Section 4: Classification of motor vehicles

4. Classification of motor vehicles (1) For the purposes of this Act, motor vehicles shall be divided into the following classes— (a) heavy locomotives, that is to say mechanically propelled motor vehicles which are not constructed themselves to carry any load other than water, fuel, accumulators and other equipment and material used for the purpose of propulsion, loose tools and loose equipment and the unladen weight of which exceeds 11½ tons; (b) light locomotives, that is to say mechanically propelled motor vehicles which are not themselves constructed to carry any load other than any of the articles specified in paragraph (a) and the unladen weight of which does not exceed 11½ tons, but exceeds 7¼ tons; (c) motor tractors, that is to say mechanically propelled vehicles which are not constructed themselves to carry any load other than any of the articles specified in paragraph (a) and the unladen weight of which does not exceed 7¼ tons; (d) heavy motor cars, that is to say mechanically propelled vehicles, other than vehicles classified under this section as motor cars, which are constructed themselves to carry a load or passengers and the unladen weight of which exceeds 21/ tons; (e) motor cars, that is to say mechanically propelled vehicles, other than vehicles classified under this section as motorcycles or invalid carriages, which are constructed themselves to carry a load or passengers and the unladen weight of which— (i) in the case of vehicles which are— (A) constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects; (B) adapted to carry not more than 7 passengers exclusive of the driver; and (C) fitted with tyres of the prescribed type, does not exceed 3 tons; and (ii) in any other case, does not exceed 21/ tons; (f) motorcycles, that is to say mechanically propelled vehicles, other than autocycles or vehicles classified under this section as invalid carriages, with not more than 4 wheels and the unladen weight of which does not exceed 400 kilograms; (g) invalid carriages, that is to say mechanically propelled vehicles the unladen weight of which does not exceed 250 kilograms and which are specially designed and constructed, and not merely adapted, for the use of persons suffering from a physical defect or disability, and are used only for those persons; and R27 – 13 [Issue 3] Road Traffic Act (h) autocycles, that is to say, two-wheeled motor vehicles, with or without pedals, the engine capacity of which does not exceed 50 cubic centimetres. (2) The Minister may make regulations for— (a) subdividing any class mentioned in subsection (1), whether according to weight, construction, dimension, nature of tyres, use or otherwise; (b) making different provision with respect to each subdivision; and (c) varying, in respect of any class, the maximum or minimum weight fixed by this section. (3) A reference in this Act to a class of motor vehicles includes a reference to a subdivision of the class. (4) For the purposes of this Act— (a) where a motor vehicle is so constructed that a trailer may, by partial super-imposition, be attached to the vehicle in such manner as to cause a substantial part of the weight of the trailer to be borne by the vehicle, that vehicle shall be deemed to be a vehicle itself construed to carry a load; (b) where a motor vehicle is fitted with a crane, dynamo, welding plant or other special appliance or apparatus which is a permanent or essentially permanent fixture, the appliance or apparatus shall not here a motor vehicle is so constructed that a trailer may, by partial super-imposition, be attached to the vehicle in such manner as to cause a substantial part of the weight of the trailer to be borne by the vehicle, that vehicle shall be deemed to be a vehicle itself construed to carry a load; (b) where a motor vehicle is fitted with a crane, dynamo, welding plant or other special appliance or apparatus which is a permanent or essentially permanent fixture, the appliance or apparatus shall not be deemed to form part of the vehicle; and (c) where a sidecar attached to a motorcycle complies with the prescribed conditions, it shall be regarded as forming part of the vehicle to which it is attached. [S. 4 amended by s. 4 of Act 43 of 1991 w.e.f. 11 December 1991.] PART II – REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAILERS