Code 10 Truck Size & GVM Explained: SA Licence Weight Limits 2026
A Code 10 (now Code C1) truck is any motor vehicle (other than a motorcycle) with a Gross Vehicle Mass over 3,500 kg but not exceeding 16,000 kg. That weight band is fixed by the National Road Traffic Act. Below 3,500 kg GVM you're on a Code B (light motor vehicle). Above 16,000 kg GVM you need Code C. The phrase 'motor vehicle excluding motorcycle' (MV excl MC) is the regulatory wording that separates car/truck codes from motorbike codes; it is not a vehicle category of its own. The actual GVM is stamped on the manufacturer's plate inside the driver's door jamb.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Some content may be AI-assisted. Regulations and fees change regularly. Always verify details with your local DLTC or Department of Transport before making decisions. Full disclaimer
Every South African driving licence code from Code B upwards is defined by a single number: Gross Vehicle Mass. The difference between a Code B car licence, a Code 10 truck licence, and a Code C heavy-rigid licence isn't body length, axle count, or how the cab looks. It's the GVM printed on the manufacturer's plate. This is the technical reference for how those weight bands work, what the NRTA actually says about them, and how to read the GVM on your own vehicle.
What Is GVM and Why It Drives SA's Licence Codes
GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) is the maximum permissible loaded mass of a vehicle, certified by the manufacturer. It's the rated ceiling of unladen vehicle (tare) plus maximum payload, above which the vehicle is no longer safe to operate on its own suspension, brakes, and axles as designed.
The National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and its 2000 regulations assign a driving licence code to every vehicle based on GVM bands:
- Up to 3,500 kg: Code B / EB (light motor vehicles)
- 3,501 kg to 16,000 kg: Code C1 (medium-heavy)
- Over 16,000 kg: Code C (heavy rigid)
When a combination (truck + trailer) is involved, the same bands apply to Gross Combination Mass (GCM) instead, and the licence shifts to the combination codes EB, EC1, or EC.
The numbers 3,500 kg and 16,000 kg aren't arbitrary; they map to practical operational thresholds: braking distances, tyre load ratings, where air brakes become standard, and where a commercial driver's permit (PrDP) starts to matter.
SA Licence Codes by GVM: The Complete Table
Every South African licence code, the GVM (or GCM) band that defines it, and the common name used day-to-day:
| Licence Code | Old Code | GVM / GCM | Vehicle Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Code 11 (MC) | N/A, engine ≤ 125 cc | Light motorcycle |
| A | Code 12 (MC) | N/A, engine > 125 cc | Motorcycle |
| B | Code 7 | GVM ≤ 3,500 kg (with trailer ≤ 750 kg) | Light motor vehicle |
| EB | Code 8 | GVM ≤ 3,500 kg (with trailer > 750 kg) | Light MV + heavier trailer |
| C1 | Code 10 | 3,500 kg < GVM ≤ 16,000 kg | Medium-heavy truck / bus |
| C | Code 11 / 13 | GVM > 16,000 kg | Heavy rigid truck / bus |
| EC1 | n/a | GCM ≤ 16,000 kg | Light articulated combination |
| EC | Code 14 | GCM > 16,000 kg | Heavy articulated combination |
The two thresholds that matter on every single one of those rows are 3,500 kg and 16,000 kg. Get those two numbers right and you can place any vehicle on the SA roads into the correct licence class by reading its door-jamb plate.
What "Motor Vehicle Excluding Motorcycle" Actually Means
If you've looked at a SA learner's licence test paper, a DLTC application form, or the NRTA regulations themselves, you've probably seen the phrase "motor vehicle excluding motorcycle", often written as "MV excl MC" or "MV exc MC".
It is not a separate vehicle class. It is the qualifier that every non-motorcycle code uses to carve motorbikes out of the definition. The structure looks like this in the regulations:
- Code B: A motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle, with a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3,500 kg.
- Code C1: A motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle, with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 3,500 kg but not exceeding 16,000 kg.
- Code C: A motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle, with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 16,000 kg.
"MC" is the regulatory abbreviation for motorcycle. The rest of the code definition is the GVM band. So "MV excl MC ≤ 3,500 kg" is regulation shorthand for Code B, and "MV excl MC > 3,500 kg ≤ 16,000 kg" is shorthand for Code 10 / C1.
You'll see similar phrasing on the learner's licence itself, which comes in three test categories:
| Learner's Code | Covers | Relevant driving licence codes |
|---|---|---|
| Code 1 | Motorcycle (MC) only | A1, A |
| Code 2 | Light motor vehicle (LMV), MV excl MC ≤ 3,500 kg | B, EB |
| Code 3 | Any motor vehicle (heavy), covers all of the above | B, EB, C1, C, EC1, EC |
When you book a heavy-vehicle learner's for Code 10 you're booking a Code 3 learner's test, which covers the full theory required for a "motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle" in any GVM band. The official K53 Heavy Motor Vehicles manual published by Arrive Alive sets out the yard-test requirements for Code 10 and every heavier code. For the step-by-step process, see our Code C1 complete guide.
Code 10 Truck Size: What 3,500 kg to 16,000 kg Looks Like on the Road
"Size" in K53 terms is always GVM. Translated into real trucks on South African roads, the Code 10 band runs from small delivery panel vans at one end to 16-tonne rigid box trucks at the other.
Light end of the band (3,501 to 7,500 kg GVM)
These are small commercial trucks sold mostly as last-mile delivery vehicles, tow trucks, and light construction rigs. They usually have hydraulic drum brakes (not air), a 3-litre-ish diesel engine, and a single rear axle.
| Truck | GVM | Typical payload |
|---|---|---|
| Isuzu NLR 150 | 4,200 kg | ~2,000 kg |
| FAW 6.130 | 6,000 kg | ~3,000 kg |
| Tata LPT 713 | 7,250 kg | ~4,200 kg |
| Isuzu NPR 400 | 7,500 kg | ~4,500 kg |
| Fuso Canter FE7 | 7,500 kg | ~4,500 kg |
| Hino 300 815 | ~7,500 kg | ~4,400 kg |
The full Isuzu N-Series range in South Africa spans 4,200–8,500 kg GVM across 19 models. Every N-Series variant falls inside the Code 10 class, at the lighter end of the band.
Middle of the band (7,501 to 12,000 kg GVM)
Here you start seeing air-over-hydraulic brakes, bigger box bodies (5–6 m), and drop-side or tipper builds for construction work.
| Truck | GVM | Typical payload |
|---|---|---|
| Isuzu NQR 500 | 8,500 kg | ~5,200 kg |
| Hino 300 916 LWB | 8,500 kg | ~5,000 kg |
| Fuso FI10-240 | 10,400 kg | ~6,500 kg |
| Tata LPT 1216 | ~12,000 kg | ~7,500 kg |
Heavy end of the band (12,001 to 16,000 kg GVM)
This is the top of Code 10. Full air-brake systems, tag or pusher axles, and bodies approaching the size of a light Code C truck. A 15–16-tonne rigid is the largest thing you can drive on a Code 10 licence.
| Truck | GVM | Typical payload |
|---|---|---|
| UD Croner PKE 250 | 15,000 kg | ~9,500 kg |
| Isuzu FRR 500 | 15,000 kg | ~9,000 kg |
| Hino 500 1326 | ~13,000 kg | ~8,000 kg |
| Tata LPT 1518 | ~15,500 kg | ~10,000 kg |
| FAW 15.180 FL | 15,000 kg | ~9,500 kg |
A Code 10 truck at the top of the band (a 15,000–16,000 kg GVM rigid with a 6–8 m body) will carry around 9,000–11,000 kg of payload, roughly three times what a typical 1-tonne bakkie is rated for.
For the full vehicle list by licence code, see what vehicles you can drive with each code.
How to Read the GVM on Your Vehicle
Every road-legal motor vehicle in South Africa carries a manufacturer's plate, a small stamped or printed plate that lists the vehicle's certified mass ratings. It's the authoritative source for where your vehicle sits in the SA licence codes.
Where to find it
- Cars and bakkies: inside the driver's door jamb, on the B-pillar, or on the lower edge of the door shell itself.
- Medium and heavy trucks: riveted to the chassis near the bulkhead, or bolted to the engine bay firewall. On some Japanese imports (Isuzu, Hino, Fuso) it's on the passenger-side door frame or inside the cab above the pedals.
- Buses and minibuses: usually on the engine cover or near the driver's seat.
What the plate shows
A typical SA manufacturer's plate lists:
- VIN (vehicle identification number)
- Max GVM in kilograms
- Max GCM for vehicles rated to tow (usually only trucks and 4x4 bakkies)
- Front axle max load in kilograms
- Rear axle max load in kilograms (or per axle if there are more than one)
- Manufacturer name and model
The figure you want for licence-code purposes is Max GVM. A rigid Code 10 truck will show a Max GVM between 3,501 kg and 16,000 kg.
If the plate is missing or illegible
Weathering, repainting, and accident damage all destroy manufacturer's plates. If yours is unreadable, the GVM is recorded on the vehicle registration certificate (the eNaTIS / NATIS document) under "Gross Vehicle Mass". The same GVM figure appears on the vehicle's annual licence disc where the "Tare" and "GVM" columns are printed side-by-side.
