Council Directive 96/53/ECShow full title

ANNEX I U.K. MAXIMUM WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS AND RELATED CHARACTERISTICS OF VEHICLES

1.	Maximum authorized dimensions for the vehicles referred to in Article 1 (1) (a)
[F1 1.1	maximum length:
	— motor vehicle other than a bus 12,00 m	12,00 m
	— trailer	12,00 m
	— articulated vehicle	16,50 m
	— road train	18,75 m
	— articulated bus	18,75 m
	— bus with two axles	13,50 m
	— bus with more than two axles	15,00 m
	— bus + trailer	18,75 m]
1.2	Maximum width:
	[F2 (a) all vehicles except the vehicles referred to in point (b)	2,55 m]
	[F2 (b) superstructures of conditioned vehicles or conditioned containers or swap bodies transported by vehicles	2,60 m]
1.3	Maximum height (any vehicle)	4,00 m
1.4	Removable superstructures and standardized freight items such as containers are included in the dimensions specified in points 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8 and 4.4
[F3 1.4a	If any removable attachments such as ski-boxes are fitted to a bus, its length, including the attachments, must not exceed the maximum length laid down in point 1.1	]
1.5	Any motor vehicle or vehicle combination which is in motion must be able to turn within a swept circle having an outer radius of 12,50 m and an inner radius of 5,30 m
[F3 1.5a	Additional requirements for buses With the vehicle stationary, a vertical plane tangential to the side of the vehicle and facing outwards from the circle shall be established by marking a line on the ground. In the case of an articulated vehicle, the two rigid portions shall be aligned with the plane When the vehicle moves from a straight line approach into the circular area described in point 1.5, no part of it shall move outside of that vertical plane by more than 0,60 m	]
1.6	Maximum distance between the axis of the fifth-wheel king pin and the rear of a semi-trailer	12,00 m
1.7	Maximum distance measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the road train from the foremost external point of the loading area behind the cabin to the rearmost external point of the trailer of the combination, minus the distance between the rear of the drawing vehicle and the front of the trailer	15,65 m
1.8	Maximum distance measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the road train from the foremost external point of the loading area behind the cabin to the rearmost external point of the trailer of the combination	16,40 m
2.	Maximum authorized vehicle weight (in tonnes)
2.1	Vehicles forming part of a vehicle combination
2.1.1	Two-axle trailer	18 tonnes
2.1.2	Three-axle trailer	24 tonnes
2.2	Vehicle combinations
2.2.1	Road trains with five or six axles [F4 In the case of vehicle combinations including alternatively fuelled or zero-emission vehicles, the maximum authorised weights provided for in this section shall be increased by the additional weight of the alternative fuel or zero-emission technology with a maximum of 1 tonne and 2 tonnes respectively.]
	(a) two-axle motor vehicle with three-axle trailer	40 tonnes
	(b) three-axle motor vehicle with two or three-axle trailer	40 tonnes
2.2.2	Articulated vehicles with five or six axles [F4 In the case of vehicle combinations including alternatively fuelled or zero-emission vehicles, the maximum authorised weights provided for in this section shall be increased by the additional weight of the alternative fuel or zero-emission technology with a maximum of 1 tonne and 2 tonnes respectively.]
	(a) two-axle motor vehicle with three-axle semi-trailer	40 tonnes
	(b) three-axle motor vehicle with two or three-axle semi-trailer	40 tonnes
	[F2 (c) two-axle motor vehicle with three-axle semi-trailer carrying, in intermodal transport operations, one or more containers or swap bodies, up to a total maximum length of 45 feet	42 tonnes]
	[F5 (d) three-axle motor vehicle with two- or three-axle semi-trailer carrying, in intermodal transport operations, one or more containers or swap bodies, up to a total maximum length of 45 feet	44 tonnes]
2.2.3	Road trains with four axles consisting of a two-axle motor vehicle and a two-axle trailer [F4 In the case of vehicle combinations including alternatively fuelled or zero-emission vehicles, the maximum authorised weights provided for in this section shall be increased by the additional weight of the alternative fuel or zero-emission technology with a maximum of 1 tonne and 2 tonnes respectively.]	36 tonnes
2.2.4	Articulated vehicles with four axles consisting of a two-axle motor vehicle and a two-axle semi-trailer, if the distance between the axles of the semi-trailer: [F4 In the case of vehicle combinations including alternatively fuelled or zero-emission vehicles, the maximum authorised weights provided for in this section shall be increased by the additional weight of the alternative fuel or zero-emission technology with a maximum of 1 tonne and 2 tonnes respectively.]
2.2.4.1	is 1,3 m or greater but not more than 1,8 m	36 tonnes
2.2.4.2	is greater than 1,8 m	36 tonnes + 2 tonnes margin when the maximum authorized weight (MAW) of the motor vehicle (18 tonnes) and the MAW of the tandem axle of the semi-trailer (20 tonnes) are respected and the driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and air suspension or suspension recognized as being equivalent within the Community as defined in Annex II
2.3	Motor vehicles
[F2 2.3.1	Two-axle motor vehicles other than buses: 18 tonnes Two-axle alternatively fuelled motor vehicles other than buses: the maximum authorised weight of 18 tonnes is increased by the additional weight required for the alternative fuel technology with a maximum of 1 tonne [F4 Zero-emission vehicles: the maximum authorised weight of 18 tonnes is increased by the additional weight of the zero-emission technology with a maximum of 2 tonnes.]	Two-axle buses: 19,5 tonnes]
