Drivers face £300 fine and license points for common car mistake

As the summer holidays approach, many UK families are planning getaways both abroad and at home to take advantage of the expected warmer weather. However, those intending to travel with a significant amount of luggage should be aware that overloading your vehicle could result in fines of up to £300 and three points on your licence, according to DVSA regulations.

In light of this, Howden Insurance has offered advice on how to pack your car safely this summer and what steps you can take to ensure your vehicle remains roadworthy despite the extra weight, Wales Online reports.

How much could I be fined for overloading my vehicle?

The DVSA’s roadside enforcement guidelines, specifically paragraph ‘3.3 Overweight Offences’, state that drivers can face a fixed fine of £300 if their vehicle is deemed to be 15% or more overloaded. An overload of between 0% and 10% can result in a fine of £100, while an overload of between 10% and 15% can result in a fine of £200.

Calculate the payload weight of your vehicle

DVSA data shows that 34.9% (53/152) of vehicle weight checks carried out between April 2020 and December 2023 resulted in bans for overloading. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that your vehicle does not exceed its payload weight before setting off on your journey.

Payload weight refers to the maximum additional weight that can be safely added to your car. This includes the weight of the driver, passengers and luggage loaded in the vehicle.

You can use the following formula to calculate the payload weight of your vehicle:

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) – Curb Weight = Payload Weight

The GVWR is the maximum weight of the car and its contents, while the curb weight is the weight of the car when it is empty and with a full tank of fuel. The key figure to focus on is the payload weight, which should be available in your vehicle’s driver’s manual and indicates how much additional weight you can add to your vehicle.

The maximum payload weight varies depending on the size of your car. For smaller cars, such as the Kia Picanto, Fiat 500 and Volkswagen Polo, the maximum payload weight can range between 385kg and 482kg.

If you have four adult passengers, each with a suitcase and a hand luggage, it is quite easy to exceed the 400kg payload.

Traveling with additional passengers and suitcases

Howden Insurance has shared tips for maximizing the amount of luggage you can safely travel with when going on holiday.

Calculate the combined weight of passengers and luggage.

If you’re worried about exceeding your vehicle’s maximum payload, it’s a good idea to weigh your luggage and passengers before you set off. Knowing the total weight of everything you have in the car will give you peace of mind knowing that you are not at risk of overloading yourself.

Start by placing the heaviest items first.

Start by placing the heaviest pieces of luggage in the bottom of the trunk. This helps keep the vehicle’s center of gravity low, making it easier to handle.

Small carry-on luggage can be stored under the rear passenger footwells. This prevents the trunk from filling above the top of the rear seat, which could obstruct the driver’s rear view.

Make sure your luggage is secure

If you are worried about your luggage shifting during travel, consider purchasing a non-slip trunk mat or bungee cords to keep it stable. If you have a free back seat, you can also use it to store a piece of luggage.

Use the available seat belt to secure it in place and prevent it from moving while in transit.

Consider using vacuum sealed bags

If you travel with a lot of clothes, consider using vacuum sealed bags. While this will not affect the overall weight of the luggage, it can reduce the size of the item by up to 75%, allowing it to fit more in the trunk without affecting the driver’s field of vision.

Inflate your tires to a higher pressure

The guidelines urge drivers to add more air to their tires to compensate for the additional weight of passengers and luggage. The ideal PSI, or pounds per square inch, will be detailed in your vehicle manual to maintain optimal levels of safety during transport.

This crucial information can also frequently be found on the inside side of your car’s fuel door.

Before setting out on your trip, it is recommended to inflate your tires while they are still cold to ensure a more accurate reading. Having underinflated tires could negatively affect your braking distance, steering responsiveness, and even your fuel consumption rate.

In light of new research, a Howden Insurance representative warned: “With almost three-quarters of Britons intending to go on holiday to the UK this year, many will plan to drive to the airport at the start of their trip It’s easy to carry too much luggage when planning a vacation, especially if you have children. The rules about excess luggage in the car are often overlooked, but if you’re not careful, it could make the difference between starting your vacation worry-free. receive fines of up to £300.”

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