EC vehicle class

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For the European Community (EC), the EC vehicle class denotes a group of vehicles in accordance with EC Directive 2007/46 / EC of April 2009 in conjunction with EU Regulation 2011/678 / EU of July 2011. As early as 1970, the European Economic Community for the definition of uniform vehicle classes issued Directive 70/156 / EEC, valid until 2009.

The current guideline contains provisions for motor vehicles for passenger transport (vehicle class M) and for the transport of goods (vehicle class N) and their trailers (vehicle class O).

Since the beginning of 2013, EU regulation 2013/167 / EU has also classified agricultural and forestry vehicles as tractors (vehicle classes T and C), trailers (vehicle class R) and towed interchangeable devices (vehicle class S) as well as EU regulation 2013/168 / EU light one- and two-lane motor vehicles (vehicle class L).

The EC regulations on vehicles relate to these EC vehicle classes. For example, the third brake light is prescribed for vehicle class M1 and declared permissible for other EC vehicle classes. Emissions regulations also differ according to these vehicle classes.

Motor vehicles and trailers

The motor vehicles for passenger transport (vehicle class M), the motor vehicles for the transport of goods (vehicle class N) and the trailers for motor vehicles (vehicle class O), as well as their sub-classes off-road vehicles (G) and "with special purpose", are according to the EC Directive 2007/46 / EC on 29 April 2009 in connection with the partially replaced and partly changing Regulation (EU) no. 678/2011 of the Commission of 14 July 2011 as the framework Directive was adopted, classified.

Class M (passenger transport)

Motor vehicles designed and built for passenger transport with at least four wheels (colloquially automobiles , mobile homes and buses ).

Class M1
Vehicles for passenger transport with a maximum of eight seats in addition to the driver's seat (colloquially automobiles and mobile homes).
Class M1G
All-terrain vehicles for passenger transport with a maximum of eight seats in addition to the driver's seat (colloquially, all-terrain vehicle).

Off-road vehicles M1G must have at least the following equipment:

  • have a front axle and a rear axle that can be driven simultaneously or separately,
  • at least one differential lock or a device that ensures a similar effect and
  • as a single vehicle without a trailer, you must be able to overcome a gradient of 30% or this must be proven by a calculation.

In addition, at least five of the following six requirements must be met:

  • Front overhang angle: at least 25 degrees
  • Rear overhang angle: at least 20 degrees
  • Ramp angle : at least 20 degrees
  • Front ground clearance : 180 mm
  • Rear ground clearance: 180 mm
  • Ground clearance between the axles: 200 mm

These vehicles may pull 1.5 times the gross vehicle weight, but a maximum of 3.5 tons.

Class M2
Vehicles for passenger transport with more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat and a permissible total weight of up to 5 tons.
Class M3
Vehicles for passenger transport with more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat and a permissible total weight of more than 5 tons.
Construction types

A distinction is made between the following types of structure within the M classes.

Class N (freight transport)

Motor vehicles for the transport of goods with at least four wheels (colloquially trucks , delivery vans ) as well as motor vehicles for the transport of goods with three wheels and a permissible total weight over 1 ton.

Class N1
Vehicles for the transport of goods with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tons.
Class N2
Vehicles for the transport of goods with a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tons up to 12 tons.
Class N3
Vehicles for the transport of goods with a maximum permissible mass of more than 12 tons.

Class O (trailer)

Trailers (including semi-trailers ) for motor vehicles.

Class O1
Trailers with a gross vehicle weight of up to 0.75 tons.
Class O2
Trailers with a gross vehicle weight of more than 0.75 tons up to 3.5 tons.
Class O3
Trailers with a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tons up to 10 tons.
Class O4
Trailers with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10 tons.

