How Heavy Is My Car?
People often want to know how heavy their car is. Some people also wonder if the weight of a car matters. If you have wondered either of these things, you have come to the right place.
In this post, we will answer your questions and provide information that we found through research. If you want to know how to find curb weight of vehicle, this post is especially for you.
The weight of a car depends on the make and model, and the year it was made. You can find your vehicle's exact weight by using one of these methods:
- Using a car scale
- Checking the owner's manual
- Checking the driver side door
- Calling the manufacturer
It sounds hard? It's not. We've made it simple with methods that are easy to understand. Don't worry. The explanation above has made you think of more questions, right? Is a lighter car faster?
Some cars are heavier now than they were in the past, is this true? Read on for answers to these and other similar questions.
How Heavy Is My Car?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average weight of cars in 2004-2018 was 4,000 pounds. How much does your car weigh? To find out, do these things:
Using A Car Scale
If you want to know how much your car weighs, you need to use a scale. There are different types of scales and they usually weigh cars. Some scales can tell you more than just the weight like if your tires are too low or something else is wrong.
You should ask people at the place where there's a scale or at an inspection station to help you figure out which type of scale would be best for your car and how it works.
Checking The Owner's Manual
The owner's manual for your car is more than just a guide to how your car works. In the specifications section of your manual, you can find out how much your car weighs. If you don't have your manual, or if it doesn't list the weight of the car, you can always look it up online.
Checking The Driver Side Door
The owner's manual might not tell you how much your car weighs. But you can find out by looking on the driver's side door. There is a sticker there with all the information about your car, including how much it weighs.
That number is called the curb weight. Another important number on that sticker is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). That number tells you how much your car can weigh in total, including passengers, cargo, and any other equipment or accessories.
You should never confuse GVWR with GVW- Gross Vehicle Weight. The Gross Vehicle Weight changes depending on how much stuff you put in the car, but GVWR always stays the same.
Calling The Manufacturer
The VIN is a number that you need to tell them. You can also find how heavy your car is on a website from the manufacturer. When you know how much your car weighs, then you'll know how much it can hold without being overloaded and what bridges have weight limits for cars.
In some states, there are weight ratings that you should not exceed with an overloaded vehicle.
The US EPA said that every 100 pounds subtracted from the weight of a car helps with how much fuel it uses. This means that less weight in your car will help you save money on how much gas it uses.
It also helps to know how heavy your car is. Knowing how heavy your car is can help mechanics when they are doing routine maintenance because they know how big a lift or tool to use in order to work on this size of a vehicle.
Conclusion
The weight of a car can vary depending on different things. This can make the car use more or less gas, and also might make the car go faster or slower. If you want to lighten the load, we hope you found some ideas in this post on how to change the weight of your car. But if you are happy with how your car currently weighs, keep driving safely.