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If you’re exploring the vehicle market to find your perfect pair of wheels, you probably stumbled upon the term kerb weight. But what is kerb weight exactly? Today, we’re unravelling this mystery.
You’ll find out everything about the term, its different types and how it differs from the permissible maximum weight. After reading this text, both buyers and people looking to hire a vehicle can make an informed decision about their dream choice.
Kerb weight, also referred to as the curb weight, is the total weight of any vehicle when it’s fully equipped with all standard equipment, including fuel, oil and other necessary fluids, but excluding the weight of passengers and luggage. This would represent, for example, the overall car weight when it’s parked or stationary.
Curb weight is a crucial metric in the automotive industry since it provides a baseline for understanding a vehicle’s mass. If you’re interested in the weight of a Luton, see here for a deep dive into its dimensions and capacity.
Types Of Kerb Weight
Now that you have a basic idea of what a kerb weight is, we can also unveil different types of this weight measurement. Here are the most prominent ones:
- DIN Kerb Weight – The term DIN stands for Deutsches Institut für Normung, or German Institute for Standardisation. This is the most common type of curb weight, and it includes the car’s weight in a standard form, a full tank of fuel and other required fluids.
- EU Kerb Weight – This curb weight consists of all that the DIN kerb weight includes, with an addition of about 75 kg. The additional weight is an estimate of how much the driver paired with luggage weighs.
The EU kerb weight is widely used by European car manufacturers during emissions testing procedures.
- Dry Kerb Weight – As the name suggests, dry kerb weight represents car weight without all the fluids, such as engine oil, brake fluid, or coolant. This measurement is mostly a marketing trick among vehicle manufacturers to make the vehicle seem lighter than it actually is. It’s not really a practical measurement since you can’t drive a vehicle without its operational fluids.
Kerb Weight Vs Gross Vehicle Weight
Gross Vehicle Weight, also referred to as Gross Train Weight and Gross Combination Weight, is the maximum authorised mass when we include passengers and load together with the vehicle and its essential components. In essence, GVW is the legal maximum weight of a fully loaded vehicle. This is where the gross weight differs from the curb weight, which is the weight of a vehicle without any occupants.
Another important concept to understand is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. It is a term often used by the chassis manufacturer to represent the maximum weight your vehicle can support. If you’re interested in how the distance between the front axle and rear axle influences the vehicle, you can check out our blog post.
The Influence Of Kerb Weight On Vehicle Design
Kerb weight plays a crucial role in the design of a vehicle. The weight of a vehicle can help you understand how many passengers you can fit in and whether there is enough space for luggage.
Kerb weight also influences performance. A lower curb weight contributes to better acceleration, braking and handling. Also, when it comes to fuel efficiency, lighter vehicles require less energy to move, which results in better fuel economy.
SDVH can offer you a wide selection of different vehicles. Contact us for superb offers on everything from small cars to big people carrier rental deals.
Why Is It Important To Know A Vehicle’s Kerb Weight?
It’s important to know the vehicle’s kerb weight because that’s the best way to understand the performance, fuel efficiency and overall suitability of the vehicle for specific tasks. Together with size, curb weight can determine the capacity of a vehicle.
Knowing the curb weight will help you comply with the vehicle’s weight restrictions. As regards size, you can click here to learn about the smallest cars or check out our van size guide to determine the most suitable cargo vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Difference Between Kerb Weight and Unladen Weight?
The difference between kerb weight and unladen weight is the weight of fuel. Simply put, the curb weight represents the car weight when it is fully fueled and ready to use with all its essential components. On the other hand, the latter represents a more basic measurement of a vehicle without fuel.
How Can You Measure A Vehicle’s Kerb Weight?
You can measure a vehicle’s kerb weight by putting it on a large scale. Just take your vehicle to a truck stop that has scales and you’ll get an accurate measurement. A lot of the time, the process of determining curb weight isn’t complicated since it comes with the manual. Sometimes the vehicle also has a sticker on the driver’s door indicating it.
Does Kerb Weight Include The Driver?
Kerb weight doesn’t include the driver. DIN kerb weight, which is the most widely used kerb weight type, accounts for the weight of the car, fuel and fluids it needs to operate. There is, however, the EU kerb weight, which adds on an additional 75 kg to account for the weight of the driver and luggage. The EU kerb weight is commonly used by European vehicle manufacturers during testing.
What Is The Average Weight Of A Car?
The average weight of a car is 3306 lbs (1500 kg), according to a study by the EPA. The smaller cars weigh around 2600 lbs (1180 kg), while large ones, like SUVs, can weigh up to 6000 lbs (2720 kg). Commercial vehicles like vans, buses and trucks weigh significantly more than cars and often require additional licences.
Conclusion
With this, we conclude our guide. Now you have an answer to the question, ‘What is kerb weight?’ and how it relates to the overall weight limit. You can also differentiate between dry weight and the standardised DIN figure of a vehicle. This knowledge will prove to be valuable when you’re looking to hire or buy a vehicle.