Light one and two-lane motor vehicles

Two-wheel or three-wheel motor vehicles as well as light to heavy four-wheel motor vehicles are regulated in the EU Regulation 2013/168 / EU of January 15, 2013 with vehicle class L and its sub-classes:

Article 2

scope of application

1. This Regulation shall apply to all two-, three-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles as defined in Article 4 and Annex I (hereinafter referred to as "L-category vehicles") intended to be driven on public roads, including vehicles driven in a or several stages are designed and built, and for systems, components and independent technical units as well as for parts and equipment that are designed and built for such vehicles.

This regulation also applies to enduro motorcycles (L3e-ax (x = 1, 2 or 3)), trial motorcycles (L3e-AxT (x = 1, 2 or 3)) and heavy off-road quads (L7e-B) according to Article 4 and Annex I.

Class L

Vehicle category
under Article 4		 Designation of the class and classification criteria
(in the description of Annex XXIX of the German StVZO ,
i.e. in accordance with the implementation provisions of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations)		 Designation in the approval documents
according to the EU directive		 Previous designations (Germany)
L1e Light two-wheeled motor vehicle (see moped ) with a design-related top speed of up to 45 km / h and a displacement of up to 50 cm³ or up to 4 kW for electric motors.

In the subclasses divided into:

  • L1e-A: Bicycle with drive system (marketed as a pedelec )
    (According to criteria (9) - (11): “(9) Wheels that are designed for pedal drive and are equipped with an auxiliary drive, the main purpose of which is to support the pedal function and (10) the power of the auxiliary drive is interrupted when a vehicle speed of 25 km / h is reached and (11) maximum rated continuous power or net power ≤ 1 000 W [...] ".)
  • L1e-B: Two-wheeled moped
    (According to criterion (9), this is: "Another vehicle of class L1e that cannot be classified as an L1e-A vehicle based on criteria 9 to 12.")
 2-wheel KKR b. 45 km / h SMALL MOTORCYCLE 2-WHEELED
KKR MOFA UP TO 25 KM / H
KKR L-MOFA UP TO 20 KM / H
L2e Three-wheeled moped with a maximum design speed of up to 45 km / h and a displacement of up to 50 cm³ or up to 4 kW for electric motors or other internal combustion engines and a mass in running order ≤ 270 kg and equipped with a maximum of two seats, including the driver's seat.

In the subclasses divided into:

  • L2e-P: three-wheeled moped designed for the transport of people;
  • L2e-U: three-wheeled moped designed for the transport of goods.
3-wheel KKR b. 45 km / h 3-WHEELED SMALL MOTORCYCLE
L3e Two-wheeled motorcycle (see motorcycle ) with a displacement of over 50 cm³ with internal combustion engines and / or a design-related top speed of more than 45 km / h.

Subdivided into the subclasses according to the

  • Motorcycle power:
    • L3e-A1: Motorbike with low power (≤ 125 cm³ displacement and ≤ 11kW),
    • L3e-A2: medium power motorcycle (≤ 35 kW),
    • L3e-A3: high power motorcycle (> 35 kW);
  • special use:
2-wheel KR or BW> 45 km / h KRAFTRAD O.LB.
KRAFTRAD M.LB.
MOTORCYCLE, LIGHT MOTORCYCLE
L4e Two-wheeled motorcycle with sidecar (see motorcycle combination ) with a displacement of over 50 cm³ for combustion engines and / or a design-related maximum speed of more than 45 km / h.

In the subclasses divided into:

  • L4e-A1: ≤ 125 cm³ displacement and ≤ 11kW power
  • L4e-A2: ≤ 35kW power
  • L4e-A3:> 35 kW power
 2-wheel KR m. BW> 45 km / h
L5e Three-wheeled motor vehicle with three symmetrically arranged wheels with a displacement of more than 50 cm³ for internal combustion engines and / or a maximum design speed of more than 45 km / h.

