What distinguishes passenger cars, delivery vans and trucks?
Last verified: 2026-06-20
Art. 11 VTS distinguishes transport motor vehicles by purpose (persons or goods) and weight. “Passenger cars” are light motor vehicles for the carriage of persons with no more than nine seats including the driver (class M1 up to 3.50 t). “Delivery vans” are light motor vehicles for the carriage of goods (class N1). “Trucks” are heavy motor vehicles for the carriage of goods (classes N2 or N3) with no more than nine seats.
| Vehicle kind | Purpose | EU class | Guaranteed weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger car | carriage of persons | M1 | ≤ 3.5 t |
| Heavy passenger car | carriage of persons | M1 | > 3.5 t |
| Delivery van | carriage of goods | N1 | ≤ 3.5 t |
| Truck | carriage of goods | N2 / N3 | > 3.5 t |
The guaranteed weight determines the division into light and heavy motor vehicles; the limit is 3.5 t. It is also decisive for the driving licence category.
Sources
- VTS (SR 741.41), Art. 11 – Kinds of transport motor vehicles — Fedlex – Swiss Federal Law
- Vehicle classification — ASTRA – Federal Roads Office