Vehicle Classifications and Definitions According to the Traffic Act
Vehicle Classifications and Definitions
This document provides definitions of various vehicle types as outlined in the Traffic Act, Motor Vehicle Traffic, and Road Safety regulations.
General Vehicle Definitions
Vehicle: Any device suitable for driving on roads or land as defined in Article 2 of the Traffic Act.
Animal-drawn vehicle: A vehicle drawn by animals.
Cycle: A two-wheeled vehicle powered by the muscular effort of the rider, typically through pedals or cranks.
Bike: A bicycle with pedal assistance that uses a motor with a power not exceeding 0.5 kW to assist the rider’s effort. The motor stops when the rider stops pedaling or exceeds 25 km/h.
Motor vehicle: A vehicle with a motor for propulsion, excluding mopeds, trams, and vehicles for disabled individuals.
Tram: A rail vehicle designed to run on roads.
Vehicle for Disabled: A vehicle with a tare weight not exceeding 350 kg and a maximum speed of 45 km/h, specifically designed for individuals with disabilities.
Motor Vehicle Categories
Car: A motor vehicle typically used to transport people or goods, or both, or to tow other vehicles for that purpose. Excludes special vehicles.
Motorcycle:
- Two-wheel motorcycles: Two-wheelers without a sidecar, with an engine capacity exceeding 50 cm3 (if internal combustion) and/or a maximum design speed exceeding 45 km/h.
- Motorcycles with sidecars: Asymmetrical tricycles with an engine capacity exceeding 50 cm3 (if internal combustion) and/or a maximum design speed exceeding 45 km/h.
Motor tricycle: A symmetrical three-wheeled vehicle with an engine capacity exceeding 50 cm3 (if internal combustion) and/or a maximum design speed exceeding 45 km/h.
Quads: Four-wheeled vehicles with an unladen mass less than or equal to 400 kg (or 550 kg for goods vehicles), excluding battery mass for electric vehicles, and a maximum net engine power not exceeding 15 kW. Quads are considered tricycles.
Turismo automobile: A passenger vehicle with at least four wheels and a maximum of eight seats besides the driver’s seat.
Bus or coach: A vehicle with more than nine seats, including the driver, designed for carrying passengers and their luggage. Includes trolleybuses, which are connected to a power line and run on rails.
Articulated bus or coach: A bus or coach consisting of two rigid parts connected by an articulated section, allowing passenger flow between the parts.
Double-decker bus: A bus or coach with passenger spaces arranged on two levels, with the upper level having seats only.
Truck: A four-wheeled or more vehicle designed for transporting goods, with a cab integrated into the body and up to nine seats, including the driver.
Tractor-truck: A vehicle primarily designed for towing a trailer.
Towing vehicle: A non-self-propelled vehicle designed to be towed by a motor vehicle.
Trailers and Semi-Trailers
Trailer or full trailer: A trailer with at least two axles and a steering shaft equipped with a vertically movable towing device that does not transmit a significant load (less than 100 kg) to the towing vehicle.
Central axle trailer: A trailer with a vertically movable coupling device and shaft(s) located near the center of gravity, resulting in minimal vertical load transfer to the towing vehicle.
Semi-trailer: A non-self-propelled vehicle designed to be attached to a car, transferring a substantial part of its mass to the car.
Caravan trailer or semi-trailer: A trailer designed for use as a mobile home, with a compartment suitable for use when parked.
Articulated vehicle: A car coupled to a trailer.
Road train: A motor vehicle coupled to a trailer.
Set of vehicles: A road train or articulated vehicle.
Special Purpose Vehicles
Vehicle condition: A vehicle with fixed or movable superstructures equipped for transporting goods at controlled temperatures, with sidewall thickness (including insulation) of at least 45mm.
Derived from tourism: A motor car for transport services or goods exclusively derived from tourism, retaining the body and having only one row of seats.
Adaptive crossover: A car designed for transporting goods and people (up to 9, including the driver), with the option to replace cargo space with seats.
Auto-caravan: A special purpose vehicle with living quarters containing equipment such as chairs, table, beds, and kitchen cabinets.
All-terrain vehicle (SUV): A motor vehicle meeting the definition in Annex II, point 4 of Directive 92/53 (LCEur 1992, 2648).
Special vehicle: A self-propelled or towed vehicle designed for specific works or services, exempt from certain technical conditions or exceeding mass or dimension limits. Includes agricultural machinery and trailers.
Agricultural Tractor: A propelled special vehicle with two or more axles, designed for towing, pushing, carrying, or powering agricultural tools and machinery.
Walking Tractor: A single-axle propelled special vehicle steered by a walking operator.
Vehicle Weight Classifications
Light vehicle: A motor vehicle for goods transport with a maximum authorized mass (MMA) not exceeding 6 tons, or with a payload capacity not exceeding 3.5 tons even if exceeding 6 tons MMA.
Heavy Vehicle: A vehicle for goods transport with an MMA exceeding 6 tons and a load capacity exceeding 3.5 tons. Tractors with a towing capacity of over 3.5 tons are also considered heavy vehicles.
Weight and Load Definitions
Tara: The mass of a vehicle with its fixed equipment, service personnel, full complement of water, fuel, lubricants, spare parts, tools, and accessories, but without passengers or cargo.
MMA (Maximum Authorized Mass): The maximum allowable mass of a laden vehicle for use on public roads.
Indivisible load: Cargo that cannot be divided without significant cost or risk of damage and, due to its size or mass, cannot be transported in a standard vehicle complying with regulations.