The most common unpleasant surprise after purchase: when fully loaded, the truck weighs more than it’s allowed to – and your driving licence isn’t sufficient. You should therefore check the registered vehicle weights, your driving licence and the actual weight before buying.
Is your driving licence valid?
Enter the figures from the vehicle registration certificate. Field F.1 is the maximum authorised mass; G is the unladen mass.
Guidelines for reference only. The details on your vehicle registration certificate and driving licence are binding – if in doubt, have your vehicle weighed; a public weighbridge costs just a few euros.
Driving licence categories
DE Germany
AT Austria
CH Switzerland
What you’re allowed to drive with a Category B licence
A Category B driving licence permits the driving of motor vehicles up to 3,500 kg gross vehicle weight. This is not a recommendation, but a strict rule: the registered value is decisive, not the actual weight.
| Great | Permitted total weight | Note |
|---|---|---|
| B | up to 3,500 kg | Standard since 1999 |
| B96 | Towing capacity up to 4,250 kg | Training only, no exam |
| BE | Trailers up to 3,500 kg | own review |
| C1 | 3.500 – 7.500 kg | Medical examination required |
| C | over 7,500 kg | mostly oversized |
Anyone with a driving licence before 1 January 1999 Anyone who has obtained a driving licence usually holds Class 3, which today corresponds to C1 and C1E – i.e. up to 7.5 tonnes. Also check the reference numbers and expiry dates on your driving licence. If you’re unsure, the driving licence authority can help.
Please note regarding C1: Newly issued C1 driving licences are generally valid for a maximum of five years. Medical certificates are required for renewal. Transitional rules apply to older driving licences. The date of issue and the entries on your driving licence are decisive.
The calculation you do before making a purchase
Have your vehicle registration document to hand. You’ll need two figures:
- F.2 – maximum permissible mass in the country of registration
- G – Mass of the vehicle in operation (unladen weight)
The difference provides an initial indication. Depending on the vehicle, the mass in field G may already include the driver and other operating fluids. Do not count these twice. The key factors are weighing the vehicle in its actual running condition and the permissible axle loads. Typical additional loads include:
| Posts | Weight |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 75 – 90 kg |
| Second person | 75 – 90 kg |
| Fresh water, 100 l | 100 kg |
| Wastewater (collected in the evening) | up to 100 kg |
| 11 kg gas cylinder, filled | ca. 23 kg |
| Spare bottle | ca. 23 kg |
| Goods, crockery, packaging | 80 – 200 kg |
| Generator | 30 – 90 kg |
| Tools, cleaning, bits and bobs | 30 – 50 kg |
All in all, it quickly adds up to 450 to 650 kilograms All in all. If there’s not much left over after deducting the unladen weight, the truck is too heavy for you – regardless of how good it looks.
A calculation example
Sprinter with a gross vehicle weight of 3,500 kg; kerb weight as per registration document: 3,050 kg. Payload: 450 kg. Two people (170 kg) plus 100 litres of water (100 kg) plus two gas cylinders (46 kg) already add up to 316 kg. That leaves 134 kg for goods, waste water and everything else. Check the specific vehicle to see which people and consumables are already included in the kerb weight. Weighing the vehicle prevents double-counting or omissions.
The cost of clutter
Fines start at around five per cent for overloading and increase significantly. From 20 per cent, you’ll also receive a penalty point in Flensburg, and you’ll be prohibited from continuing your journey until the load has been redistributed – right in the middle of your journey to the market.
The insurance issue is of greater concern: if an accident occurs and the vehicle was significantly overloaded, the insurer may reduce the payout on the grounds of increased risk. The vehicle’s roadworthiness certificate may also be revoked.
Ways to tackle weight issues
Loading
Some vehicles can have their load capacity increased – for example, from 3,500 to 3,850 kg. This is only possible if the axles and brakes are capable of handling it, and it must be registered. Please note: doing so means you will no longer be within the scope of a Class B licence.
Ablastung
The opposite scenario: a vehicle weighing 3,850 kg is reduced to 3,500 kg so that it can be driven with a Category B licence. Technically straightforward, but it costs you exactly the payload you need.
Trailer instead of truck
When it comes to trailers, it’s the combination of towing vehicle and trailer that counts. With a B96 licence, a maximum towing combination weight of 4,250 kg is possible; with a BE licence, considerably more. For many, this is the most practical way to gain more space and carry more weight.
Fill up with water on site
The simplest trick: only drive with a partially filled fresh water tank and top it up at your pitch. This requires a water connection – make sure you sort this out beforehand.
Practical information: Drive the fully loaded truck onto a public weighbridge once before the season starts. Many recycling centres and agricultural suppliers have one; the weighing costs just a few euros. Then you’ll know exactly where you stand – rather than having to guess.