speed limits over 3500kg

[Neckender]

I know that this as been done to death but could you tell me if I’m reading this correctly, my Globecar Campscout PVC has been uprated to 4.1 tonnes and it’s unladen weight is below 3.05 tonnes. So I can drive at 70 on motorways and dual carriageways, and 60 on single carriageways unless stated otherwise.

John.

National speed limits
Type of vehicle Built-up areas mph(km/h) Single carriageways mph (km/h) Dual carriageways mph (km/h) Motorways mph (km/h)
Cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles 30 (48) 60 (96) 70 (112) 70 (112)
Cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles when towing caravans or trailers 30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 60 (96)
Motorhomes or motor caravans (not more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) 30 (48) 60 (96) 70 (112) 70 (112)
Motorhomes or motor caravans (more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) 30 (48)

 

[MillieMoocher]

That’s my interpretation too, my MH is plated up to 3,860 but has a MIRO of less than 3,050 so “car” speed limits apply in UK.

When abroad I adhere to > 3.5 ton limit just to be safe.

Sat nav is set at vehicle greater than 3.5 ton so is always telling me I’m exceeding the speed limit - annoying but keeps me off narrow lanes.

 

[The Wino]

I thought that was the case in the UK but lower limts in europe where the limit is on 3500 max weight

 

[Mark McG]

I created this,printed and laminated and stuck it on the sun visor.

 

[Madcaravanner]

UK speed limits go on MAX weightkmph

so 50 on Single Carriageways
and 60 on Dual Carriageways
and 70 on Motorways

@Mark McG Do you have the limits for France Autoroutes although I do tend to stick to 110kmph would like confirmation as they are strange about Camping Cars sometimes I feel like there's me going backwards although
https://www.caravanguard.co.uk/news/french-speed-limits-950/
says 110 on Autoroutes 100 on dual carriageways (RN) 80 on single carriageways and 50 in towns

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[2657]

UK speed limits go on MAX weightkmph

so 50 on Single Carriageways
and 60 on Dual Carriageways
and 70 on Motorways

@Mark McG Do you have the limits for France Autoroutes although I do tend to stick to 110kmph would like confirmation as they are strange about Camping Cars sometimes I feel like there's me going backwards although
https://www.caravanguard.co.uk/news/french-speed-limits-950/
says 110 on Autoroutes 100 on dual carriageways (RN) 80 on single carriageways and 50 in towns

Not for motorhomes, as already stated speed limits defined by 3050k(3 tons) unladen weight, which is almost impossible to define for a motorhome but definitely not MIRO.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

That’s my interpretation too, my MH is plated up to 3,860 but has a MIRO of less than 3,050 so “car” speed limits apply in UK

The speed limit loophole states unladen weight not MIRO.

MIRO and unladen weight are not even close to being the same thing. There is a specific legal definition of unladen weight. The MIRO figure can be based on anything the converter chooses, there isn’t even an industry wide convention never mind a legal definition.

Unladen weight can only be recorded by the manufacturer as the vehicle comes off the production line and before any liquids are added. It’s not recorded for motor caravans because the 2 stage production process makes it impossible. If it is recorded anywhere for your van it will be for the base chassis before conversion which obviously makes the figure meaningless.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

The lack of a manufacturer recorded unladen weight figure for motor caravans makes this particular law unenforceable so don’t worry about it.


It’s only a silly loophole that nobody cares about anyway. It only applies to motor caravans, no other class of vehicle.

 

[Augusta08]

I have always believed that it's the MGVW that applies when calculating speed allowances, not the unladen weight.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

I have always believed that it's the MGVW that applies when calculating speed allowances, not the unladen weight.

Nope- as above its the Unladen Weight

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[Madcaravanner]

OK
Just been on https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits and I stand corrected

Motorhomes or motor caravans (not more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) 30 (48) 60 (96) 70 (112) 70 (112)
Motorhomes or motor caravans (more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight) 30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 70 (112)

AND my motorhome has a PLATED unladed weight of 2945kg I can go a little faster on UK Roads

 

[Augusta08]

Nope- as above its the Unladen Weight

Does that explain my revenue weight?

My MGVW is 4,500kgs GTW 6,050Kgs but I'm still a PLG tax rate. The unladen weight is circa 3,400Kgs as stated above it is not on the Vin Plate, or the V5.

 

[icantremember]

What's everyone in a hurry for?

 

[vwalan]

Does that explain my revenue weight?

My MGVW is 4,500kgs GTW 6,050Kgs but I'm still a PLG tax rate. The unladen weight is circa 3,400Kgs as stated above it is not on the Vin Plate, or the V5.

you should be phgv thats cheaper tax i would get it changed .

 

[AXO66]

Going back to the French law. Is it under 3.5k for the faster spreeds...or, 3.5k and under.

Or to put it another way if your 1kg over 3.5kg then the slower speed limits apply?

Our MIRO Is 2890 so should be ok in uk.

