Transporter Weight Limits And Driving

[Stereophoney]

Just wondered if anyone knew what weight limit i could drive with on the newer style licence ?

I have the use of a renault master transporter which weighs 2.2 tonne, but i'm unsure of the limitations on my licence

I know the old licence allowed people to drive up to 7.5 tonne but no idea what the new one is

Any advice or pointing in the right direction would be great

Regards Gary

 

[Luke]

3.5 tonnes is your (our!) limit, which isn't very much - 1.3 tonnes in this case.

 

[Stereophoney]

I take it that is a combined total weight then ?

 

[Justme]

Plus its not just the actual weight of vehicle & load but the plated weight of the vehicle if that is higher.

 

[rikrobson]

If the vehicle is un-plated then it should be ok to drive. you will be ok on your licence if the gross weight exceeds the maximum wheight for the chassis, but would more than likely be ticketed for the vehicle being over weight.

If it;s plated it will show the Gross vehicle weight and this is what will relate to your licence. If the Vehicle is plated for more than 3.5 tonnes then you can't drive it. Also any vehicle over must have a tacho, but there are exception to this rule.

So if it has a tacho you can't drive it and won't be insured.

 

[Stereophoney]

It does have a tacho but is plated at 2200 , does that mean that anyone with the earlier licence up to 7.5t can't drive it also ?

 

[Justme]

I would guess that it has a tacho for when it is pulling a trailer for business use. Or if it can carry more than 1300kg as a load.

Is that 2200kg its actual weight or max weight inc load?

 

[madkayaker]

new licence allows you a train weight of 3.5T or a towing vehicle of 3.5T and a 750KG unbreaked trailer best to check the wording on the dvla website

 

[Stereophoney]

I would guess that it has a tacho for when it is pulling a trailer for business use. Or if it can carry more than 1300kg as a load.

Is that 2200kg its actual weight or max weight inc load?

I think it was 2200 actual, i was assuming i could carry a small car on it ok as long as i don't exceed 3.5t

As for the dvla they are about as clear as mud

 

[madkayaker]

Motoring

The vehicles you can drive or ride and minimum ages

The tables below show what you can drive or ride, and at what age. They show you where a provisional entitlement and an additional driving test is needed if you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997.

They will also show what you can drive if you passed your driving test before 1 January 1997 but had your driving licence issued after that date.

Passed your driving test before 1 January 1997

You can also find out about what you can drive if you passed your driving test and had a driving licence issued before 1 January 1997.

• Driving tests passed before 1 January 1997

Motorcycles

Category
Description
Minimum age
P
Mopeds with an engine size of up to 50 cc and a maximum speed of up to 50 km/h
16
A1
Light motorcycles with an engine size of up to 125 cc and a power output of up to 11 kW (14.6 bhp)
17
A
Medium-sized motorcycles up to 25 kW (33 bhp) and a power to weight ratio of up to 0.16 kW/kg
17
A
Motorcycles with a sidecar and a power to weight ratio of up to 0.16 kW/kg
17
A
Any size motorcycle, with or without a sidecar if you have completed the large motorcycle Direct Access Scheme
21*
*You can ride a large motorcycle at any age two years after passing a test on a medium-sized motorcycle.

• Motorcycles you can ride

Three or four wheeled light vehicles

Category
Description
Minimum age
B1
Motor tricycles, quadricycles and three or four wheeled vehicles with an unladen weight no more than 550 kg
17*
*Age 16 if you are currently getting Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate (mobility component).

• The terms used to describe different vehicle weights

Cars or light vans, with or without trailers

The term maximum authorised mass (MAM) means the total weight of the vehicle plus the maximum load it can carry safely.

Category
Description
Minimum age
B
Motor vehicles with a MAM of up to 3,500 kg, no more than eight passenger seats, with or without a trailer - weighing no more than 750 kg
17*
B
As category B but with a trailer weighing more than 750 kg. The total weight of the vehicle and the trailer together can’t weigh more than 3,500 kg. The weight of the trailer, when fully loaded, can’t weigh more than the unladen weight of the vehicle
17*
B auto
As category B with automatic transmission
17*
B+E
As category B but with a heavier trailer that isn't covered in the descriptions for category B
17
*Age 16 if you are currently getting Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate (mobility component).
Example of category B with a trailer weighing over 750 kg: Motor vehicle with an unladen weight of 1,500 kg and a maximum weight of 2,000 kg towing a fully loaded trailer with a weight of 1,500 kg – total weight 3500.
Example of ca

 

[Stereophoney]

I have cat b on mine, i therefore assume

The term maximum authorised mass (MAM) means the total weight of the vehicle plus the maximum load it can carry safely

Motor vehicles with a MAM of up to 3,500 kg, no more than eight passenger seats, with or without a trailer - weighing no more than 750 kg

So i'm ok to drive the vehicle in question with a car on the back as long as it does not exceed 3.5t ????

Or am i being a complete div ?

 

[madkayaker]

as long as the plate MAM is less than 3.5T and the car is not going to excede the plate weight your fine

 

[Stereophoney]

as long as the plate MAM is less than 3.5T and the car is not going to excede the plate weight your fine

As i thought, thanks for helping clear that up

 

[Justme]

I think it was 2200 actual, i was assuming i could carry a small car on it ok as long as i don't exceed 3.5t

As for the dvla they are about as clear as mud

Only if its plated MAM weight is less than 3500kg.

You wont even be able to drive it empty if its max weight is over 3500kg.

The weight plate should have

unladen weight (in your case 2200kg)

GVW or MAM (max weight inc load)

max axle weights front & rear

Gross train weight (vehicle, load & trailer weight totalled)

 

[Stereophoney]

I need a pic of the plate really don't i

 

[madkayaker]

you do