Factsheet 13b – June 2005

Light rigid vehicles

What is a light rigid vehicle?

A light rigid vehicle has at least two axles, a driver's position, a steering system, motive power (pedals or a motor to drive the wheels) and a single rigid chassis that has a gross vehicle mass up to 3500 kilograms (3.5 tonnes). The gross vehicle mass includes the maximum load that the vehicle can carry.

Light rigid vehicles include cycles, motorcycles, cars, light vans, light mobile homes, light forklifts, light tractors, light self-powered agricultural and light construction machines.

A small range of special vehicles with one registration and with a chassis that is split into two dependent parts and connected by means of a permanent steering pivot are also classed as rigid vehicles.

Pedal cycle classes AA and AB, moped classes LA, LB1 and LB2, motorcycle classes LC and LD, motor tri-cycle classes LE1 and LE2, passenger vehicle classes MA, MB and MC, omnibus classes MD1 and MD2, goods vehicle class NA and any other powered rigid vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of 3500 kilograms (kg) or less are also included.

Note: You find the gross mass of a vehicle by adding the tare mass of the unladen vehicle to the mass of the load the vehicle is carrying. Also include any weight transferred to the rigid vehicle by an attached trailer.

Dimension requirements

Vehicles (including their load) with dimensions greater than those set out below are classed as overdimension vehicles. See Factsheet 53, Overdimension vehicles and loads or contact the Overdimension Permit Issuing Agency on 0800 OVERSIZE (0800 683 774).

Width (including load)

The maximum width for a rigid vehicle with two wheels is one metre.

The maximum width for a vehicle with three or more wheels is 2.5 metres (m) or 1.25 m from each side of the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle (excluding side marker lights, direction indicators and the bulge towards the bottom of a tyre). The only extra width you're allowed is:

• 240 millimetres (mm) each side for collapsible mirrors
• 25 mm each side for ropes, lashings, straps, chains, connectors and tensioning devices that aren't permanently or rigidly fixed to the vehicle, or J-hooks (to secure stock crates or bins),
• 50 mm for exterior grab rails on the cab (to help the driver and passengers get in and out safely).

Overall length (excluding collapsible mirrors)

The maximum length for rigid vehicles not towing a trailer is 12.6 metres (including any load).

The maximum length for rigid vehicles towing a trailer is 11.5 metres (including any load).

See the trailer factsheets (Factsheets 13c, Towing and trailers (full, semi, simple, pole, A- and B-train and 13d, Trailers: Light simple trailers) for the overall length of a particular combination vehicle.

Height (including load)

The maximum height above ground is 4.25 m. An additional 25 mm above 4.25 m is allowed for tarpaulins, lashings, straps, chains, covers and related connectors and tensioning devices which aren't permanently or rigidly fixed to the vehicle.

Rear axis

If the vehicle has only one rear axle, then the rear axis is at the centre of that axle.

If the vehicle has two rear axles then the rear axis is midway between the centres of the axles.

Forward distance

Forward distance for a rigid vehicle means the distance from the rear axis to front of the vehicle or its load, whichever is foremost (excluding collapsible mirrors).

The maximum forward distance for rigid vehicles without a tow coupling is 9.5 m.

Rigid vehicles with a tow coupling are restricted to a maximum forward distance of 8.5 m.

Rear overhang

Rear overhang means the distance from the rear axis to the rear of the vehicle or its load, whichever is greater.

For a rigid vehicle without a rear steering axle, the maximum rear overhang is 4 m.

Ground clearance

There is no minimum ground clearance requirement for light rigid vehicles. If a light motor vehicle's suspension is modified so the ground clearance is under 100mm, the modified suspension must be approved by a Low Volume Vehicle Certifier.

Front overhang

The maximum front overhang (measured from the front edge of the driver's seat when in its rearmost position to the foremost point of the vehicle or its load) is 3 m.

Outside turning circle

A vehicle (including projections) must be able to complete a 360 degree turn, both to the left and to the right, within a circle with a wall-to-wall diameter of 25 m. The only projections which can be outside this circle are collapsible mirrors.

Projecting loads

Vehicles may carry loads which are higher, longer or wider than the dimensions of the vehicle itself, provided that the load doesn't exceed the maximum permitted dimensions for that class and type of vehicle and the vehicle can be moved safely when so loaded. It's the operator's responsibility to ensure the load is properly secured to the vehicle so that the vehicle remains stable at all times.

Please note: You need to read Factsheet 53 if the load exceeds any of the standard dimension limits.

Loads that overhang the outside of the body or deck of the vehicle by more than one metre to the front or rear, or more than 200 mm to the left or right side, need to carry special warning devices attached to the overhanging end(s) of the load as follows:

During the hours of daylight, there must be either:

• a clean white, or fluorescent red, orange or yellow flag, at least 400 mm long by 300 mm wide, or
• a frangible hazard warning panel, at least 400 mm long by 300 mm wide showing an orange diagonal stripe (200mm wide) against a yellow green background, facing forwards or rearwards.

During the hours of darkness, the flags or hazard panels must be replaced with lights attached to the load. For loads:

• over 1 metre wide and extending more than 1 m from the rear of the vehicle, one red lamp (facing toward the rear) on each side of load
• up to 1 metre wide and extending more than 1 m from the rear of the vehicle, one red lamp (facing toward the rear) at the centre of load
• over 1 metre wide and extending from the front of the vehicle, one white or amber lamp (facing toward the front) on each side of load
• up to 1 metre wide and extending more than 1 m from the front of the vehicle, one white or amber lamp (facing toward the front) at the centre of load
• extending more than 200 mm beyond the side of the body of the vehicle, one red lamp (facing toward the rear) on each side of the load at the rear and one white or amber lamp (facing toward the front) on each side of the load at the front.

These lights need to be clearly visible in clear weather at a distance of at least 200 m during the hours of darkness. Displaying these lights at night is an operating requirement. It applies to all vehicles, no matter when they were first registered.

School bus maximum speed

Vehicles used as school buses are limited to a maximum open road speed limit of 80 km/h (see Traffic Regulation 21[7]).

Where you can find out more

• See Land Transport Rule 41001: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass.
• See The glovebox guide to safe towing and loading.

Contact the NZ Transport Agency:

• Email us: info@nzta.govt.nz.
• Phone our contact centre: 0800 699 000.
• Write to us: NZ Transport Agency, Private Bag 6995, Wellington 6141.