How much weight a car can carry is defined as the payload capacity of a car.
The payload capacity includes both the weight of the passengers and the cargo.
The cargo can be inside the cab, on the roof or in the car's trunk, or a truck box.
Pickup truck loaded with fruit
What happens if you exceed payload capacity?
It is hazardous to overload a vehicle.
Any weight above the payload capacity adds extra strain on the suspension components and wheels that they were not designed for.
This can cause tire damage such as bubbles, make the vehicle mishandle and cause a tire blowout leading to a potentially catastrophic accident.
Pickup truck loaded with firewood
How do you find the payload capacity of a car?
You can find the payload capacity of your specific car in the owner's manual or online.
Payload Capacity Can also be calculated using this simple formula.
Payload Capacity = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - Curb Weight
Where:
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum weight the vehicle is rated for when it's ready to go, including passengers, cargo, a full gas tank, and all other fluids (oil, coolant, etc.). You can generally find it in the owner's manual or the driver's side door frame.
- Curb Weight is how much the vehicle weighs with no cargo or passengers but with the necessary fluids and a full gas tank.
Example
A 2019 Toyota Corolla has a Gross Weight of 4010 lbs and a Curb Weight of 2730 lbs.
Payload Capacity = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - Curb Weight
Payload Capacity = 4010 lbs - 2730 lbs
Payload Capacity = 1280 lbs
The max payload capacity of a 2019 Toyota Corolla would be 1280 lbs. So, for example, you could carry four adults who weigh 200 lbs each and have enough payload capacity for 480 lbs of cargo.