Patente Quiz B
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Lesson and quiz, category B licence

Dimensions, load and mass (Ingombro, sagoma e massa)

On the exam this topic tests maximum vehicle dimensions, mass and unladen weight, projecting loads, how loads are secured, and towing trailers on a category B licence; this site has 22 true or false statements to practise on it.

The theory exam has 30 statements in 20 minutes and you pass with at most 3 mistakes. Source: Codice della Strada.

Skip to the quiz Study the rules

The real theory exam is in Italian, with French or German available on request. Lessons here keep the Italian terms in italics, and the quiz shows each statement in Italian with English help underneath. Switch to Italian only in the quiz to practise under exam conditions.

The rules

Question 1 of 1

Rule 1

Maximum width, height and length

A single vehicle may not exceed 2.55 metres in width, 4 metres in height and 12 metres in length. Width rises to 2.60 metres only for vehicles carrying perishable goods at controlled temperature. These limits include the load: a van within the limits when empty can exceed them once loaded, for instance with a mattress tied on the roof.

Example

A 3.20 metre motorhome with two bicycles on the roof adding 90 centimetres stands 4.10 metres tall. It exceeds the maximum height, even though the motorhome alone was within it.

Legal reference: CdS art. 61

Exam traps

  • «Maximum height is 5 metres» or «maximum width is 3 metres»: wrong figures, they are 4 and 2.55.
  • «Dimensions are measured without the load»: false, the load is included.

Rule 2

Unladen mass, maximum mass and seats

Unladen mass (tara) is the weight of the empty vehicle. Maximum laden mass (massa complessiva a pieno carico) is the unladen mass plus passengers and load, and its limit is written on the registration document: it is never exceeded, not even for a short trip. If it is exceeded, you reduce the load before going on. The number of people you may carry is also the one on the registration document, tied to the approved seats, not the room that seems to be available. A category B licence covers motor vehicles up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass, whatever they carry.

Example

A van registered for three seats has a free bench in the back. You still carry three people, because the bench is not an approved seat.

Legal reference: CdS art. 62; CdS art. 167; CdS art. 116; CdS art. 169

Exam traps

  • «It may be exceeded on a short trip»: false, the limit does not depend on distance.
  • «A B licence covers a 4,000 kg vehicle if it carries no goods»: false, the limit is 3,500 kg regardless.

Rule 3

Projecting loads

On motor vehicles a load may not project at the front. At the rear it may project up to 3/10 of the vehicle's length, if it cannot be divided and always within the maximum dimensions. Sideways it may not go beyond 30 centimetres on each side from the position lights; poles, bars and sheets carried flat may not project beyond the outline at all (art. 164 c. 3). A rear overhang is marked with one or two square panels with reflective red and white stripes fixed to the end of the load. The load may never cover lights, reflectors or the number plate.

Example

A long ladder loaded into an estate car sticks out of the tailgate and hides half the number plate. You do not set off like that, because the plate must stay readable.

Legal reference: CdS art. 164

Exam traps

  • «A load may project sideways as far as you like if secured» or «up to 50 centimetres each side»: false.
  • «It may project at the front without limit if secured»: false, it may not project at the front.
  • «It may cover lights and plate if it sticks out only a few centimetres»: false, never.

Rule 4

Securing the load

A load is arranged so that it does not shift while driving, keeps the vehicle balanced and does not block the driver's view. A badly distributed load moves the centre of gravity and changes how the vehicle behaves in bends and under braking. The driver answers for the load even when someone else loaded it, so they check how it is secured and spread before setting off.

Example

The warehouse worker loads all the heavy crates on the left side of the van. Before leaving, the driver spreads them out, because the van would lean in right hand bends.

Legal reference: CdS art. 164

Exam traps

  • Statements that put the responsibility on whoever loaded the vehicle are false: the driver answers for it.

Rule 5

Trailers on a category B licence

A category B licence lets you tow a light trailer up to 750 kg. A heavier trailer is allowed if the combination does not exceed 3,500 kg. Above that, and up to a 4,250 kg combination, you need code 96 on the licence; beyond that, a BE licence. The towable mass for the car is written on its registration document and may not be exceeded, even if the trailer is approved for more. Even a light trailer pushes the car when braking and lengthens the stopping distance.

Example

A registration document shows a 1,200 kg towable mass and you want to tow a 1,400 kg caravan. You may not, even if the combination would stay under 3,500 kg.

Legal reference: CdS art. 116

Exam traps

  • «A light trailer does not affect braking»: false.