[F2 2.3.2	Three-axle motor vehicles	25 tonnes, or 26 tonnes where the driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and air suspension or suspension recognised as being equivalent within the Union as defined in Annex II, or where each driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and the maximum weight of each axle does not exceed 9,5 tonnes. Three-axle alternatively fuelled motor vehicles: the maximum authorised weight of 25 tonnes, or 26 tonnes where the driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and air suspension or suspension recognised as being equivalent within the Union as defined in Annex II, or where each driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and the maximum weight of each axle does not exceed 9,5 tonnes, is increased by the additional weight required for the alternative fuel technology with a maximum of 1 tonne [F4 Three-axle zero-emission vehicles: the maximum authorised weight of 25 tonnes, or 26 tonnes where the driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and air suspension or suspension recognised as being equivalent within the Union as defined in Annex II or where each driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and the maximum weight of each axle does not exceed 9,5 tonnes, is increased by the additional weight of the zero-emission technology with a maximum of 2 tonnes.] ]
2.3.3	Four-axle motor vehicles with two steering axles	—32 tonnes where the driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and air suspension or suspension recognized as being equivalent within the Community as defined in Annex II, or where each driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and the maximum weight of each axle does not exceed 9,5 tonnes
[F2 2.4	Three-axle articulated buses	28 tonnes Three-axle articulated buses alternatively fuelled: the maximum authorised weight of 28 tonnes is increased by the additional weight required for the alternative fuel technology with a maximum of 1 tonne [F4 Three-axle articulated buses that are zero-emission vehicles: the maximum authorised weight of 28 tonnes is increased by the additional weight of the zero-emission technology with a maximum of 2 tonnes.] ]
3.	Maximum authorized axle weight of the vehicles referred to in Article 1 (1) (b) (in tonnes)
3.1	Single axles Single non-driving axle	10 tonnes
3.2	Tandem axles of trailers and semi-trailers The sum of the axle weights per tandem axle must not exceed, if the distance (d) between the axles is:
3.2.1	less than 1 m (d < 1,0)	11 tonnes
3.2.2	between 1,0 m and less than 1,3 m (1,0 ≤ d < 1,3)	16 tonnes
3.2.3	between 1,3 m and less than 1,8 m (1,3 ≤ d < 1,8)	18 tonnes
3.2.4	1,8 m or more (1,8 ≤ d)	20 tonnes
3.3	Tri-axles of trailers and semi-trailers The sum of the axle weights per tri-axle must not exceed, if the distance (d) between the axles is:
3.3.1	1,3 m or less (d ≤ 1,3)	21 tonnes
3.3.2	over 1,3 m and up to 1,4 m (1,3 <d ≤ 1,4)	24 tonnes
3.4	Driving axle
3.4.1	Driving axle of the vehicles referred to in 2.2.1 and 2.2.2	11,5 tonnes
3.4.2	Driving axle of the vehicles referred to in points 2.2.3, 2.2.4, 2.3 and 2.4	11,5 tonnes
3.5	Tandem axles of motor vehicles The sum of the axle weights per tandem axle must not exceed, if the distance (d) between the axles is:
3.5.1	less than 1 m (d < 1,0)	11,5 tonnes
3.5.2	1,0 m or greater but less than 1,3 m (1,0 ≤ d < 1,3)	16 tonnes
3.5.3	1,3 m or greater but less than 1,8 m (1,3 ≤ d < 1,8)	—18 tonnes —19 tonnes where the driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and air suspension or suspension recognized as being equivalent within the Community as defined in Annex II, or where each driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and where the maximum weight for each axle does not exceed 9,5 tonnes
4.	Related characteristics of the vehicles referred to in Article 1 (1) (b)
4.1	All vehicles The weight borne by the driving axle or driving axles of a vehicle or vehicle combination must not be less than 25 % of the total laden weight of the vehicle or vehicle combination, when used in international traffic
4.2	Road trains The distance between the rear axle of a motor vehicle and the front axle of a trailer must not be less than 3,00 m.
4.3	Maximum authorized weight depending on the wheelbase The maximum authorized weight in tonnes of a four-axle motor vehicle may not exceed five times the distance in metres between the axes of the foremost and rearmost axles of the vehicle
4.4	Semi-trailers The distance measured horizontally between the axis of the fifth-wheel king pin and any point at the front of the semi-trailer must not exceed 2,04 m

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Directive 2002/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 February 2002 amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic.

F2 Substituted by Directive (EU) 2015/719 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic (Text with EEA relevance).

F3 Inserted by Directive 2002/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 February 2002 amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic.

F4 Inserted by Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 setting CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles and amending Regulations (EC) No 595/2009 and (EU) 2018/956 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 96/53/EC (Text with EEA relevance).

F5 Inserted by Directive (EU) 2015/719 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic (Text with EEA relevance).