In the subclasses divided into

  • L5e-A: three-wheeled motor vehicle: a vehicle designed primarily for the transport of people;
  • L5e-B: three-wheeled vehicle for commercial use: three-wheeled vehicle for the carriage of goods, designed for the exclusive carriage of goods.
3-wheel Vehicles> 45 km / h THREE-WHEELED VEHICLE
L6e Light four-wheeled motor vehicle (see light motor vehicle ) with an empty weight of up to 425 kg (without batteries for electric vehicles) with a design-related top speed of up to 45 km / h and displacement of up to 50 cm³ for other internal combustion engines or electric motors.

In the subclasses divided into

  • L6e-A: Light street quad up to 4 kW
  • L6e-B: Light four-wheel mobile up to 6 kW with the sub-classes
    • L6e-BU: Light four-wheel mobile for goods transport: commercial vehicle designed exclusively for the transport of goods,
    • L6e-BP: Light four-wheel mobile for passenger transport: vehicle designed mainly for the transport of people.
4-wheel Corpse. Vehicle b. 350 kg LIGHT VEHICLES UP TO 45 KM / H
L7e Heavy four-wheeled motor vehicle that does not fall under L6e, with an empty mass of up to 450 kg (up to 600 kg for goods transport) without batteries for electric vehicles and max. Useful power up to 15 kW.

In the subclasses divided into

  • L7e-A: Heavy street quad with the sub-subclasses
    • L7e-A1: A1 heavy road quad,
    • L7e-A2: A2 heavy street quad;
  • L7e-B: Heavy all- terrain quad with the sub-subclasses
    • L7e-B1: all- terrain quad,
    • L7e-B2: side-by-side buggy,
  • L7e-C: Heavy four-wheel mobile with the sub-sub-classes
    • L7e-CU: Heavy four-wheel mobile for goods transport: commercial vehicle designed exclusively for the transport of goods,
    • L7e-CP: Heavy four-wheel vehicle for passenger transport: commercial vehicle designed exclusively for the transport of people.
4-wheel Vehicle 400 or 550 kg 4-RAEDR.KFZ Z.PERS-BEF.
4-RAEDR.KFZ Z.GUET.BEF.

Agricultural and forestry vehicles

The provisions on agricultural and forestry vehicles are set out in EU regulation 167/2013 / EU. The vehicles are classified as follows:

Article 2

scope of application

(1) This Ordinance applies to agricultural and forestry vehicles in accordance with Article 4 that are designed and built in one or more stages, as well as to systems, components and independent technical units as well as parts and equipment that are designed and built for such vehicles.

This ordinance applies in particular to the following vehicles:
a) tractors (classes T and C),
b) trailers (class R) and
c) towed interchangeable devices (class S).

Tractors T and C

Class T

Classes T1 to T4.3: tractors for agricultural or forestry purposes (Regulation 167/2013 / EC)

Class T1
Tractors on wheels with a design-related maximum speed of up to 40 km / h (subclass a) or a maximum speed of more than 40 km / h (subclass b) of a track width of the axle closest to the driver - applies to tractors with a reversible driver's position (seat and steering wheel are reversible) the axle that is equipped with the tires with the largest diameter as the axle closest to the driver - of at least 1150 mm, an empty mass in running order of more than 600 kg and a ground clearance of up to 1000 mm.
Class T2
Tractors on wheels with a design-related maximum speed of up to 40 km / h (subclass a) or a maximum speed of over 40 km / h (subclass b), a minimum track width of less than 1150 mm, an empty mass in running order of more than 600 kg and a ground clearance of up to 600 mm. However, if the quotient of the height of the tractor's center of gravity (according to ISO standard 789-6: 1982) above the ground and the mean minimum track width of the axles is more than 0.90, the maximum design speed is limited to 30 km / h.
Class T3
Tractors on wheels with a design-related maximum speed of up to 40 km / h (sub-class a) or a maximum speed of more than 40 km / h (sub-class b) and an empty mass in running order up to 600 kg.
Class T4
Tractors on wheels with a special purpose with a design-related maximum speed of up to 40 km / h (T4.1: pedestrian tractors, T4.2: extra-wide tractors, T4.3: tractors with low ground clearance).

