Vehicle category

A vehicle category classifies a land vehicle or trailer for regulatory purposes.

UNECE categories

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Information from Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3), Revision 6.

Some categories have further sub classes. See Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3) 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. (Electric bicycle)
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. (Auto rickshaw)
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. (Motorcycle)
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. (Motorized tricycle)
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. (Golf cart, Mobility scooter)
2.1.7L7 A vehicle with four wheels, other than that classified for the category L6, whose unladen mass is not more than 400 kg (550 kg 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. (Microcars)
2.2M Vehicles having at least four wheels and used for the carriage of passengers (e.g., standard car with 2, 3, 4 doors).
2.2.1M1 Vehicles used for carriage of passengers, comprising not more than eight seats in addition to the driver's = 9.( Larger Than Standard Car e.g.: London Cab / E7 Type Vehicle 8 seat + Driver.)
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, Van)
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
2.5.1 Motor caravan, also Campervan, Motorhome.
2.5.2 Armored car (VIP), Armored car (valuables)
2.5.3 Ambulance
2.5.4 Hearse
2.6T Agricultural and Forestry tractors
2.7 Non-road mobile machinery
2.8G Off-road vehicles
2.9.2 Special purpose vehicles (M1)
2.9.2.1SA Motor caravan: see paragraph 2.5.1.
2.9.2.2SB Armoured vehicle: see paragraph 2.5.2.
2.9.2.3SC Ambulance: see paragraph 2.5.3.
2.9.2.4SD 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 vehiclef 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

In the European Union, the classifications for vehicle category are based on UNECE standards and defined by:

The EU general classification of vehicle categories is:

European driving licenses

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

The table below shows a translation of Vehicle Categories to European Driving Licence Categories, indicating which vehicle class can be driven with which category of licence.

Vehicle CategoryEuropean Driving LicenceNotes
L1eAM
L2eAM
L3e-A1A1
L3e-A2A2
L3e-A3A
L5eA1, A
L6eAM, B1Cat AM up to 350 kg unladen; cat B1 for four-wheel vehicles up to 550 kg unladen
L7eB1, BCat B1 for four-wheel vehicles up to 550 kg unladen; cat B up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass
M1BC when mass > 3500 kg
M2D1, DFor more than 16 seats in addition to the driver's seat Cat D only.
M3D1, DFor more than 16 seats in addition to the driver's seat Cat D only.
N1B
N2C1, CFor mass between 7.5 and 12 tonnes Cat C only.
N3C
O1B, C1, C, D1, D
O2BE, C1E, CE, D1E, DE
O3C1E, CE, D1E, DE
O4C1E, CE

Country-specific classifications

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:

Philippines

Motor vehicles in the Philippines follow UNECE standards and are defined in Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Department Order No. 2010-32, which was issued on September 8, 2010. Initially adopted only for gasoline and diesel motor vehicles, classifications for electric vehicles were added through Land Transportation Office (LTO) Administrative Order No. 2021-039, issued on May 11, 2021, which also added subcategories for L1 and L2 electric vehicles covering e-bikes and mopeds.

As of 2024, the Category L classifications were simplified through the issuance of LTO Administrative Order No. VDM-2024-044, which removed the Personal Mobility Scooter and Electric Kick Scooter categories and the sub-classifications of L1a, L1b, L2a, and L2b.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3)".
  2. 1 2 "ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.6: Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3)" (PDF).
  3. ↑ "Technical harmonisation in the EU". European Commission. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  4. ↑ "Consolidated text: Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles (Text with EEA relevance)Text with EEA relevance". Official Journal of the European Union. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "DIRECTIVE 2007/46/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 5 September 2007 establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles". Official Journal of the European Union. 5 September 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  6. ↑ "EU: Vehicle Definitions". Transport Policy.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Regulations on Vehicle Category
  8. ↑ DOTC Department Order No. 2010-32 (8 September 2010), Harmonization of Motor Vehicle (MV) Classifications of LTO and LTFRB (PDF)
  9. ↑ Land Transportation Office Administrative Order No. 39 (11 May 2021), Consolidated Guidelines in the Classification, Registration and Operation of All Types of Electric Motor Vehicles, retrieved 15 October 2024
  10. ↑ Land Transportation Office Administrative Order No. VDM-2024-044 (21 February 2024), Amended Consolidated Guidelines in the Classification, Registration and Operation of All Types of Electric Vehicles, retrieved 15 October 2024