Loading your car correctly

It is important to secure all objects in the car before you start driving. In the event of an accident or sudden braking, unsecured objects will be thrown forwards and may cause serious damage or injury.

How to load your car correctly

• Store small items in the glove compartment or under the seat.
• Place shopping bags against the back of the rear seats, in the car boot (trunk).
• Avoid storing objects on the parcel shelf.
• Place large items in the boot or secure them by a luggage net.
• If you have a luggage net that extends up to the ceiling, we recommend using it all the time.
• Make sure you stack all luggage so that your view is unobstructed.
• Spread the load in the boot evenly between the left and right sides, placing the heaviest items at the bottom in the middle, and as close to the seatback as possible.
• Lay down objects that may topple.
• Use built-in hooks to prevent heavy cargo from sliding into the back seat.
• A roof-mounted cargo box (“ski box”) may provide extra space, but is best suited for light items.

Securing dogs in cars

You must not drive with your dog loose in the car. It is not safe for the dog, the driver, or the passengers. It may be thrown forwards in the event of a sudden stop, and in the worst case injure itself as well as others.

You should secure your dog in a transport cage or using a special harness designed for transporting dogs in cars. Place and attach the cage in the boot, against the seatback.

Loads on the roof

If the load on the roof is too heavy, it will affect your directional stability and handling properties of your car. Secure the load properly by

• placing the heaviest load as low as possible
• placing the load with a straight edge facing forwards
• securing all items with lashing straps

See the owner’s manual or Vehicle Registration Certificate to find the permitted weight (maximum authorised mass), and make sure the roof rack is correctly installed.

You should place the lightest objects in the roof-mounted cargo box and keep the heaviest objects in the boot. Position the load in the cargo box so that you fill it up forwards and sideways.

Loads on trailers

You must secure all loads you transport on a trailer so that they do not shift or fall off.

Cargo that may produce dust, smoke or loose particles that may whirl off the vehicle must be secured with a cargo net or tarpaulin. For other items, you should use lashing straps.

Long loads must be placed as far forwards as possible, with a straight edge facing forwards. Secure the load on the trailer so that it does not shift during transport. Loads that protrude more than one metre to the rear must be marked specially.

Also make sure you load the trailer so that the noseweight (tow ball pressure) is correct, which means approximately 50 to 75 kg on a loaded trailer. The weight should be carried by the trailer’s axle. You can measure the noseweight using standard bathroom scales.  

Loads on both roof and trailer

If you carry loads both on the roof and in a trailer, the load securing must be able to withstand the entire weight of the load in the forward direction and half the weight of the load to the sides and rear.