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IMO the legality of exceeding a vehicle’s GVWR is most often confused with safety. For instance; a law enforcement officer observes a pick-up with the bed sagging because of the load its carrying and pulls the vehicle over for a check. The officer’s real probable cause for the stop was safety. When the vehicle was found to be in excess of its GVWR it was not allowed to proceed until it lost some weight. Of course that’s hypothetical but it happens.
The federal certification on vehicles lists those vehicles GVWR. The vehicle manufacturer has said to not exceed the GVWR. That fact is supported by all DOT enforcement officers. So if you’re inspected and found over GVWR it’s normally going to ruin your day.
Here is a little reminder I found in a NHTSA Q&A PDF.
“The FMVSS have requirements for the manufacturer to use proper tires and rims for the gross axle weight rating (GAWR) and the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The manufacturer may determine the GVWR by adding cargo capacity (if any) to the curb weight of the vehicle as manufactured. The wise consumer, before purchase, will determine if the vehicle has sufficient cargo capacity to carry the weight of water, additional equipment (such as televisions, and microwave ovens), and luggage. The manufacturer’s certification label must show the GVWR. The GVWR must not be exceeded by overloading the vehicle. There is little the government can do to assist a consumer who has purchased a vehicle that has insufficient cargo capacity for its intended use.”
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