Class R Agricultural Trailers
Class R agricultural trailers, categories, licensing, regulations, technical details.
This content is for general information only. It does not, and is not intended to, provide legal or technical advice or to represent a legal interpretation of the matters it addresses.
Frequently asked questions
Trailers and trailed equipment are considered agricultural if they are mainly designed to be towed by a tractor. Other pieces of interchangeable towed equipment can also be classed as agricultural trailers e.g., slurry tankers, manure or fertiliser spreaders, grain chaser bins.
Category R trailers are intended mainly to carry loads or to process agricultural materials; each trailer is supplemented at the end by an ‘a’ or ‘b’ index according to its design speed:
‘a’ trailers with a maximum design speed below or equal to 40 km/h
‘b’ trailers with a maximum design speed above 40 km/h.
For further information on tractor categories refer to EU Regulation 167/2013
| Trailer categories | Definition |
R1 | Comprises trailers, the sum of the technically permissible masses per axle of which does not exceed 1,500 kg |
| R2 | Comprises trailers, the sum of the technically permissible masses per axle of which exceeds 1,500 kg but does not exceed 3,500 kg |
| R3 | Comprises trailers, the sum of the technically permissible masses per axle of which exceeds 3,500 kg but does not exceed 21,000 kg |
| R4 | Comprises trailers, the sum of the technically permissible masses per axle of which exceeds 21,000 kg |
Yes, if they are being used for commercial purposes.
No, currently they do not need to be licensed or registered if towed exclusively by an agricultural tractor.
Yes. Since 01 January 2016, all new agricultural trailers must be plated. You can contact your trailer’s original manufacturer or authorised distributor. Alternatively, you can contact an existing trailer manufacturer who may be willing to plate it for you. For further information, download and read our Revised Standards for Agricultural Vehicles.
For information on type-approval, you will need to contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
You will need to contact the original manufacturer.
No. Wood shavings are not classed as agricultural produce and therefore must adhere to the height limit of 4.65 m as well as all other weight, length and width limits outlined in legislation. See our Agricultural Vehicles Weights and Dimensions Leaflet
S.I. No. 248 of 2014 – Road Traffic Construction Equipment and use of Vehicles Regulations 2014
S.I. No. 354 of 2015 – Road Traffic Construction and Use of Vehicles Regulations 2014
S.I. No. 249 of 2014 - Road Traffic Lighting of Vehicles Regulations 2014
Please note that these regulations are in original format and amendments can be viewed at Irish Statue book
EC Regulation No. 167/2013 – Approval of Agricultural and Forestry Vehicles.