Published on: Thursday, January 22, 2026 Last updated on: Friday, January 23, 2026
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is the absolute maximum weight a vehicle is engineered to carry safely. This rating is a fixed limit set by the manufacturer that includes the vehicle’s curb weight (empty vehicle + fluids), plus every pound added afterward and, critically, the tongue weight of any attached trailer. In this guide, you’ll learn what GVWR specifically includes, how manufacturers set it, where to find it on your vehicle, how it differs from payload, curb weight, GAWR, and GCWR, and why you should avoid exceeding it for your safety.