A vehicle category classifies a land vehicle or trailer for regulatory purposes.
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Information from Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3),[1] Revision 6.[2]
Some categories have 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).
§ | Category | Description |
---|---|---|
2.1 | L | Motor vehicles with less than four wheels [but does include light four-wheelers] |
2.1.1 | L1 | 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) |
2.1.2 | L2 | 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) |
2.1.3 | L3 | 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) |
2.1.4 | L4 | 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). |
2.1.5 | L5 | 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) |
2.1.6 | L6 | 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) |
2.1.7 | L7 | 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) |
2.2 | M | Vehicles having at least four wheels and used for the carriage of passengers (e.g., standard car with 2, 3, 4 doors). |
2.2.1 | M1 | 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.) |
2.2.2 | M2 | 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) |
2.2.3 | M3 | 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) |
2.3 | N | Power-driven vehicles having at least four wheels and used for the carriage of goods |
2.3.1 | N1 | Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes. (Pick-up Truck, Van) |
2.3.2 | N2 | Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 12 tonnes. (Commercial Truck) |
2.3.3 | N3 | Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes. (Commercial Truck) |
2.4 | O | Trailers (including semi–trailers) |
2.4.1 | O1 | Trailers with a maximum mass not exceeding 0.75 tonnes. |
2.4.2 | O2 | Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 0.75 tonnes, but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes. |
2.4.3 | O3 | Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes, but not exceeding 10 tonnes. |
2.4.4 | O4 | 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] | |
2.6 | T | Agricultural and Forestry tractors[Cat 6] |
2.7 | Non-road mobile machinery[Cat 7] | |
2.8 | G | Off-road vehicles[Cat 8][Cat 9] |
2.9.2 | Special purpose vehicles (M1) | |
2.9.2.1 | SA | Motor caravan: see paragraph 2.5.1. |
2.9.2.2 | SB | Armoured vehicle: see paragraph 2.5.2. |
2.9.2.3 | SC | Ambulance: see paragraph 2.5.3. |
2.9.2.4 | SD | Hearse: see paragraph 2.5.4. |
In the European Union, the classifications for vehicle category are based on UNECE standards and defined by:[3]
The EU general classification of vehicle categories is:[6]
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 Category | European Driving Licence | Notes |
---|---|---|
L1e | AM[7] | |
L2e | AM[7] | |
L3e-A1 | A1[7] | |
L3e-A2 | A2[7] | |
L3e-A3 | A[7] | |
L5e | A1, A[7] | |
L6e | AM, B1[7] | Cat AM up to 350 kg unladen; cat B1 for four-wheel vehicles up to 550 kg unladen |
L7e | B1, B[7] | Cat B1 for four-wheel vehicles up to 550 kg unladen; cat B up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass |
M1 | B | C when mass > 3500 kg |
M2 | D1, D | For more than 16 seats in addition to the driver's seat Cat D only. |
M3 | D1, D | For more than 16 seats in addition to the driver's seat Cat D only. |
N1 | B | |
N2 | C1, C | For mass between 7.5 and 12 tonnes Cat C only. |
N3 | C | |
O1 | B, C1, C, D1, D | |
O2 | BE, C1E, CE, D1E, DE | |
O3 | C1E, CE, D1E, DE | |
O4 | C1E, CE |
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: