New regulations on classification of road vehicles

The Ministry of Transport has just issued Circular 53/2024 regulating the classification of road vehicles and identification signs of motor vehicles using clean energy, green energy, and environmental friendliness, effective from January 1, 2025.

According to Circular 53/2024, motor vehicles include automobiles, trailers, semi-trailers, four-wheeled motor vehicles, four-wheeled motor vehicles, motorbikes, mopeds and vehicles similar to the above-mentioned vehicles.

Four-wheeled passenger vehicles and four-wheeled cargo vehicles with engines are classified as motor vehicles according to the provisions of Circular 53/2024.

Thus, compared to current regulations, motor vehicles are supplemented with some other types of vehicles such as: Four-wheeled motorized passenger vehicles, four-wheeled motorized cargo vehicles. In addition, tractors are removed to be regulated in the group of specialized vehicles.

In which, automobiles include: Group of passenger cars; group of cargo cars; specialized automobiles; tractors; trailers; trailers; semi-trailers; four-wheeled motorized passenger vehicles; four-wheeled motorized cargo vehicles; motorbikes: Motorcycles and vehicles similar to the above-mentioned vehicles.

The Circular clearly states that passenger cars are cars whose structure and equipment are mainly used to transport people and luggage. Passenger cars can also tow a trailer.

Types of passenger cars include: Passenger cars with up to 8 seats (excluding the driver's seat), passenger cars with more than 8 seats (excluding the driver's seat), and specialized passenger cars;

Freight cars are vehicles whose structure and equipment are mainly used to transport goods; can be arranged with a maximum of two rows of seats and carry no more than 6 people including the driver in the cabin. Freight cars can also tow a trailer. Types of freight cars include: General trucks; special trucks.

Special purpose vehicles are vehicles that are structured and equipped to perform a special function or use different from the above types of vehicles.

A tractor is a vehicle designed to pull a semi-trailer and has the following equipment: a traction wheel mechanism, a connection and control mechanism for the signal light system, a braking system for the semi-trailer; it can be equipped with a crane, generator, and a hook mechanism to pull the trailer;

A trailer is a vehicle designed exclusively or principally for towing a trailer and does not include: a cargo vehicle equipped with a towing mechanism; a tractor equipped with an additional towing mechanism.

Meanwhile, four-wheeled motor vehicles are classified into: Four-wheeled motor vehicles participating in public transport and four-wheeled motor vehicles operating on specialized roads.

Motorcycles are classified into: Two-wheeled motorcycles; three-wheeled motorcycles for transporting people; three-wheeled cargo motorcycles; three-wheeled motorcycles for the disabled.

Similarly, motorbikes are also classified into: Two-wheeled motorbikes; three-wheeled motorbikes for transporting people; three-wheeled motorbikes for transporting goods; three-wheeled motorbikes for the disabled.

The Circular also stipulates a separate article on specialized motorbikes, including the following types: Construction motorbikes; Agricultural and forestry motorbikes; tractors; trailers and semi-trailers pulled by tractors; motorbikes performing special functions and uses; special vehicles used for defense and security purposes participating in road traffic.

For rudimentary vehicles, the Circular stipulates that they include: Bicycles (with at least two wheels and operated by human power through pedals or hand cranks); motorized bicycles, including electric bicycles (bicycles with engine assistance, the power source from the engine is cut off when the driver stops pedaling or when the vehicle reaches a speed of 25km/h); cyclos; wheelchairs for the disabled; animal-drawn vehicles.

According to the Vietnam Register, currently, four-wheeled motor vehicles for transporting people/goods and specialized motorbikes are regulated in many different separate documents and are not included in the regulations on classification of road vehicles in the 2008 Road Traffic Law.

Meanwhile, the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety (effective from January 1, 2025) has added the above vehicles to the regulations on classification of road vehicles (Article 35).

Therefore, the development of Circular 53/2024 regulating the classification of road vehicles aims to ensure consistency in the classification of road vehicles, ensuring the legal basis for implementation in accordance with the provisions of law.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/quy-dinh-moi-ve-phan-loai-phuong-tien-giao-thong-duong-bo-192241127115553109.htm