Kerb weight represents the weight of the vehicle (the trailer) without load;
Maximum authorized total mass is the kerb weight plus load (persons, luggage, goods, etc.);
Maximum towable mass is the maximum weight that can be towed (the trailer with the entire load);
Maximum mass of the combination of vehicles is the sum of the maximum authorized total mass of the towing vehicle plus the maximum authorized total mass of the trailer.
► Category B allows the license holder to drive a car with the maximum authorized total mass of up to 3500 kg and to not have more than 8 seats without the driver (7+1). With this category, the law allows you to attach a light trailer to the vehicle. The light trailer is defined as the trailer that has the maximum authorized total mass of up to 750 kg. The maximum authorized total mass is given by the manufacturer and represents the kerb weight plus the maximum load. Here many confusions appear, in the sense that many say that if the trailer’s mass is less than 750 kg and they do not put load on it, they can tow it with category B. False! The kerb weight of the trailer does not matter but the maximum authorized total mass, given by the manufacturer.
► Extended B category allows you to drive a motor vehicle from category B plus a trailer with the maximum authorized total mass greater than 750 kg, but the combination must not exceed 4250 kg. That is, the maximum authorized total mass of the vehicle plus the maximum authorized total mass of the trailer must be less than 4250 kg. Attention!: you must take into account when you attach a trailer, the maximum authorized total mass of the trailer must fall within the maximum towable mass of the vehicle!!! Here many confusions appear! For example, you cannot attach to a Dacia Logan a trailer with the maximum authorized total mass of 2500 kg. Read carefully in the car manual the specifications given by the manufacturer!
► Category BE allows you to drive a motor vehicle from category B plus a trailer. The maximum authorized mass of the combination can exceed 4250 kg. Here you must be careful only that the maximum authorized total mass of the trailer falls within the limits given by the manufacturer to the towing vehicle.
► For the extended B category you need at registration only the ID card and category B driving license. Schooling consists of 7 hours of practical training after which a certificate is issued to you, based on which the driving license service (SRPCIV) will add code 96 on the license.
► For category BE, at registration you need the ID card, category B driving license, criminal record, medical tests and psychological test. School consists of 10 hours of theory and 10 hours of practice. At the completion of the driving school you will take theoretical and practical examination with the driving license service (SRPCIV).
Hoping that the situation is quite clear now, you only have to choose depending on the needs you have, between the extended B category or category BE.
OUG 195/2002 - Article 6
Within the meaning of this emergency ordinance, the following expressions and terms have the following meaning:
18. maximum authorized total mass - the maximum mass of a loaded vehicle, declared admissible following the approval by the competent authority;
28. light trailer - trailer whose maximum authorized total mass does not exceed 750 kg;
29. semitrailer - trailer whose maximum authorized total mass is partly borne by a motor vehicle or by an agricultural or forestry tractor;
OUG 195/2002 - Annex no. 1
The categories of vehicles for which the driving license is issued, provided in art. 20 paragraph (2), are defined as follows:
f) category B:
1. the motor vehicle whose maximum authorized total mass does not exceed 3,500 kg and whose number of seats, apart from the driver, is not greater than 8;
2. the combination consisting of a towing motor vehicle from category B and a trailer whose maximum authorized total mass does not exceed 750 kg;
3. the combination of vehicles whose maximum authorized total mass does not exceed 4,250 kg, consisting of a towing motor vehicle from category B and a trailer whose maximum authorized total mass exceeds 750 kg;
g) category BE: the combination of vehicles whose maximum authorized total mass exceeds 4,250 kg, consisting of a towing motor vehicle from category B and a trailer or semitrailer whose maximum authorized total mass does not exceed 3,500 kg;
OUG 195/2002 - Article 24^1
(3) Persons who hold a category B driving license have the right to drive the combinations of vehicles provided in letter f) point 3 of annex no. 1, in the event that the combination exceeds 3,500 kg, only if they prove that they have completed a training course within an authorized unit for the training of vehicle drivers.
Leave a comment