# The Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998, Paragraph 1: Weight not to be exceeded in any circumstances


(1) Subject to paragraph 2, the maximum authorised weight for a vehicle combination of a description of vehicle specified in column (2) of an item in Table 3 below and having the number of axles specified in column (3) shall be the weight specified in column (4) of the item.
TABLE 3
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Item
Description of combination
Number of axles
Maximum authorised weight (kg)
1.
Articulated vehicle
3
26000
2.
Rigid motor vehicle towing a trailer satisfying the condition specified in sub-paragraph (2)
3
26000
3.
Rigid motor vehicle not falling within item 2 drawing a trailer
3
22000
4.
Articulated vehicle satisfying the conditions specified in sub-paragraph (3)
4
38000
5.
Articulated vehicle not falling within item 4
4
36000
6.
Rigid motor vehicle towing a trailer satisfying the condition specified in sub-paragraph (2)
4
36000
7.
Rigid motor vehicle not falling within item 6 drawing a trailer
4
30000
8.
Articulated vehicle
5 or more
40000
9.
Rigid motor vehicle towing a trailer satisfying the condition specified in sub-paragraph (2)
5 or more
40000
10.
Rigid motor vehicle not falling within item 9 drawing a trailer
5 or more
34000
11.
Articulated vehicle satisfying the conditions specified in sub-paragraph (4)
6 or more
41000
12.
Rigid motor vehicle towing a trailer satisfying each of the conditions specified in sub-paragraphs (2) and (4)
6 or more
41000
(2) The condition referred to in items 2, 6, 9 and 12 of Table 3 is that the distance between the rear axle of the motor vehicle and the front axle of the trailer is not less than 3m.
(3) The conditions referred to in item 4 of Table 3 are that–
(a) the combination consists of a 2-axle tractor unit and a 2-axle semi-trailer;
(b) the weight of the tractor unit comprised in the combination does not exceed 18000 kg;
(c) the sum of the axle weights of the semi-trailer does not exceed 20000 kg; and
(d) the driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and road friendly suspension.
(4) The conditions referred to in items 11 and 12 of Table 3 are that–
(a) the axle weight of each driving axle does not exceed 10500 kg; and
(b) either–
(i) each driving axle is fitted with twin tyres and road friendly suspension; or
(ii) each driving axle which is not a steering axle is fitted with twin tyres and the axle weight of each such axle does not exceed 8500 kg;
(c) each axle of the trailer is fitted with road friendly suspension; and
(d) each vehicle comprised in the combination has at least 3 axles.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/3111/schedule/2/paragraph/1 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/road-vehicles-authorised-weight-regulations-1998/schedule-2/paragraph-1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.