L-Class: The colorful vehicle zoo

L-Class: The colorful vehicle zoo

The L vehicle class includes seven groups of vehicles, from bicycles with auxiliary engines to heavy four-wheel vehicles, which are in turn divided into several subgroups - which vehicles are the focus of your lectures?

All L-class vehicles, like cars and commercial vehicles, must undergo regular §57a inspection. Since 2020, the 3-2-1 rule has also applied to the L-Class, so that, for example, with a newly purchased motorcycle you only have to do the pickerl for the first time after three years. Otherwise there is not much news in the two-wheel sector, but even more so in the quad segment, and this is causing a lot of headaches for both buyers and workshops.

What are the difficulties?

Following the increase in the NoVA for light vehicles, some manufacturers wanted to do their customers a favor and registered their quads, which were previously registered as L6E or L7E light vehicles, as tractors. There is no NoVA for agricultural vehicles in classes T3B or T5, which naturally reduces the purchase price. In addition, customers are now allowed to equip their vehicles with additional equipment such as cable winches, modified bodies, wheel covers or studded tires. But what apparently nobody took into account is that the §57a inspection of a quad, which is defined as a tractor, requires completely different technical testing equipment than the pick-up inspection of a conventional light vehicle.

Up until now, quads have gotten their fix in a two-wheeler workshop - is that now the end?

Two-wheeler workshops generally have no lifting platforms or axle-free jacks for vehicles over 3.5 tons, no testing facility for compressed air brakes, no vibratory plates or onboard brake deceleration measuring devices. However, all of this is a prerequisite in order to be able to carry out a proper §57a inspection on a quad registered as a tractor. The piquant thing is that a quad has no compressed air brakes, but the testing company must have an appropriate testing facility. Quads that are registered as L6E or L7E light vehicles have it easier; they can be checked in a conventionally equipped motorcycle workshop.

Where do tractor quad owners go now to get a treat?

The corresponding testing facilities can only be found in workshops for trucks and agricultural vehicles, but they usually don't have any fun with the quads. You can simply refuse an inspection without giving reasons, so it is currently not easy for quad owners to get a new bike.

There is a wide variety of sizes and models when it comes to quads, which doesn't make things any easier...

Here's an example: Some four-wheeled vehicles are equipped with three separate brake systems, which also require three different brake fluids. There is a foot brake for all four wheels as well as a handbrake for the front and rear wheels so that you can make the vehicle drift. There are therefore a few subtleties that need to be taken into account when entering the test program.

What feedback have you received so far from participants in the L competency training at the Automotive Academy?

The comments were overwhelmingly positive, and some suggested that such training would definitely make sense once a year.

Is the Automotive Academy workshop equipped with everything you need for teaching?

The workshop is state-of-the-art and is constantly being upgraded, leaving nothing to be desired. The lunch and break meals are also great. I actually only hear criticism from those who couldn't immediately find the parking garage where they can park their vehicles for a reduced fee.

Sonja Liebl is a speaker for technology, law, periodic further training, 2-wheelers, vintage cars, basic training up to 3.5t and L-competence at the Automotive Academy. After completing her high school diploma (mechanical engineering), she graduated as a master of automotive technology and completed further technical training in the automotive sector. Sonja Liebl worked for MA46 and also has many years of practical experience from private companies in the area of ​​§57a in all vehicle classes.