Class C

Classes C1 to C4
Agricultural or forestry tractors on crawlers (defined analogously to classes T1 to T4)

Trailers and other towed equipment

Class R

R1 to R4
Agricultural or forestry trailers

Class S

Pulled interchangeable devices for agriculture or forestry

S1

Pulled interchangeable devices for agriculture or forestry, where the sum of the technically permissible masses per axle is up to 3,500 kg

  • S1a with a design-related top speed of up to 40 km / h
  • S1b with a design-related top speed of over 40 km / h
S2

Pulled interchangeable devices for agriculture or forestry, where the sum of the technically permissible masses per axle is over 3,500 kg

  • S2a with a maximum design speed of up to 40 km / h
  • S2b with a design-related maximum speed of over 40 km / h

Legal sources
  • For vehicle classes T and C as well as R and S:
    • Regulation (EU) No. 167/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 February 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles Text with EEA relevance

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Regulation (EU) No. 678/2011 of the Commission of 14 July 2011 to replace Annex II and to amend Annexes IV, IX and XI of Directive 2007/46 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council to create a Framework for the approval of motor vehicles and motor vehicle trailers as well as of systems, components and independent technical units for these vehicles (framework directive). In: Official Journal of the European Union . L 185, July 15, 2011, p. 30 ( Regulation (EU) No. 678/2011 in the consolidated version of November 15, 2011 , accessed on August 16, 2019 ).
  2. ↑ a b Directive 2007/46 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 September 2007 on the creation of a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and motor vehicle trailers as well as systems, components and independent technical units for these vehicles. In: Official Journal of the European Union . L 263, October 9, 2007, p. 1 ( Directive 2007/46 / EC in the consolidated version of October 9, 2007 , accessed on August 16, 2019 ).
  3. ↑ a b c Regulation (EU) No. 167/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 February 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles Text with EEA relevance. In: Official Journal of the European Union . L 60, March 2, 2013, p. 1. ( Regulation (EU) No. 167/2013 in the consolidated version of March 2, 2013 , accessed on August 16, 2019 ).
  4. ↑ a b c Regulation (EU) No. 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of January 15, 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two-, three-wheel and four-wheel vehicles. In: Official Journal of the European Union . L 60, March 2, 2013, p. 52 ( Regulation (EU) No. 168/2013 in the consolidated version of February 20, 2019 , accessed on August 16, 2019 ).
  5. ↑ Description in accordance with Section 2, two-, three- and four-wheeled vehicles, of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) in Annex XXIX (to Section 20, Paragraph 3a, Clause 4) - EC vehicle classes. (Reference: BGBl. 2012 I p. 931 )
  6. ↑ a b c Excepted from Regulation (EU) No. 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of January 15, 2013 , however, according to Art. 2 Para. 2 lit. h such "bicycles with pedal drive with pedal assistance, which are equipped with an electric motor auxiliary drive with a maximum rated continuous power of up to 250 W, the support of which is interrupted if the driver stops pedaling and the support of which is progressively reduced and interrupted with increasing vehicle speed before the speed of the vehicle reaches 25 km / h ”.
    Not excluded are the so-called fast pedelecs and S- Pedelecs , which are therefore subject to vehicle class L1e and thus, depending on the version, fall under sub-class L1e-A or L1e-B. See the main articles Pedelec and - only valid for Germany - bicycles with auxiliary motor .
    (Additional note: According to lit. i, “self-balancing vehicles” are also excluded from the regulation.)
  7. ↑ Regulation (EU) No. 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of January 15, 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two-, three-wheel and four-wheel vehicles , accessed on November 4, 2019
  8. ↑ Regulation (EU) No. 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of January 15, 2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two-, three-wheel and four-wheel vehicles , accessed on November 4, 2019
  9. ↑ KBA no. 012, April 2015
  10. ↑ Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No. 167/2013