Beware of Traveling with Extra Luggage: How to Place It and Penalties for Not Doing It Properly

It has surely happened to you. You go on vacation with a suitcase and a backpack, and when you have to return, you almost have twice as many things to store. But the problem arises when it comes to loading them into the car; those extra items can cause some complications. One thing that must be clear is that no object should be loose inside the vehicle, meaning with the passengers. This means that backpacks, bags, or other items should not be placed on the rear seats. All luggage must go in the trunk and be well secured, with a physical separation from the occupants. Only this way can it be ensured that nothing gets projected in case of sudden braking or a traffic accident.

"Traveling with a simple 2.2 kg laptop can be especially dangerous. Its impact can be similar to crashing into an 85 kg wild boar if the car brakes at a speed of 50 km/h. If the speed is 90 km/h, the situation is even more impactful, as it resembles colliding with a 275 kg brown bear, according to warnings from the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT). Unfortunately, we do not give the deserved importance to the simple act of placing luggage correctly nor do we dedicate the necessary time," says Guillermo Rodríguez, Market Manager for Transport and Mobility at Norauto Spain.

In this regard, heavier and larger items should go in the lower and central part of the trunk, as close to the axle as possible. It is advisable to balance the weight throughout the trunk and distribute it correctly. If suitcases have wheels, it is recommended to place them upwards so they do not roll around in the trunk.

It is very common for SUV or 4x4 vehicles to offer a connection between the trunk and passenger area. The shelf should always be closed, and it is advisable to have a physical separation like a grid. Of course, Norauto emphasizes that it is vital for the trunk to close properly. It must be remembered that under no circumstances should cargo fall onto the road.

The trunk might not be sufficient. In these cases, it is recommended to opt for different transport solutions depending on what needs to be carried. For example, roof boxes or roof trunks can be used for extra luggage or increasingly popular hitch boxes that are conveniently attached to the hitch ball and properly signaled according to V20 plate regulations can be a very good additional transport solution, affecting vehicle aerodynamics less. At all times, manufacturer instructions should be followed for correct installation. Likewise, objects placed inside roof trunks should be evenly distributed to balance weight.

In this sense, installing a hitch on the vehicle can be an effective solution since it is not only very useful for comfortably transporting bicycles with the corresponding bike rack but also for installing trailers and mentioned hitch boxes.

Long and rigid objects can be correctly secured on the car’s roof rack (roof bars). However, Norauto reminds that if cargo transported on the roof rack exceeds established regulatory dimension limits, penalties can reach up to 500 euros in fines and four points deducted from your driving license. Currently, Article 15 of the General Traffic Regulations (RGC) establishes that if cargo is divisible, it can only protrude from the rear up to 10% of the vehicle's length. If cargo is indivisible, it can protrude up to 15% of the vehicle's length.

If you want to transport bicycles, you can resort to a bike rack. Currently, there are four options available, and you should always choose the most suitable one according to individual needs and vehicle type. On one hand, there is the roof bike rack perfect for transporting 1 to 4 bicycles; it must go on top of roof bars. On another hand, there is a rear door or trunk bike rack which allows transporting up to three bikes; they are fixed on the rear door using straps. The hitch or ball bike rack can either be suspended or platform types; they are quick and easy to install. Lastly, trailers are a good option when transporting a large number of bicycles; some trailers allow carrying up to seven bicycles.

If on the contrary, the car is not full, certain precautions are also recommended: fastening seat belts on rear seats even if there are no passengers provides greater protection and prevents items from being projected through seats. The use of nets for securing cargo is also advised.