If those are also missing, a licensed weighbridge operator can reissue a GVM certificate based on the OEM specification after verifying the VIN. Expect a small fee and a day or two of processing time.
GVM vs Tare vs Payload vs GCM: The Four Terms That Confuse People
Four mass figures appear on vehicle paperwork and they're easy to mix up. Here's what each one means and where it shows up in your licence code.
| Term | Meaning | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Tare | The vehicle's own mass, empty, with no load, no driver, no fuel beyond ~10 litres | Licensing fees (calculated on tare in most provinces) |
| Payload | Max legal load the vehicle can carry = GVM − Tare | Logistics, fleet planning |
| GVM | Tare + maximum payload = max legal loaded mass of one vehicle | SA driving licence code (B / C1 / C) |
| GCM | Max combined mass of the vehicle + a fully loaded trailer behind it | SA combination licence code (EB / EC1 / EC) |
A worked example using a typical Code 10 truck, a UD Croner PKE 250:
- Tare: 5,500 kg
- Payload: 9,500 kg
- GVM: 15,000 kg → Code C1 / Code 10
- GCM: 30,000 kg → if you hitch a trailer that brings the combined loaded mass above 16,000 kg you need Code EC (Code 14), not Code C1. See the Code 14 complete guide for what that upgrade involves.
The 16,000 kg Ceiling: Where Code 10 Ends and Code C Begins
16,000 kg GVM is the single number that separates Code 10 (C1) from Code C, South Africa's heavy rigid truck licence. If your truck's manufacturer's plate says 15,999 kg, you can drive it on Code 10. If it says 16,001 kg, you cannot; you need Code C. The limit is inclusive of 16,000 kg itself.
In practical terms, this threshold catches a small but important category of trucks:
- Large 6x2 and 6x4 rigid trucks (three-axle tipper, tanker, and curtainsider bodies) with GVMs of 18,000 kg, 20,000 kg, and 26,000 kg
- Heavy-duty tipper trucks used in mining and road construction (GVMs around 28,000 kg)
- Double-decker buses and long-distance coach buses with GVMs above 16,000 kg
Articulated combinations use the same 16,000 kg figure, but measured on GCM rather than GVM:
- EC1 (light articulated): GCM ≤ 16,000 kg. Rare, used for small delivery combinations and driver training.
- EC / Code 14 (heavy articulated): GCM > 16,000 kg. Covers every superlink, interlink, fuel tanker, and car carrier on the N3.
Because almost every commercial tractor-trailer combination in SA has a GCM well above 16,000 kg (most are 45,000–56,000 kg), EC1 is the least common licence code issued in practice and EC is by far the more common combination licence.
Edge Cases That Catch People Out
A few Code 10 / GVM scenarios that come up often but don't get covered in the regulations in plain language:
1. A 3,500 kg GVM panel van. This is Code B territory, not Code 10. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Iveco Daily panel vans often sit right on the 3,500 kg mark specifically so operators can run them on Code B fleets. Anything rated 3,501 kg or above pushes into Code 10.
2. A "demountable" body that temporarily exceeds 3,500 kg. The GVM on the plate is what matters legally, not the actual loaded weight on a given day. A 3,500 kg GVM van carrying 4,200 kg of cargo is overloaded (a fineable offence) but it's still a Code B vehicle.
3. Bakkie with an oversized canopy or caravan. The bakkie itself stays a Code B vehicle (its GVM plate didn't change). But if the GCM with a trailer or caravan exceeds what Code B allows for trailers, you move into Code EB territory, the combination licence.
4. A 7,500 kg GVM panel van used as a mobile workshop. Still a Code 10, regardless of what's fitted inside. The licence is defined by GVM, not by whether the vehicle carries goods, tools, passengers, or a mobile coffee machine.
5. An old "Code 10" licence card. Still legally valid. It was converted to C1 automatically when the NRTA 1996 regulations took effect in 1998. You don't need to upgrade the card, but some employers and insurers prefer to see "C1" printed on a current card rather than "10" on a pre-1998 card. Our old vs new codes guide has the full conversion table.
Related Guides
- Code C1 Drivers Licence (Code 10) Complete Guide: cost, lessons, heavy-vehicle learner's test, yard test, and PrDP rules
- Code 14 (EC) Complete Guide: the next step up from Code 10 for articulated combinations
- What Vehicles Can I Drive With Each Licence Code?: vehicle lists for every SA code, by make and model
- Code 8 Vehicles List: every car, SUV, and bakkie under 3,500 kg GVM
- Old vs New Driving Licence Codes: full Code 1/7/8/10/11/14 → A1/B/EB/C1/C/EC conversion table
Find a Code 10 Driving School Near You
Ready to get your Code 10 (C1) licence and drive trucks in the 3,500–16,000 kg band? Not every driving school owns and maintains a medium truck, so it's worth finding one that specifically offers heavy-vehicle instruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat is the maximum size or weight of a Code 10 truck in South Africa?