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[Cheshirecat57]

Does that explain my revenue weight?

My MGVW is 4,500kgs GTW 6,050Kgs but I'm still a PLG tax rate. The unladen weight is circa 3,400Kgs as stated above it is not on the Vin Plate, or the V5.

Revenue weight is a different thing, thats the charge(road tax) that is levied based on the max operating weight and the number of axles

Eg a 3 axle tractor unit pulling a 3 axle trailer has a max operating weight of 44 tonnes and pays £1200 pa but the unladen weight of such a rig is about 12tonnes or so

PHGV class is a special tax group for commercial vehicles operating not for gain or reward

 

[Deleted member 29692]

I have always believed that it's the MGVW that applies when calculating speed allowances, not the unladen weight.

It is for pretty much every class of vehicle everywhere in the world apart from motor caravans in the UK.

Unladen weight applies in that one case - to the only class of vehicle for which unladen weight can’t be recorded.

Why?

That’s anyone’s guess.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

OK
Just been on https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits and I stand corrected




AND my motorhome has a PLATED unladed weight of 2945kg I can go a little faster on UK Roads

Plated where? It’s definitely not on the standard weight plate.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

What's everyone in a hurry for?

So we can cram more relaxing in

 

[tacr2man]

Does that explain my revenue weight?

My MGVW is 4,500kgs GTW 6,050Kgs but I'm still a PLG tax rate. The unladen weight is circa 3,400Kgs as stated above it is not on the Vin Plate, or the V5.

If that MGVW is on your VIN plate , and on your V5 then you are on wrong tax rate , and do you have suitable driving licence class?

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[SMB]

I created this,printed and laminated and stuck it on the sun visor.


View attachment 213608

Depends which country you are travelling, for instance the maximum speed on a Spanish motorway for vehicles > 3500kgs is now only 90kmph

 

[gus-lopez]

Depends which country you are travelling, for instance the maximum speed on a Spanish motorway for vehicles > 3500kgs is now only 90kmph

That is also the limit for ALL vans, regardless of size/weight, without windows. Motorhomes have there own speed limits different from cars. I.e. maximum is 100kph on mways

 

[Margaritaman]

Yes John @Neckender. I agree with your explanation in your opening post. I drove our Pilote for a couple of years at 60,70,70 in UK BEFORE we had it uprated. Only after uprating I found our unladen weight on some Pilote literature as 3150t. Oops...

So presumably I’d been exceeding the speed limit for our Pilote all that time.But never had a speeding ticket. Perhaps I was lucky.

Since uprating to 3850t I observe the 50,60,70 limits on the basis I’m on the DVLA’s radar now. Just wonder if speed cameras can distinguish between various vehicle weights. Have seen trucks slow down at cameras. Maybe they use Numberplate Recognition??

Like your new levellers by the way

Don’t forget to wave as you pass me on the A50 lol

Cheers
Chris

 

[tacr2man]

Some cameras are height sensitive so can take for HGV limit , there used to be one on A52 near Grantham I have seen flash trucks

 

[Lenny HB]

Only after uprating I found our unladen weight on some Pilote literature as 3150t. Oops...

That is the MIRO which not the same as unladen, with a MIRO of 3150 your unladen weight will be well under 3050 so car speed limits apply.

If you really want to know your unladen weight, take everything out that is movable drain the fuel tank, engine oil & cooling system then take it to a weighbridge.

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[Margaritaman]

That is the MIRO which not the same as unladen, with a MIRO of 3150 your unladen weight will be well under 3050 so car speed limits apply.

Thanks @Lenny HB

This is what the Pilote Technical Brochure says.Unladen weight 3155kg ( not 3150t as I stated earlier lol) Ours is the 2008 model year. Don’t know if the MIRO terminology was used back then?? So Pilote may mean the MIRO in their brochure. Any ideas? Thanks again

 

[Lenny HB]

View attachment 213824

Thanks @Lenny HB

This is what the Pilote Technical Brochure says.Unladen weight 3155kg ( not 3150t as I stated earlier lol) Ours is the 2008 model year. Don’t know if the MIRO terminology was used back then?? So Pilote may mean the MIRO in their brochure. Any ideas? Thanks again

MIRO has been used for quite a few years before 2008.
In Motorhome terms unladen normally means MIRO, in the last couple of years Hymer, & Carthago have line in their spec that says unladen weight but it's not it's the MIRO, easily confirmed on the Certificate of Conformity.

 

[Fletton]

Just out of curiosity I got my Cert of Conformity out...

13. Mass of vehicle ready to drive 3220kg

13.2 Actual Mass of the Vehicle 3262kg

Is 13 the “unladen” weight?...

 

[Norfolk Nomad]

Your driving a motorhome not a sports car, slow down and enjoy the scenery and maybe save a little fuel as well.

 

[tonyidle]

Unladen weight is determined by the manufacturer of the base vehicle. I assume that it would therefore exclude the added weight of the conversion that brings it up to the MIRO.

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