Rule 6

What can go wrong

Three scenes show how a wrong load becomes a hazard. First scene: in Naples a family moves house in a hired van, filling it to the roof with boxes and furniture, plus two suitcases on the middle seat. On the ring road, going downhill towards Fuorigrotta, the driver brakes for a queue and the van runs on further than expected, touching the car in front. The load exceeded the maximum mass on the registration document, and overloading means longer braking and tyres worked beyond their design. Art. 62 of the Codice della Strada defines that mass and art. 167 penalises driving above it, even for a few kilometres. Second scene: in a Brianza village a tradesman loads long pipes on his car roof that stick out past the bonnet. At a roundabout a pipe hits the rear window of a car braking in front. Art. 164 bans front overhangs on motor vehicles, because they make the vehicle's real size unpredictable. On top of the fine comes a damage claim from the other car's owner. Third scene: on the A14 motorway towards Rimini in August a couple on a B licence tow a caravan that, added to the car, takes the combination over 3,500 kg, without code 96. At a traffic police check in a service area it turns out that the combination exceeds the category limits, and the caravan also exceeds the towable mass shown on the car's registration document. The holiday stops there, because art. 116 ties towing to the licence thresholds and the vehicle to its own limits. The shared lesson is simple. Before leaving you read the figures on the registration document, keep the load within the vehicle's outline, and remember that the driver answers for the load.

Legal reference: CdS art. 62; CdS art. 167; CdS art. 164; CdS art. 116

CdS: Codice della Strada (d.lgs. 285/1992). Reg.: its implementing regulation (d.P.R. 495/1992). c.: comma, the numbered paragraph of an article.

Full text of the Codice: www.aci.it/i-servizi/normative/codice-della-strada.html

Trap words

False statements on the exam often repeat a true rule and change a single word. These are the Italian words to read carefully in this topic. They stay in Italian because that is how they appear on the exam.

Words that appear in every topic

sempre
always. An absolute: the statement is true only if there is no exception at all.
«Keeping to the limit sempre (always) guarantees a safe speed»: false, in fog or on ice you go slower.
solo, soltanto, esclusivamente
only. It rules out every other case, so a single exception makes the statement false.
«The children sign is placed soltanto (only) outside primary schools»: false, it also appears near parks and sports grounds.
mai, in nessun caso
never, in no case. The statement is true only if the behaviour is not allowed in any situation.
«A driver with priority may in nessun caso (never) give it up»: false, they may, as long as they make it clear.
ovvero
In the language of the Codice it means «or» and introduces an alternative. It does not mean «that is».
Emergency stop: the vehicle has broken down ovvero (or) the driver must stop because they feel unwell (art. 157). Two separate cases; either one is enough.
obbligatoriamente, è obbligatorio
compulsory. A duty: it is not enough for the behaviour to be allowed, it must be required.
«Overtaking on the left is obbligatorio (compulsory) even past a driver turning left»: false, in that case you pass on the right.
è consentito, è ammesso
allowed, permitted. A permission, not a duty. «È consentito» does not mean «è obbligatorio», and the reverse.
«It is consentito (allowed) to pass on the right a driver who has signalled a left turn»: true, and art. 148(7) actually requires it.
di norma, di regola
as a rule, normally. It states the general rule, which allows exceptions, so the statement does not claim to hold in every case.
«Outside built up areas warning signs are placed di norma (as a rule) 150 metres ahead»: true, and a panel gives any other distance.
anche
also, even. It stretches the rule to one more case; ask whether that added case really belongs.
«The no parking sign anche (also) bans stopping»: false, a brief stop is still allowed under a no parking sign.
automaticamente, di per sé
automatically, in itself. It suggests an effect that applies on its own, when the effect usually depends on a sign or a specific condition.
«In fog the motorway limit automaticamente (automatically) drops to 90 km/h»: false, the automatic cut applies to rain and snow.
qualsiasi, qualunque, in ogni caso
any, in every case. It generalises; look for the category or situation the rule leaves out.
«The safe distance is the same at qualunque (any) speed»: false, it grows with speed.
corsia
lane. The part of the carriageway wide enough for one line of vehicles (art. 3).
A two way carriageway (carreggiata) usually has two corsie (lanes), one for each direction.
carreggiata
carriageway. The part of the road for vehicles, made up of one or more lanes (art. 3). It does not include the verge or the pavement.
A speed limit applies to the whole carreggiata (carriageway), not only to the lane next to the sign.
banchina
verge, hard strip. The strip beside the carriageway and outside it, not meant for driving (art. 3).
Outside built up areas you park off the carriageway, for example on a suitable banchina (verge) (art. 157(3)).
fermata
stop. A brief halt to let people get in or out, with the driver present and ready to move off (art. 157).
Pulling in to drop off a passenger and leaving straight away is a fermata (stop), not a sosta (parking).
sosta
parking. A prolonged halt during which the driver may leave the vehicle (art. 157).
A divieto di sosta (no parking) does not ban stopping; a divieto di fermata (no stopping) bans parking too.
arresto
halt. An interruption caused by traffic, such as a red light or a queue. It is not the driver's choice (art. 157).
Stopping at a red light is an arresto (halt); no stopping ban prevents it.

