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Definition of vehicle categories
1. Extracted from 2007/46/EC as last amended by 385/2009)
Vehicle categories are defined according to the following classification: (Where reference is made to 'maximum mass' in the following definitions, this means 'technically permissible maximum laden mass' as specified in item 2.8 of Annex I of the above Directive.)
Category M: Motor vehicles with at least four wheels designed and constructed for the carriage of passengers.
- Category M1: Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of passengers and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat.
- Category M2: Vehicles designed and constructed 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.
- Category M3: Vehicles designed and constructed 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.
The types of bodywork and codifications pertinent to the vehicles of category M are defined in Part C of this Annex paragraph 1 (vehicles of category M1) and paragraph 2 (vehicles of categories M2 and M3) to be used for the purpose specified in that Part.
Category N: Motor vehicles with at least four wheels designed and constructed for the carriage of goods.
- Category N1: Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3,5 tonnes.
- Category N2: Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 3,5 tonnes but not exceeding 12 tonnes.
- Category N3: Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes.
Category O: Trailers (including semi-trailers).
- Category O1: Trailers with a maximum mass not exceeding 0,75 tonnes
- Category O2: Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 0,75 tonnes but not exceeding 3,5 tonnes.
- Category O3: Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 3,5 tonnes but not exceeding 10 tonnes.
- Category O4: Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 10 tonnes.
