RBSV 2020 Design Vehicles: Sources and Alternatives
The RBSV 2020 (Richtlinien für Bemessungsfahrzeuge und Schleppkurven) is the German federal guideline that defines standardized "design vehicles" for planning roads, parking lots and access routes. This article explains what the RBSV 2020 actually contains, why you cannot simply download the dimensions from the internet, how to legally obtain them, and which values you may freely use for pre-design.
What are design vehicles?
Design vehicles are standardised vehicle models used to plan roads, parking lots and access routes. They represent the so-called 85th percentile vehicle – dimensions that 85 % of vehicles in a category do not exceed. The point of a design vehicle is to give all planners a common reference: when an architect proves that a "design garbage truck" can turn into a yard, the actual collection truck operated by the local waste contractor will fit too. A design vehicle is not a real vehicle type, but a deliberately conservative reference that the entire German planning industry agrees on.
Why you cannot just Google the RBSV 2020 numbers
The RBSV 2020 is published by the FGSV (Forschungsgesellschaft für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen) and sold exclusively through the FGSV Verlag. Both the tables of dimensions and the swept path templates are protected by German copyright law and the database producer right (§ 87b UrhG). Republishing the full tables on a public website would be illegal – which is why a Google search returns only fragmented, often contradictory values.
Three legal ways to access the official numbers
1. Buy the regulation from the FGSV Verlag. The RBSV 2020 package is sold for around €53 at fgsv-verlag.de and contains all design vehicles plus the swept path templates and example applications. Required for anyone submitting certified work to a German public planning authority.
2. Use CAD software with the RBSV embedded under license. The following CAD packages all ship the German design vehicles as part of their subscription:
- Autodesk Vehicle Tracking
- AutoCAD Civil 3D (Country Kit DACH)
- Bentley OpenRoads Designer
- BricsCAD Pro
- Vectorworks Landschaft
- CARD/1
- ProVI
- RIB iTWO civil
- Trimble Novapoint
3. Use the public legal alternative. For private projects, feasibility studies and pre-design, you may use the publicly available statutory values from the StVZO (German road traffic licensing regulation):
- § 32 StVZO (maximum dimensions): single vehicle up to 12.00 m length, 2.55 m width, 4.00 m height; semi-trailer truck up to 16.50 m
- § 32d StVZO (BO-Kraftkreis): every street-legal vehicle must turn within an outer radius of 12.50 m and an inner radius of 5.30 m
These statutory values are public domain under § 5 UrhG and can be combined with publicly available manufacturer data sheets to give a defensible basis for the vast majority of planning situations.
When you need the licensed RBSV vs. when the public alternative is enough
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Public tender / authority requires RBSV 2020 | Buy the regulation or use licensed CAD software |
| Private developer / pre-design / feasibility | StVZO maximum dimensions + manufacturer data sheets |
| Mixed project | Ask the responsible planning office in writing before starting |
| Education / research / journalism | Citing individual values is usually fine; full table reproduction is not |
Many German municipalities and federal states explicitly require RBSV 2020 in tenders for public construction. Always check the actual requirement before deciding which path to take.
Where the RBSV 2020 is used in practice
Design vehicles from the RBSV 2020 are referenced across German planning practice for:
- Road cross-section and curve radius planning
- Accessibility verification (e.g. fire truck access, garbage truck turning)
- Parking lot and underground garage planning
- Turnaround areas and dead-end design
- Loading zone dimensioning
- Public bus stop and station design
Typical design vehicle dimensions (market data + StVZO reference)
The following table is not a reproduction of the licensed RBSV 2020 values. It is based on the statutory maxima from the StVZO and on publicly available manufacturer data sheets. For pre-design and private projects, this data is usually fully sufficient; for tendered public projects with an explicit RBSV reference, you will need the original regulation.
| Vehicle | Length | Width | Wheelbase | Turning Circle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger Car (typical) | 4.7 – 4.9 m | 1.85 m | 2.7 – 2.9 m | 11.0 – 12.0 m |
| Delivery Van (Sprinter class) | 6.5 – 7.0 m | 2.20 m | 3.8 – 4.3 m | 13.5 – 14.5 m |
| 2-axle Truck (StVZO max.) | up to 12.00 m | 2.55 m | 4.5 – 5.0 m | BO-Kraftkreis 12.50 m outer |
| 3-axle Truck | 10.0 – 11.0 m | 2.55 m | 5.4 – 6.0 m | ~ 20 m |
| Garbage Truck 2-axle (18 t chassis) | 8 – 10 m * | 2.55 m | 3.5 – 5.7 m | 13 – 23 m ** |
| City Bus 12 m | 11.95 m | 2.55 m | 5.8 – 6.0 m | ~ 21 m |
| Articulated Bus 18 m | 17.95 m | 2.55 m | 5.8 m + 6.2 m | ~ 22 m |
| Semi-Trailer Truck (StVZO max.) | up to 16.50 m | 2.55 m | 3.8 m + 8.15 m | BO-Kraftkreis 12.50 m outer |
| Aerial Ladder DLK 23/12 | ca. 10 m *** | 2.55 m | 4.75 – 4.82 m | ca. 20 – 21 m *** |
* Completed vehicle length depends on wheelbase variant and body type. ** Full range across all wheelbase variants (Mercedes Econic 1830: 14.8–22.0 m; MAN TGM 18.290: 15.4–23.1 m; Volvo FE: 12.8–23.0 m). *** Fire apparatus are custom-built; length and turning circle vary by build. Wheelbase verified from Magirus (4,815 mm) and Rosenbauer (4,750 mm) product data. Source: § 32 / § 32d StVZO and publicly available manufacturer datasheets and bodybuilder guidelines (Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, MAN Truck & Bus, Volvo STPI, Magirus, Rosenbauer). These are NOT licensed RBSV 2020 values. All information without guarantee.
Conclusion
The RBSV 2020 is the authoritative reference for German traffic planning – but it is not a free resource. Knowing the legal landscape lets you choose deliberately between licensed standards and free alternatives, avoiding both unnecessary licensing costs and expensive rework during permit review. For regular residential and pre-design work, the StVZO statutory maxima combined with manufacturer datasheets are usually sufficient.
Related Guides
- Swept Path Analysis: The Complete Guide for Planners – Ackermann steering geometry, vehicle parameters and applications of swept path calculation.
- Fire Truck Access per DIN 14090 – the sister topic for emergency vehicles: DIN 14090, aerial ladder DLK 23/12, setup areas.
PathSweeper ships with default vehicles based on StVZO statutory maxima and publicly available manufacturer data sheets. Licensed RBSV 2020 design vehicles are planned for the full release. Try it free.