What Does “GVWR” Mean?

If you’re like most of our Devine customers, you may be able to surmise from the sticker on your vehicle’s door that “GVWR” stands for “Gross Vehicle Weight Rating”. But that may be the extent of how much you know about the GVWR meaning. So, what is “Gross Vehicle Weight Rating”? What does “GVWR” mean? You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers. So, let’s get to it. 

What is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating?

So, what does “GVWR” mean? Simply put, the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the maximum amount that is safe for your vehicle to weigh. That would include the curb weight of your vehicle. But it would also include the combined weight of your passengers, fuel, and cargo. Additionally, it includes the “tongue weight” (normally 10-20% of the combined tow load and trailer weight) of any load that you are towing.

For instance, let’s say your pickup truck’s GVWR is 10,000 pounds. The curb weight of your truck is 6,000 pounds. You fill the tank with gas and load some passengers into your truck, adding a total of 1,000 pounds to your vehicle. You’ve used up 7,000 pounds of your GVWR, meaning any cargo you load on to the bed cannot exceed 3,000 pounds.

What Does GVWR Mean for You?

What is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating in the grand scheme of things? What does GVWR mean to you? For one thing, it’s a safety issue. And we want you to be safe on our Castroville roads. But, in some states, it can also be a matter of criminal liability if you are in an accident and you have exceeded your GVWR, meaning criminal charges up to and including manslaughter.

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