehicle weigh) or GTW (Gross train weight)?
This is going to be a self build.

I have C1 & C1+E on my licence. https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories

For example an Iveco Daily 50C has a GVW of 5200kg but a GTW of 8700kg.
So does that mean I would be over the 7.5 tonnes my licence permits?

Also, if the vehicle is for private use, not business (i.e. to use as a camper but not shown as that on the V5, space for only my goods carried, do I need a speed limiter and tachograph?

Many thanks for your help in advance.
 
The way I understand it you will be fine. If you don't intend to tow, don't have a tow bar. Worth researching properly though.


"Category C1+E

You can drive C1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg, but the trailer - when fully loaded - can’t weigh more than the vehicle.

The combined weight of both can’t exceed 12,000kg."
 
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Hi, provided you passes your test before 1997 you can drive vehicle up to 7500 kg. The said vehicle can also have a train weight of no more than 8250 kg. If your vehicle has a gvw of 5200kg you can tow a trailer plated up to 3050kg gross weight, all trailers over 750kg gross should have a weight plate (although many older ones don't).

The gross capacity is calculated from the prime mover capacity (as its known / the towing vehicle) plus the trailer capacity which must also not exceed the prime mover gtw.

Eg 5200 plus any trailer up to 3050 is below your 8250 limit regardless that the prime mover is 8700 and this is legal. Or looked at another way your vehicle will tow a trailer up to 3500kg but your licence won't allow this.

Hope that helps.
 
Harry Brown said:
Hi Guys,

I'm trying to work out (before I go and purchase a van too heavy for my licence) what the maximum weight is that the licence covers? Is it the GVW (gross vehicle weigh) or GTW (Gross train weight)?
This is going to be a self build.

I have C1 & C1+E on my licence. https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories

For example an Iveco Daily 50C has a GVW of 5200kg but a GTW of 8700kg.
So does that mean I would be over the 7.5 tonnes my licence permits?

Also, if the vehicle is for private use, not business (i.e. to use as a camper but not shown as that on the V5, space for only my goods carried, do I need a speed limiter and tachograph?

Many thanks for your help in advance.
Click to expand...

C1 permits you to drive a vehicle of up to 7500kg GVW - if you passed your test before 1/1/97 you will probably have C1 + E with restriction 7, meaning that you can tow a trailer but the total GVW of vehicle plus trailer must be no more than 8250kg.

Regarding the tacho question, any 'goods' carried might mean that the vehicle is required to comply with tacho regulations, however there is an exemption from EU regulations for: Vehicles or combinations of vehicles with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 7.5 tonnes used for the non-commercial carriage of goods.
Vehicles exempted from EU regulations may be subject to UK domestic regulations, however there is also an exemption from domestic regulations for: Private driving, i.e. not in connection with a job or in any way to earn a living.

So you are probably OK without a tacho.

The speed limiter question is less clear, The Department for Transport have stated that, provided the vehicle has Motor Caravan on the V5C, has less than 9 passenger seats, and goods are not carried, a speed limiter is not required. Also there is no requirement for a speed limiter on vehicles first used before 1st October 2001.

However the UK implementation of the EU directive, Regulation 36B of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, refers only to 'goods' vehicles, with no apparent exemption for private use.

If you don't have Motor Caravan on the V5C you might need to look into that in a bit more depth.

AndyC
 
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Thanks very much for all the replies. Looks like I'll be OK then. Can anybody clarify if the speed limiter would need to be functioning, for driving and vehicle testing, for private use and not registered as a camper?
 
I think you will find that if a speed limiter is fitted on that class of vehicle it should be functioning...
 
Winterhawk said:
I think you will find that if a speed limiter is fitted on that class of vehicle it should be functioning...
Click to expand...

I think that's probably correct.

I've not been able to find definitive information but AIUI if it's not registered as a motor caravan it will probably be regarded as a goods vehicle for the purposes of speed limiter legislation (and quite a bit of other legislation too). If that's the case, and the vehicle was originally required to be fitted with one, then it must remain operational regardless of whether it is used privately or not.

