Vehicle category

A vehicle category classifies a land vehicle for regulatory purposes.

UNECE categories

Information from Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3),[1] Revision 2.[2]

Some categories has further sub classes. See Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3)[2] for further information.

Vehicles in the table listed within parentheses are examples of the vehicle in that category, e.g. (Bus).

§CategoryDescription
2.1L Motor vehicles with less than four wheels [but does include light four-wheelers]
2.1.1L1 A two-wheeled vehicle with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic engine not exceeding 50 cm³ and whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h.
2.1.2L2 A three-wheeled vehicle of any wheel arrangement with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic engine not exceeding 50 cm³ and whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h.
2.1.3L3 A two-wheeled vehicle with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic engine exceeding 50 cm³ or whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed exceeding 50 km/h.
2.1.4L4 A vehicle with three wheels asymmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal median plane with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic engine exceeding 50 cm³ or whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed exceeding 50 km/h (motor cycles with sidecars).
2.1.5L5 A vehicle with three wheels symmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal median plane with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic engine exceeding 50 cm³ or whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed exceeding 50 km/h.
2.1.6L6 A vehicle with four wheels whose unladen mass is not more than 350 kg, not including the mass of the batteries in case of electric vehicles, whose maximum design speed is not more than 45 km/h, and whose engine cylinder capacity does not exceed 50 cm³ for spark (positive) ignition engines, or whose maximum net power output does not exceed 4 kW in the case of other internal combustion engines, or whose maximum continuous rated power does not exceed 4 kW in the case of electric engines.
2.1.7L7 A vehicle with four wheels, other than that classified for the category L6, whose unladen mass is not more than 450 kg[3] (650 kg[3] for vehicles intended for carrying goods), not including the mass of batteries in the case of electric vehicles and whose maximum continuous rated power does not exceed 15 kW.
2.2M Power-driven vehicles having at least four wheels and used for the carriage of passengers
2.2.1M1 Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and comprising not more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat. (Passenger car)
2.2.2M2 Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, and having a maximum mass not exceeding 5 tonnes. (Bus)
2.2.3M3 Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, and having a maximum mass exceeding 5 tonnes. (Bus)
2.3N Power-driven vehicles having at least four wheels and used for the carriage of goods
2.3.1N1 Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes. (Pick-up Truck)
2.3.2N2 Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 12 tonnes. (Commercial Truck)
2.3.3N3 Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes. (Commercial Truck)
2.4O Trailers (including semi–trailers)
2.4.1O1 Trailers with a maximum mass not exceeding 0.75 tonnes.
2.4.2O2 Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 0.75 tonnes, but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
2.4.3O3 Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes, but not exceeding 10 tonnes.
2.4.4O4 Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 10 tonnes.
2.5 Special purpose vehicle[Cat 1]
2.5.1 Motor caravan,[Cat 2] also Campervan, Motorhome.
2.5.2 Armored car (VIP), Armored car (valuables)[Cat 3]
2.5.3 Ambulance[Cat 4]
2.5.4 Hearse[Cat 5]
2.6T Agricultural and Forestry tractors[Cat 6]
2.7 Non-road mobile machinery[Cat 7]
2.8G Off-road vehicles[Cat 8][Cat 9]
2.9.2 Special purpose vehicles (M1)
2.9.2.1SA Motor caravan: see paragraph 2.5.1.
2.9.2.2SA Armoured vehicle: see paragraph 2.5.2.
2.9.2.3SA Ambulance: see paragraph 2.5.3.
2.9.2.4SA Hearse: see paragraph 2.5.4.

Category Notes

  1. A vehicle of category M, N or O for conveying passengers or goods and for performing a special function for which special body arrangements and/or equipment are necessary.
  2. A special purpose M1 category vehicle constructed to include accommodation space.
  3. Vehicle intended for the protection of conveyed passengers and/or goods and complying with armour plating anti-bullet requirements.
  4. Motor vehicle of category M intended for the transport of sick or injured people and having special equipment for such purpose.
  5. Motor vehicle intended for the transport of deceased people and having special equipment for such purpose.
  6. A power-driven vehicle, either wheeled or track laying, which has at least two-axles, whose function depends essentially on its tractive power, and which is specially designed to pull, push, carry or actuate certain implements, machines or trailers intended for use in agriculture or forestry. Such a tractor may be arranged to carry a load (E.g.: Forwarder) and attendants.
  7. Any mobile machine, transportable industrial equipment or vehicle with or without body work, not intended for the use of passenger- or goods-transport on the road, in which an internal combustion engine is installed.
  8. Off-road vehicles are considered to be the vehicles of categories M and N.
  9. Symbols M and N may be combined with symbol G. For example, a vehicle of category N1 which is suited for off-road use may be designated as N1G.

EU classification

See also: UNECE

In Europe, the classifications for vehicle category are based in UNECE standards and defined by:[4]

The EU general classification of vehicle categories is:[8]

EU driving licenses

There are also a different category classification for driver licensing purposes.

The table below shows a translation of Vehicle categories to Driving Licence Categories indicating what vehicle class can be driven on which category of licence.

Vehicle Category European Driving Licence Notes
M1 B
M2 B, C1 For mass over 3.5 tonnes Cat C1 only.
M3 C, C1 For mass over 7.5 tonnes Cat C only.
N1 B
N2 C, C1 For mass between 7.5 and 12 tonnes Cat C only
N3 C
O1 B, C, C1, D, D1
O2 BE, CE, C1E, DE, D1E
O3 CE, C1E, DE, D1E
O4 CE, C1E

National classification of EU countries

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, land vehicle categories are defined by the act No. 56/2001 Sb. and the ordinance No. 341/2002 Sb. Categories M (including M1, M2, M3), N (including N1, N2, N3), of-road symbol G of M and N vehicles (M1G, M2G, M3G, N1G, N2G, N3G) and the category O (including O1, O2, O3 and O4) are defined according to the EU directive. Moreover, there are defined categories:

See also

References

  1. "Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3)".
  2. 1 2 "ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.2: Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3)" (PDF).
  3. 1 2 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:060:0052:0128:EN:PDF
  4. "Scadplus: Technical Harmonisation For Motor Vehicles". Europa.eu. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  5. "EUR-Lex - 32001L0116 - EN". Eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  6. "Directive 2002/24/EC - Automotive - Enterprise and Industry". Ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  7. "EUR-Lex - 32002L0024 - EN". Eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
  8. "ACEA - European Automobile Manufacturers' Association" (PDF). Acea.be. Retrieved 2012-04-09.

External links

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