The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

Maximum permitted laden weight of a vehicleE+W+S

75.—(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), the laden weight of a vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table shall not exceed the maximum permitted laden weight specified in that item in column 3.

(2) The maximum permitted laden weight of a vehicle first used before 1st June 1973 which falls in item 1 or 2 shall not be less than would be the case if the vehicle fell in item 9.

TABLE

(regulation 75(1))

12 3
ItemClass of vehicle Maximum permitted laden weight
(kg)
1A wheeled heavy motor car or motor car which is not described in items [F11A, 2,] 4 or 5 and which complies with the relevant braking requirement [F2(see regulation 78(3) to (6) in relation to buses)] [F3The weight determined in accordance with Part I of Schedule 11]
[F41A

A wheeled heavy motor car or motor car which is not described initem 2, 4, or 5, which complies with the relevant braking requirementand in which—

(a)

every driving axle not being a steering axle is fitted with twin tyres; and

(b)

either every driving axle is fitted with road friendly suspension or no axle has an axle weight exceeding 9,500kg.

The weight determined in accordance with Part IA of Schedule 11]
2A wheeled heavy motor car or motor car (not being an agricultural motor vehicle) which forms part of an articulated vehicle and which complies with the relevant braking requirementThe weight specified in column (5) in Part II of Schedule 11 in the item which is appropriate having regard to columns (2), (3) and (4) in that Part
3A wheeled trailer, including a composite trailer, but not including a semi-trailer, which is drawn by a motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car which complies with the relevant braking requirement, other than a trailer described in items 6, 7, 8 or 11As for item 1
[F54An articulated bus (see regulation 78(3) to (5))27,000]
5 A wheeled agricultural motor vehicle As for item 1, but subject to a maximum of 24,390
6A balanced agricultural trailer, as defined in paragraph (4), which is not described in items 8, 11 or 16 As for item 1, but subject to a maximum of 18,290
7An unbalanced agricultural trailer, as defined in paragraph (4) which is not described in items 8, 11 or 16 18,290 inclusive of the weight imposed by the trailer on the drawing vehicle
8A wheeled trailer manufactured on or after 27th February 1977 and fitted with brakes which automatically come into operation on the over-run of the trailer (whether or not it is fitted with any other brake), except an agricultural trailer which is being drawn by an agricultural motor vehicle, which complies with the requirements specified in items 3, 14 and 17 of Schedule 3 and of which the brakes can be applied either by the driver of the drawing vehicle or by some other person on that vehicle or on the trailer3,500
9 A wheeled heavy motor car or motor car not described in items 1, 2, 4 or 5—
(a) with not more than 4 wheels14,230
(b) with more than 4 but not more than 6 wheels20,330
(c) with more than 6 wheels 24,390
10A wheeled trailer not described in items 3, 6, 7, 8 or 11 having less than 6 wheels, and not forming part of an articulated vehicle; and an agricultural trailed appliance14,230
11

A trailer manufactured before 27th February 1977 and having no brakes other than—

(i) a parking brake and

(ii) brakes which come into operation on the overrun of the trailer

3,560
12A wheeled locomotive, not described in item 5, which is equipped with suitable and sufficient springs between each wheel and the vehicle's frame and with a pneumatic tyre or a tyre of soft or elastic material fitted to each wheel—
(a) if having less than 6 wheels 22,360
(b) if having 6 wheels26,420
(c) if having more than 6 wheels 30,490
13A track-laying locomotive with resilient material interposed between the rims of the weight-carrying rollers and the road so that the weight of the vehicle (other than that borne by any wheels and the portion of the track in contact with the road) is supported by the resilient material.22,360
14A locomotive not described in items 5, 12 or 1320,830
15A track-laying heavy motor car or motor car22,360
16A track-laying trailer13,210

(3) The maximum total weight of all trailers, whether laden or unladen, drawn at any one time by a locomotive shall not exceed [F644,000 kg].

[F7(3A) Nothing in item 1 or 1A of the Table shall prevent a vehicle being used on a road if—

(a)a plating certificate in respect of the vehicle was in force immediately before the 1st January 1993; and

(b)the laden weight of the vehicle does not exceed the weight shown in that certificate as being the weight not to be exceeded in Great Britain.]

(4) [F8In this Part of these Regulations and in Schedule 11—]

[F9“air spring” means a spring operated by means of air or other compressible fluid under pressure;

“air suspension” means a suspension system in which at least 75 per cent of the spring effect is caused by an air spring.]

“balanced agricultural trailer” means an agricultural trailer the whole of the weight of which is borne by its own wheels; and

“unbalanced agricultural trailer” means an agricultural trailer of which some, but not more than 35%, of the weight is borne by the drawing vehicle and the rest of the weight is borne by its own wheels.

[F10(5) For the purposes of this Part of these Regulations and Schedule 11, an axle shall be regarded as fitted with a road friendly suspension if its suspension is—

(a)an air suspension, or

(b)a suspension, not being an air suspension, which is regarded as being equivalent to an air suspension for the purposes of Community Directive 92/7.

(6) For the purposes of this Part of these Regulations and Schedule 11, an axle shall be regarded as fitted with twin tyres if it would be regarded as fitted with twin tyres for the purposes of Community Directive 92/7.]

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 75 in force at 11.8.1986, see reg. 1