Curb Weight vs Gross Weight: What’s The Difference?
You might be wondering that your car or truck comes with two different weight measurements. They are curb weight and gross weight. But, many vehicle owners do not know the actual meaning of those.
You should know about those weights and what the difference is between them. For example, there is a maximum weight limit if you want to cross a bridge.
If you know which weight class your car falls in, then you can easily know whether you can cross the bridge or not.
Contents
What is The Curb weight?
The curb weight determines the vehicle’s actual weight, including all standard equipment such as fuel tank, fuel coolant, transmission fluid, motor oil, brake fluid, and other fluids. You should cut out the optional equipment, passengers, and cargo weight when measuring the curb weight.
It is also known as a “standard weight.” Sometimes, the curb weight varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, even model to model but slightly. For example, some European manufacturers also include the driver weight in the curb weight measurement.
Curb weight includes:
- Factory Installed equipment
- Engine oil weight
- Transmission oil weight
- Gearbox oil weight
- Coolant oil weight
- Ac refrigerant weight
- 90% fuel weight
Note: It may differ from country to country.
What is the Gross Weight?
The gross weight or GVWR means your vehicle’s passengers, cargo, and other optional equipment, including the curb weight. It will help you to know how much extra weight is safer for you. For example, if you own a truck whose curb weight is 6,000 pounds and your GVWR is 7,500 pounds, you can carry around 1,500 pounds in your truck.
What is the Difference Between Curb Weight and Gross Weight?
The main difference between curb weight and the gross weight is the measurement system. The curb weight indicates the car or truck actual weight, whereas the gross weight indicates the car or truck actual weight, including cargo, passenger, or optional equipment weight.
In addition, the gross weight allows you to know the safest capacity of carrying goods or cargo in your truck or car. On the other hand, manufacturers use the curb weight to label the car.
How to Find Curb Weight and Gross Weight of Vehicle?
You can easily find out the curb weight of your vehicle by looking at the company’s labeling included in the car or truck door jamb label.
If you own a car, you will find almost similar labeling in your car like the one below. In the first one, you can notice that the GVWR is directly present, which is 3263 lbs, indicating the gross weight.
If you can find the maximum loading capacity, you can also find the curb weight. The good thing is most of the vehicle comes with the details of maximum carrying capacity, which you can notice in the below image, which is 450 lbs.
If you minus the maximum carrying weight from the Gross weight, you will find the curb weight of 2813 pounds.
Is Curb Weight Empty Weight?
Curb weight is also known as empty weight as it only indicates the vehicle’s weight without any items or passengers. It refers to the weight of a vehicle when it is unloaded or resting on a flat surface.
Does the IRS Use Curb Weight or Gross Weight?
IRS uses the GVWR or gross vehicle weight rating to determine the safe weight of your vehicle. According to section 179, if you own a car whose GVWR is a minimum of 6000 pounds and a maximum of 14000 pounds, you will qualify for tax reduction.
Does Curb Weight Include Gas?
Curb weight measurement, including the essential equipment of the vehicle. As the gas is essential for any vehicle, it is included in curb weight.
Does Curb Weight Include Fluids?
The transmission fluid or other vehicle part fluids are important and essential for vehicles. For this, it is also included in the curb weight.
Final Words
It is important to know the difference between curb and gross weight. These are used for various purposes. I hope the article will help you to know the difference between them.
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