Check yourself

Three statements on the topic. Answer and see straight away whether the rule has stuck. These answers are not saved.

Question 1 of 1

  1. L'altezza massima consentita per un veicolo, carico compreso, è di 5 metri.

    The maximum permitted height of a vehicle including its load is 5 metres.

  2. Le dimensioni massime dei veicoli si misurano senza tenere conto del carico trasportato.

    Maximum vehicle dimensions are measured without counting the load.

  3. Sugli autoveicoli il carico può sporgere lateralmente fino a cinquanta centimetri per parte.

    On motor vehicles a load may project sideways by up to fifty centimetres on each side.

Topic quiz: 22 statements

Untimed. After each answer you see the solution, the explanation, the trap words highlighted and a link back to the rule. At the end you get your score and can retest just the ones you missed.

Question 1 of 1

  1. L'altezza massima consentita per un veicolo, carico compreso, è di 5 metri.

    The maximum permitted height of a vehicle including its load is 5 metres.

  2. La larghezza massima consentita per un veicolo è di 3 metri.

    The maximum permitted width of a vehicle is 3 metres.

  3. Il carico che sporge posteriormente deve essere segnalato con un pannello quadrangolare retroriflettente a strisce bianche e rosse.

    A load projecting at the rear must be marked with a square reflective panel with red and white stripes.

  4. Il carico può sporgere lateralmente a piacere purché sia ben fissato.

    A load may project sideways by any amount provided it is well secured.

  5. La massa complessiva a pieno carico comprende la tara del veicolo, i passeggeri e il carico.

    Gross laden mass includes the unladen vehicle, the passengers and the load.

  6. Un carico mal distribuito può alterare la tenuta di strada del veicolo.

    A badly distributed load can change how the vehicle holds the road.

  7. Con la patente B si può trainare un rimorchio leggero di massa non superiore a 750 chilogrammi.

    A category B licence allows towing a light trailer of no more than 750 kilograms.

  8. Il carico può coprire le luci posteriori e la targa se sporge dal veicolo di pochi centimetri.

    The load may cover the rear lights and plate if it only projects by a few centimetres.

  9. La lunghezza massima consentita per un veicolo isolato, carico compreso ed esclusi gli autobus, è di 12 metri.

    The maximum permitted length of a single vehicle, load included and buses excluded, is 12 metres.

  10. La sporgenza posteriore del carico non può superare i tre decimi della lunghezza del veicolo.

    A load may not project at the rear by more than three tenths of the vehicle length.

  11. La massa rimorchiabile è indicata sulla carta di circolazione del veicolo trainante.

    The towable mass is stated on the registration document of the towing vehicle.

  12. Un carico va disposto sul veicolo così da preservarne l'assetto e da non ostacolare la vista di chi guida.

    A load has to be arranged on the vehicle in a way that keeps its balance intact and does not block the driver's line of sight.

  13. Il conducente risponde della corretta sistemazione del carico anche quando è stato caricato da altri.

    The driver is answerable for the correct arrangement of the load even when someone else loaded it.

  14. La tara è la massa del veicolo a vuoto.

    The tare is the mass of the empty vehicle.

  15. Se la massa complessiva autorizzata risulta superata il conducente deve ridurre il carico prima di proseguire.

    If the authorised gross mass is exceeded the driver must reduce the load before going on.

  16. Le dimensioni massime dei veicoli si misurano senza tenere conto del carico trasportato.

    Maximum vehicle dimensions are measured without counting the load.

  17. Con la patente B si può guidare un autoveicolo di 4.000 chilogrammi purché non trasporti merci.

    A category B licence allows driving a 4,000 kilogram vehicle provided it carries no goods.

  18. Sugli autoveicoli il carico può sporgere lateralmente fino a cinquanta centimetri per parte.

    On motor vehicles a load may project sideways by up to fifty centimetres on each side.

  19. Un rimorchio leggero non incide sul comportamento del veicolo in frenata.

    A light trailer does not affect how the vehicle behaves under braking.

  20. La massa complessiva a pieno carico può essere superata se il percorso da compiere è breve.

    Gross laden mass may be exceeded if the journey is short.

  21. Il numero massimo di persone trasportabili si stabilisce in base allo spazio disponibile a bordo.

    The maximum number of people who may be carried is decided by the space available on board.

  22. Un carico ben fissato può sporgere anteriormente oltre la sagoma del veicolo senza limiti.

    A well secured load may project at the front beyond the vehicle outline without limit.

What next

All exam topics

Educational content. For the official rules, see the Codice della Strada and legal notes.