PTRA — French gross combined weight rating

PTRA (Poids Total Roulant Autorisé) is the French equivalent of GCWR — the maximum permitted combined mass of tow vehicle plus trailer. Listed in field F.3 of the Carte Grise. Exceeding it is a €750 fine and risks an insurance refusal after a crash.

Formula: actual tow-vehicle mass + actual trailer mass ≤ PTRA. PTRA is set by the manufacturer: typically 5,500–6,500 kg for a 3.5 t Ducato motorhome. To tow a trailer over 750 kg and up to 3,500 kg a French driver needs licence B96 (theory + practical test); over 3,500 kg requires BE. The thresholds depend on the ratio of tow PTAC to trailer PTAC.