In Europe those over the top insane-looking american “trucks” need heavy goods vehicle license, plus even if it’s light enough for the regular license, it’s still classified as a cargo vehicle which is subject for more tax (either yearly tax or sometimes even road usage tax). People can already buy new “trucks” (even Volkswagen makes one) and import old ones from the US for a long time, but extra tax is not something most want to pay.
The ‘empty’ weight of a Ford F-350 is a bit above 3 tons, so in theory, one could register those with a maximum total mass of 3499 kg and drive them with a regular ‘car’ class B drivers licence.
The smaller F-150 is totally in the range of what can be driven with a class B drivers licence without tricks.
When imported, the car has to become road approved by an authority, like e.g. TÜV or Dekra in Germany, to ensure that it’s conforming with the general standards for road vehicles (which are less strict than when a brand would be trying to get a general certification, type approval, of that model).
If by construction, the car is allowed to have a maximum total mass of e.g. 4 tons, as e.g. it’s stated in its US documents, it’s possible to have only 3,49 tons written into the German/European documents and thus, have it classified as a ‘car’.
However, if you get caught with that vehicle loaded with more than what is allowed to stay below 3,49 tons, it’s considered a) overloaded, an offence under public order, and b) driving without proper driver’s licence, which can be a criminal offence.
In Europe those over the top insane-looking american “trucks” need heavy goods vehicle license, plus even if it’s light enough for the regular license, it’s still classified as a cargo vehicle which is subject for more tax (either yearly tax or sometimes even road usage tax). People can already buy new “trucks” (even Volkswagen makes one) and import old ones from the US for a long time, but extra tax is not something most want to pay.
The ‘empty’ weight of a Ford F-350 is a bit above 3 tons, so in theory, one could register those with a maximum total mass of 3499 kg and drive them with a regular ‘car’ class B drivers licence.
The smaller F-150 is totally in the range of what can be driven with a class B drivers licence without tricks.
I doubt that is how it works with registration.
When imported, the car has to become road approved by an authority, like e.g. TÜV or Dekra in Germany, to ensure that it’s conforming with the general standards for road vehicles (which are less strict than when a brand would be trying to get a general certification, type approval, of that model).
If by construction, the car is allowed to have a maximum total mass of e.g. 4 tons, as e.g. it’s stated in its US documents, it’s possible to have only 3,49 tons written into the German/European documents and thus, have it classified as a ‘car’.
However, if you get caught with that vehicle loaded with more than what is allowed to stay below 3,49 tons, it’s considered a) overloaded, an offence under public order, and b) driving without proper driver’s licence, which can be a criminal offence.
Interesting that you can simply define it to be a lower number.
I think, there is a lower limit, like e.g. you must still be allowed to have all seats occupied, but I’m not sure.