49 CFR Part 523 — Vehicle Classification

PART 523—VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION Authority: 49 U.S.C. 32901; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95. § 523.1 Scope. This part establishes categories of vehicles that are subject to title V of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act, 15 U.S.C. 2001 et seq. (Authority: Sec. 301, Pub. L. 94-163, 80 Stat. 901 (15 U.S.C. 2001)) [42 FR 38362, July 28, 1977] § 523.2 Definitions. As used in this part: Ambulance Approach angle Axle clearance Base tire (for passenger automobiles, light trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles) Basic vehicle frontal area Breakover angle Bus Cab-complete vehicle Cargo-carrying volume Class 2b vehicles Class 3 through Class 8 vehicles Coach bus Commercial medium- and heavy-duty on-highway vehicle Complete vehicle completed vehicle Concrete mixer Curb weight Dedicated vehicle Departure angle Dual-fueled vehicle (multi-fuel, or flexible-fuel vehicle) Electric vehicle Emergency vehicle (1) For passenger cars, light trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles, emergency vehicle has the meaning given in 49 U.S.C. 32902(e). (2) For heavy-duty vehicles, emergency vehicle has the meaning given in 40 CFR 1037.801. Engine code Final stage manufacturer Fire truck Footprint Full-size pickup truck Gross axle weight rating (GAWR) Gross combination weight rating (GCWR) Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) Heavy-duty engine Heavy-duty vehicle Hitch Incomplete vehicle Light truck Manufacturer Medium-duty passenger vehicle (1) Is an “incomplete truck,” meaning any truck which does not have the primary load carrying device or container attached; or (2) Has a seating capacity of more than 12 persons; or (3) Is designed for more than 9 persons in seating rearward of the driver's seat; or (4) Is equipped with an open cargo area (for example, a pick-up truck box or bed) of 72.0 inches in interior length or more. A covered box not readily accessible from the passenger compartment will be considered an open cargo area for purposes of this definition. (See paragraph (1) of the definition of medium-duty passenger vehicle Mild hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle Motor home Motor vehicle Passenger-carrying volume (1) For front seat volume, divide 1,728 into the product of the following SAE dimensions, measured in inches to the nearest 0.1 inches, and round the quotient to the nearest 0.001 cubic feet. (i) H61-Effective head room—front. (ii) W3-Shoulder room—front. (iii) L34-Maximum effective leg room-accelerator. (2) For the volume of seats to the rear of the front seat, divide 1,728 into the product of the following SAE dimensions, measured in inches to the nearest 0.1 inches, and rounded the quotient to the nearest 0.001 cubic feet. (i) H63-Effective head room—second. (ii) W4-Shoulder room—second. (iii) L51-Minimum effective leg room—second. Pickup truck Pintle hooks Recreational vehicle or RV Refuse hauler Running clearance School bus Static loaded radius arc Strong hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle Temporary living quarters Transmission class Tranmission configuration Transmission type Truck tractor Van Vocational tractor Vocational vehicle (or heavy-duty vocational vehicle) Work truck [81 FR 74235, Oct. 25, 2016, as amended at 85 FR 25272, Apr. 30, 2020; 89 FR 52945, June 24, 2024] § 523.3 Automobile. An automobile is any 4-wheeled vehicle that is propelled by fuel, or by alternative fuel, manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways and rated at less than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, except: (a) A vehicle operated only on a rail line; (b) A vehicle manufactured in different stages by 2 or more manufacturers, if no intermediate or final-stage manufacturer of that vehicle manufactures more than 10,000 multi-stage vehicles per year; or (c) A work truck. [89 FR 52945, June 24, 2024] § 523.4 Passenger automobile. A passenger automobile is any automobile (other than an automobile capable of off-highway operation) manufactured primarily for use in the transportation of not more than 10 individuals. A medium-duty passenger vehicle that does not meet the criteria for non-passenger motor vehicles in § 523.6 is a passenger automobile. [89 FR 52945, June 24, 2024] § 523.5 Non-passenger automobile. A non-passenger automobile means an automobile that is not a passenger automobile or a work truck and includes vehicles described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. A medium-duty passenger motor vehicle that meets the criteria in either paragraph (a) or (b) of this section is a non-passenger automobile. (a) An automobile designed to perform at least one of the following functions: (1) Transport more than 10 persons; (2) Provide temporary living quarters; (3) Transport property on an open bed; (4) Provide, as sold to the first retail purchaser, greater cargo-carrying than passenger-carrying volume, such as in a cargo van; if a vehicle is sold with a second-row seat, its cargo-carrying volume is determined with that seat installed, regardless of whether the manufacturer has described that seat as optional; or (5) Permit expanded use of the automobile for cargo-carrying purposes or other nonpassenger-carrying purposes through: (i) For non-passenger automobiles manufactured prior to model year 2012, the removal of seats by means installed for that purpose by the automobile's manufacturer or with simple tools, such as screwdrivers and wrenches, so as to create a flat, floor level, surface extending from the forwardmost point of installation of those seats to the rear of the automobile's interior; or (ii) For non-passenger