Listening to a recent Camping Crew podcast there was a bit of a discussion about driving licences versus vehicle GVW.
The lads seemed a bit unclear about the issue as they got different opinions from different people in The RSA and NDLS, which is not surprising as I've found these people often don't know the legislation behind the regulations they are supposed to implement.
So here's the real deal.
The category B licence covers motorhomes up to and including 3,500kg GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) also referred to as GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) or MPTLM (Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass)
They all mean the same thing, it's the maximum weight the vehicle can be legally operated at and is stamped on the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) plate, which is usually found under the bonnet or sometimes on the front LHS seat box.
Driving a motorhome with a plated GVW exceeding 3,500kg requires a Category C or C1 licence and driving such a vehicle without the necessary licence could invalidate your insurance and leave you open to prosecution for driving a vehicle without a licence.
Having just a Category B licence and driving a vehicle with a plated GVW not exceeding 3,500kg but actually loaded to a weight in excess of 3,500kg does not expose you to the charge of driving without a licence charge.
However, you could get of fixed penalty notice of 1 penalty point and a €200 fine for operating a vehicle in excess of it plated GVW. If the level of overloading is deemed dangerous it could affect your insurance because you could be charged with the more serious offence of operating a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
In most European countries there is a tolerance of 5% before a fixed penalty notice is issued.
Also, if you do have a C or C1 licence and drive a vehicle with a plated weight of 3,500kg or less and it's overload to a higher weight the C1 or C licence is irrelevant, you could still get the fixed penalty notice for operating the vehicle in excess of its plated weight.
The lads seemed a bit unclear about the issue as they got different opinions from different people in The RSA and NDLS, which is not surprising as I've found these people often don't know the legislation behind the regulations they are supposed to implement.
So here's the real deal.
The category B licence covers motorhomes up to and including 3,500kg GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) also referred to as GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) or MPTLM (Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass)
They all mean the same thing, it's the maximum weight the vehicle can be legally operated at and is stamped on the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) plate, which is usually found under the bonnet or sometimes on the front LHS seat box.
Driving a motorhome with a plated GVW exceeding 3,500kg requires a Category C or C1 licence and driving such a vehicle without the necessary licence could invalidate your insurance and leave you open to prosecution for driving a vehicle without a licence.
Having just a Category B licence and driving a vehicle with a plated GVW not exceeding 3,500kg but actually loaded to a weight in excess of 3,500kg does not expose you to the charge of driving without a licence charge.
However, you could get of fixed penalty notice of 1 penalty point and a €200 fine for operating a vehicle in excess of it plated GVW. If the level of overloading is deemed dangerous it could affect your insurance because you could be charged with the more serious offence of operating a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
In most European countries there is a tolerance of 5% before a fixed penalty notice is issued.
Also, if you do have a C or C1 licence and drive a vehicle with a plated weight of 3,500kg or less and it's overload to a higher weight the C1 or C licence is irrelevant, you could still get the fixed penalty notice for operating the vehicle in excess of its plated weight.