If you want to be sure, your best bet is to email Enquiries@vosa.gov.uk but be prepared to wait some time for a response!

Can you not get the Body Type changed to Motor Caravan on the V5C?

AndyC
 
Remember vosa are self funding now so if they find anything they don't like you can expect an on the spot fine. This starts at £60 and goes up. For those with foreign registered vehicles or not considered residents of the uk the fine will be collected at the roadside.
They don'tull campers very often but they do pull vans quite regularly when running their roadside checks which makes us in van conversions a target.
I also find thst they tend to have no sense of humour...
Oh and I checked, a defective speed limiter is an offence and don't be tempted to pull the fuse as that is also an offence.
 
AndyC said:
Can you not get the Body Type changed to Motor Caravan on the V5C?
Click to expand...

Well the problem is I wanted it to be a stealth type looking van, so I haven't made my mind up about having windows etc, yet. I may put 2 blacked out ones in.
So if I do all the work, spend all the money required by the DVLA to re-register as a 'camper van' and then they refuse and class it as a 'van with windows' for example, I'm stuck with tacho, speed limiter etc. I'm really not sure which way to go yet.
 
The GTW has no bearing on the licence used - that is just a legal maximum actual weight that both towing vehicle and trailer can weigh when placed together on a weighbridge

Private use and tacho - any vehicle of combination where the combined plated GVW/MAM is over 7.5 tonnes comes into drivers hours and tacho regs

A motorhome with a GVW of 5200 with a trailer plated MAM of 2500 would be a combined MAM of 7700 so will be under tacho regs
The same as above with a trailer plated MAM of 2300 would not be into tacho regs

This next bit is with limited knowledge ........ no legal requirement to keep a tacho or speed limiter fitted if the GVW on a motorhome is under 7.5 tonnes but the moment the combination goes over 7500 kgs then the tacho is required - not the speed limiter

Hope that helps
 
ROG said:
The GTW has no bearing on the licence used - that is just a legal maximum actual weight that both towing vehicle and trailer can weigh when placed together on a weighbridge

Private use and tacho - any vehicle of combination where the combined plated GVW/MAM is over 7.5 tonnes comes into drivers hours and tacho regs

A motorhome with a GVW of 5200 with a trailer plated MAM of 2500 would be a combined MAM of 7700 so will be under tacho regs
The same as above with a trailer plated MAM of 2300 would not be into tacho regs

This next bit is with limited knowledge ........ no legal requirement to keep a tacho or speed limiter fitted if the GVW on a motorhome is under 7.5 tonnes but the moment the combination goes over 7500 kgs then the tacho is required - not the speed limiter

Hope that helps
Click to expand...

Rog, this differs from what the DfT told me. They said that for a motorhome (i.e. a vehicle with the Body Type recorded as 'Motor Caravan' on the V5C and fully fitted out as a motorhome) of any GVW there is no requirement for a speed limiter to be fitted, there is no requirement for a tachograph to be fitted (or if already fitted, to be used), and drivers hours regulations do not apply. In all cases, provided that the vehicle has less than 9 passenger seats and that the vehicle is not used for carrying goods. 'Living Vans', also 'Motor Caravans' of over 3500kg GVW used for carrying goods (for example traders who use their motorhome for carrying stock) are subject to goods vehicle regulations.

AndyC
 
I was also told by VOSA that I don't have to use the tacho and could disable the speed limiter since changing the body type to motor caravan, although to be honest I don't see the need to mess with the limiter as 62 mph is plenty quick enough for me, I also left the tacho alone as it seems as though it is all connected into the vehicle's box of elctrickery ie best left alone.
 
i wonder if we should have a race fulltimer,mine would get to 50-60 but is very low geared so takes its time,these things certainly dont pull away like a car:lol-053:
 
Actually the Iveco is pretty quick once you get out of first gear, but you do have to slow down your gear changes and start braking earlier than you would normally, didn't have a clue about exhaust brakes etc before
 
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