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Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2016

Published: | Category: Heavy vehicles , Vehicle dimensions and mass , Land transport rules | Audiences: General, Heavy vehicle operators

The rule covers requirements for dimension and mass limits to enable vehicles, in particular, heavy truck and trailer combinations, to be operated safely on New Zealand’s roads.

Rule versions

  • The ‘Current rule’ will give you the most up-to-date version of the Rule and any amendments made to it. We recommend this as your reference point if you want to read the most current information.
  • The ‘Original rule and amendments’ will give you the very first version of the rule (as it was when it was first created) as well as links to all amendments made to it over time. We recommend this page as your reference page if you want to research the history of the rule.

Note: Both of these pages will also provide links to the consultation material – such as summary of submissions and FAQs (questions and answers) – for each version and amendment.

Questions and answers

Questions and answers are provided to accompany a new rule or amendment when they are signed. These and other consultation documents on this page have not been updated to take into account any later rule amendments and are retained for historic interest only.

Publication details

  • Author:
  • Published: 24 November 2016
  • Reference: Rule 41001/2016
  • Also known as: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Rule or VDAM Rule

Current rule

  1. Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2016 (as at 1 May 2021) [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Class exemption

Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2016 (Bicycle Racks on Urban Buses) Class Exemption Notice 2022

This temporary class exemption notice applies to any vehicle of class MD3, MD4, or ME fitted with a front-mounted bicycle rack that is required to meet 3.5 (2) of the Vehicle Dimension and Mass (VDAM) Rule. It allows these buses to have a bicycle rack without the need to verify its low speed turning performance, provided the bicycle rack size limits are met.