A Code 10 truck has a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of more than 3,500 kg but not exceeding 16,000 kg. 16,000 kg is the hard upper ceiling set by the National Road Traffic Act: a truck with a GVM of 16,001 kg is a Code C (the old Code 11/13 category), not a Code 10. 'Size' in the K53 sense is always measured by GVM, not by body length, wheelbase, or axle count. A 16,000 kg GVM rigid truck is typically a 6–8 m body on two or three axles with a payload of around 9,000–11,000 kg depending on the model.
QWhat does GVM mean on a South African driving licence?
GVM stands for Gross Vehicle Mass, the maximum permissible loaded mass of the vehicle as certified by the manufacturer, in kilograms. Every SA licence code from B upwards is defined by a GVM band. GVM includes the unladen vehicle (tare) plus the maximum payload (passengers, fuel, cargo). It is not the weight of the truck when it's empty, and it is not the weight it's carrying right now; it's the rated maximum it is legally allowed to weigh when fully loaded. GVM is stamped on the manufacturer's plate, usually inside the driver's door jamb or on a plate riveted to the chassis.
QWhat does 'motor vehicle excluding motorcycle' mean on the NRTA?
'Motor vehicle excluding motorcycle' (often shortened to 'MV excl MC' or 'MV exc MC' on forms and test papers) is regulatory wording from Schedule 2 of the National Road Traffic Regulations. It means any motor vehicle that is not a motorcycle: cars, bakkies, SUVs, minibuses, trucks, and buses. The phrase appears because SA licence codes split motorcycles (Code A1 / A) from everything else (Code B upwards). It is not a separate vehicle class on its own; it's the qualifier that every non-motorcycle code uses to exclude two-wheelers from that code's definition.
QHow do I find the GVM of my vehicle?
Look at the manufacturer's plate, a small metal or plastic plate usually found inside the driver's door jamb, on the B-pillar, or riveted to the chassis near the bulkhead. It lists the vehicle's VIN, maximum GVM, maximum GCM (for vehicles rated to tow), and each axle's maximum load. If the plate is missing or unreadable, the GVM is also recorded on your eNaTIS vehicle registration certificate (VRC/NATIS document) under 'Gross Vehicle Mass'. A Code 10 truck's GVM plate will show a figure between 3,501 kg and 16,000 kg.
QWhat is the difference between GVM and GCM?
GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) is the maximum mass of a single vehicle when fully loaded. GCM (Gross Combination Mass) is the maximum combined mass of a vehicle AND a trailer coupled to it, when both are fully loaded. GVM determines your rigid-vehicle licence code (B, C1, C). GCM determines whether you need a combination licence (EB, EC1, EC) once you put a trailer on the back. A Code C1 truck with a 14,000 kg GVM pulling a 4,000 kg trailer has a GCM of 18,000 kg and would require Code EC1 (not Code C1) to drive legally.
QWhat is the 16,000 kg limit in SA licence codes?
16,000 kg is the threshold that separates Code C1 (medium-heavy) from Code C (heavy rigid), and also the threshold between Code EC1 (light articulated combination) and Code EC / Code 14 (heavy articulated combination). For rigid trucks the figure refers to GVM. For articulated combinations (truck-tractor plus trailer), the same 16,000 kg figure refers to GCM. Above 16,000 kg you're in the heavy-vehicle category for that vehicle type and you'll need the upgraded licence class.
QIs Code 10 the same as Code C1?
Yes. Code 10 is the old numeric code, used before the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 took effect in 1998. Code C1 is the current letter code. Both cover identical vehicle classes: motor vehicles (excluding motorcycles) with a GVM between 3,500 kg and 16,000 kg. Old Code 10 licence cards remain legally valid, and new licences are issued as Code C1. In everyday conversation, job adverts, and across the trucking industry, 'Code 10' is still the term most people use.
QCan I drive a truck with a GVM of exactly 3,500 kg on a Code B licence?
Yes. A Code B licence covers motor vehicles (excluding motorcycles) with a GVM not exceeding 3,500 kg; the 3,500 kg figure itself is included. A 3,501 kg GVM vehicle, however, falls into Code C1. Most bakkies (Hilux, Ranger, Amarok) are rated under 3,500 kg GVM by the manufacturer specifically so buyers can drive them on a Code B. If you load a Code B-rated bakkie above its listed GVM, you're not breaking the licence rule directly, but you are overloading, and overloading carries its own fines regardless of licence class.
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