automobiles manufactured in model year 2008 and beyond, for vehicles equipped with at least 3 rows of designated seating positions as standard equipment, permit expanded use of the automobile for cargo-carrying purposes or other nonpassenger-carrying purposes through the removal or stowing of foldable or pivoting seats so as to create a flat, leveled cargo surface extending from the forwardmost point of installation of those seats to the rear of the automobile's interior. (b) An automobile capable of off-highway operation, as indicated by the fact that it: (1)(i) Has 4-wheel drive; or (ii) Is rated at more than 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight; and (2) Has at least four of the following characteristics calculated when the automobile is at curb weight, on a level surface, with the front wheels parallel to the automobile's longitudinal centerline, and the tires inflated to the manufacturer's recommended pressure— (i) Approach angle of not less than 28 degrees. (ii) Breakover angle of not less than 14 degrees. (iii) Departure angle of not less than 20 degrees. (iv) Running clearance of not less than 20 centimeters. (v) Front and rear axle clearances of not less than 18 centimeters each. (Authority: Sec. 9, Pub. L. 89-670, 80 Stat. 981 (49 U.S.C. 1657); sec. 301, Pub. L. 94-163, 89 Stat. 901 (15 U.S.C. 2002); delegation of authority at 41 FR 25015, June 22, 1976) [74 FR 14449, Mar. 30, 2009, as amended at 89 FR 52945, June 24, 2024] § 523.6 Heavy-duty vehicle. (a) A heavy-duty vehicle is any commercial medium- or heavy-duty on-highway vehicle or a work truck, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 32901(a)(7) and (19). For the purpose of this section, heavy-duty vehicles are divided into four regulatory categories as follows: (1) Heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans; (2) Heavy-duty vocational vehicles; (3) Truck tractors with a GVWR above 26,000 pounds; and (4) Heavy-duty trailers. (b) The heavy-duty vehicle classification does not include vehicles excluded as specified in 49 CFR 535.3. [81 FR 74237, Oct. 25, 2016, as amended at 89 FR 52945, June 24, 2024] § 523.7 Heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans. (a) Heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans are pickup trucks and vans with a gross vehicle weight rating between 8,501 pounds and 14,000 pounds (Class 2b through 3 vehicles) manufactured as complete vehicles by a single or final stage manufacturer or manufactured as incomplete vehicles as designated by a manufacturer. See references in 40 CFR 86.1801-12, 40 CFR 86.1819-17, 40 CFR 1037.150, and 49 CFR 535.5(a). (b) Heavy duty vehicles above 14,000 pounds GVWR may be optionally certified as heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans and comply with fuel consumption standards in 49 CFR 535.5(a), if properly included in a test group with similar vehicles at or below 14,000 pounds GVWR. Fuel consumption standards apply to these vehicles as if they were Class 3 heavy-duty vehicles. The work factor for these vehicles may not be greater than the largest work factor that applies for vehicles in the test group that are at or below 14,000 pounds GVWR (see 40 CFR 86.1819-14). (c) Incomplete heavy-duty vehicles at or below 14,000 pounds GVWR may be optionally certified as heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans and comply with to the fuel consumption standards in 49 CFR 535.5(a). [81 FR 74237, Oct. 25, 2016] § 523.8 Heavy-duty vocational vehicle. Heavy-duty vocational vehicles are vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) above 8,500 pounds excluding: (a) Heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans defined in § 523.7; (b) Medium-duty passenger vehicles; and (c) Truck tractors, except vocational tractors, with a GVWR above 26,000 pounds; [76 FR 57491, Sept. 15, 2011, as amended at 89 FR 52945, June 24, 2024] § 523.9 Truck tractors. Truck tractors for the purpose of this part are considered as any truck tractor as defined in 49 CFR part 571 having a GVWR above 26,000 pounds. [76 FR 57492, Sept. 15, 2011] § 523.10 Heavy-duty trailers. (a) A trailer means a motor vehicle with or without motive power, designed for carrying cargo and for being drawn by another motor vehicle as defined in 49 CFR 571.3. For the purpose of this part, heavy-duty trailers include only those trailers designed to be drawn by a truck tractor excluding non-box trailers other than flatbed trailer, tanker trailers and container chassis and those that are coupled to vehicles exclusively by pintle hooks or hitches instead of a fifth wheel. Heavy-duty trailers may be divided into different types and categories as follows: (1) Box vans are trailers with enclosed cargo space that is permanently attached to the chassis, with fixed sides, nose, and roof. Tank trailers are not box vans. (2) Box van with front-mounted HVAC systems are refrigerated vans. Note that this includes systems that provide cooling, heating, or both. All other box vans are dry vans. (3) Trailers that are not box vans are non-box trailers. Note that the standards for non-box trailers in 49 CFR 535.5(e)(2) apply only to flatbed trailers, tank trailers, and container chassis. (4) Box van with a length greater than 50 feet are long box vans. Other box vans are short box vans. (5) The following types of equipment are not trailers: (i) Containers that are not permanently mounted on chassis. (ii) Dollies used to connect tandem trailers. (iii) Equipment that serves similar purposes but are not intended to be pulled by a tractor. (b) Heavy-duty trailers do not include trailers excluded in 49 CFR 535.3. [81 FR 74237, Oct. 25, 2016]

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