Gross Vehicle WeightWallonia
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192. Gross Vehicle Weight
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the actual total weight of a vehicle at a particular moment, including the vehicle itself, driver, passengers, fuel, luggage and other cargo. It changes as people or goods are added or removed.
GVW should not be confused with Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM), which is the maximum permitted total weight specified for the vehicle. The actual gross vehicle weight must not exceed that permitted maximum.
What is Gross Vehicle Weight called in Belgium?
Belgian regulations generally distinguish the vehicle's actual laden mass from its maximum authorised mass. The maximum authorised mass is commonly abbreviated as MTM in Dutch and MMA in French.
Is Gross Vehicle Weight the same as MTM in Belgium?
No. Gross Vehicle Weight refers to what the vehicle actually weighs when loaded at a particular moment. MTM is the maximum authorised mass that the vehicle is permitted to have when loaded.
Why does MTM matter for Belgian driving licences?
The maximum authorised mass is used to determine which driving-licence category is required. For example, category B normally covers passenger vehicles with an MTM of no more than 3500 kg, subject to the applicable passenger and trailer rules.

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