Trailer towing:- B and B+E licence rules explained

[R0G]

fastbikes76 said:

Question for the more knowledgeable on this subject,


My tow car Kerb is 2311 and the GVW is 2945kgs.

The Caravan I want is 875kgs Kerb with a MTPLM of 1122kgs.


I understand that takes me over the 3500kg limit of the B licence , but in reality I seriously doubt I will be lugging over 300kg's of additional luggage with me. If the total combined weight of the car, 'van and all contents are under the 3500kg limit, will I be ok or will they base it purely on the potential to carry more weight as the total GVW and MTPLM is 4067kgs?

Regards
Fb

Licencing goes on the plated weights so at 4067kgs you are well over the 3500 limit for B licence towing

[R0G]

I agree - its ok

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eltax91 said:

Well, i finally sorted myself out and after 4 hours tuition yesterday, passed the B + E test today 4 minors! Hoorah

2 questions immediately pop into my head:-

1. What can i now tow, legally?

2. A mate who is admiring my track car (and new entitlement) from afar has suggested he would like to have a go. He's a lot less confident than I and wants much much more time behind the wheel. Now i have the entitlement, as long as I fit L plates and mirrors to the vehicle, and the towing capacity is within my entitlement, can i now "tutor" him on the road (in reality, give him some cheap wheel time)?

Cheers folks

WELL DONE ON PASSING BE
1 - whatever the towing capacity of the vehicle allows providing none of the plated weights are exceeded
2 - you need to have BE on your licence for 3 years and be over age 21 to supervise

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w3526602 said:

Hi,

MY interpretation of one particular aspect of the rules. ...

... if the vehicle you are driving/towing exceeds the weight limit of your driving licence, then you are driving without a licence ... which voids your insurance. Discuss!

correct

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DocSteve said:

Hi,

I have tried to find an answer to this here and on the gov.uk website and I think I'm correct that this is not allowed...... but someone has told me that a police officer stated that if you are towing a trailer of <750kg with a suitable vehicle (and the whole lot doesn't exceed 3500kg) then if the trailer is completely unladen then it is the weight of the trailer not the MAM posted on the trailer's chassis that counts, therefore allowing you to tow it with a B licence only assuming you do not load it with anything.

What do the experts here say to this?

Thanks
Steve

Total rubbish and illegal to do so = 100% fact

[R0G]

For private land use only you can ignore weights BUT make sure it is SAFE and you can stop ok

[R0G]

With no plate then for public road use the total of the tyre load ratings will be the MAM and if that is over 750kg then it must have brakes

I assume you have a B+E licence?

[R0G]

Supernova190188 said:

This is how it works for my hilux surf, it’s an import so no weight on v5 so it goes off tyre load up to max of 3500kg, so technically my truck weighs 3.5 ton and I can only tow 750kg unbraked with it, yet with my car I can tow a small caravan etc legally even though it’s less safe

Is there a weight plate hidden on the vehicle?

[R0G]

No legal need to remove brakes
Simply contact trailer manufacturer to get trailer down plated to 750

You will be left with only a 430 payload for the trailer

Edited by R0G on Monday 10th August 06:53

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eltax91 said:

Question number 2 R0G. If he downplayed the trailer, then when he’s finished having fun with the motor crossers, or passes his B+E, can he ‘upplate’ it again?

YES - same thing again - contact trailer manufacturer
Usually the old plate gets sent to manufacturer

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crosseyedlion said:

Sorry if this has been talked to death somewhere on PH, but I can't seem to find anything definitive using the search function.

The situation is this:
Towing a 3500kg trailer with a 4x4 (vw touareg v10...2600kg kerb, 3500kg towing weight)
For business (so hire and reward)

I know I'll need a tacho, but do I need an operators licence?

Is it exempt?

Theres conflicting information out there stating dual purpose vehicles are exempt but must be under 2040kg empty. But then 4x4's are passenger vehicles. There's even guidance that specifically lists 4x4's as exempt but doesn't ref. the weight.

From what I can tell, if its not exempt - most operators doing similar running a 4x4 seem to just ignore it. Whats the reality?

https://www.gov.uk/being-a-goods-vehicle-operator/exemptions

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Gtom said:

It’s there a website anywhere that lists a vehicles gross weight and gross train weight?

At some point the tow car I borrow is being sold so I will upgrade my wife’s car to something suitable and my caravan is going to swapped for something newer but I still want to keep under the 3500kg total.

try this site https://www.carleasingmadesimple.com/car-leasing/d...

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ESD1711 said:

Guess this is the place to run this scenario by to check it’s legality - in my head it’s ok but figured I’d run it by folk who know best.

Assume B+E entitlement.

Trailer weight unladen: 500kg
Trailer max weight: 2000kg

Realistic trailer use, with saxo race car on it, probably sees it about 1500-1700 depending on kit?

Car I’m looking at is a C-Class estate for which I have the following numbers:

Kerb Weight: 1590kg
Gross Vehicle Weight: 2205kg
Towing Capacity: 1800kg

My thought is that ultimately I’m interested in the towing capacity vs the actual weight of the trailer which would be ok? Rather than trailer max weight vs towing capacity which wouldn’t?

1800 tow capacity towing 1700 is legal with B+E

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AndyAudi said:

Ok I’m post ‘97 test so have restrictions & only B license. I’m the local Scout Leader & our troop has a box trailer. I own a Landrover.

I’ve had a look & think the following, our box van is 640kg unladen & plated at 2700kg. Landrover has GVW of 2500.
As it stands I can’t tow the trailer (Even empty)

Considering what it’s used for tables, bikes, camp food & things I think I could work getting it plated at 1000kg giving me a carrying capacity of 360kg. However this then restricts that trailer considerably for others use. Getting a smaller trailer might sound like obvious answer but “volume“ of this one is handy.

Question is can i just buy a plate & downrate or is there an official register? (i see I can buy on eBay)

Can someone else, able to tow more put the old one back on?

Only the trailer manufacturer can do the down plating so you need to contact them
Usually involves you removing original plate then sending that with the money to the manufacturer who then then send you the new plate to fix on
drill + pop rivet gun needed in most cases

To up plate the same method is required

PS - I thought your vehicle is 2505 GVW ??

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AndyAudi said:

What prevents up plating back to original by putting on original, why the need to go back to manufacturer?

Has to be registered and only manufacturer can do that

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TVR1 said:

Hi Guys/Gals , this is a question that may come up more and more frequently. Just about to take delivery of a 2020 Toyota Corrolla 1.8 hybrid.

Maximum towing capacity with braked trailer is 750kg.

I’ve found a beautifully restored modernised Compass Echo (I like retro!)
They have standard weight of 580kg but max allowable of 850.

Question is? Can I still tow as long as I keep the caravan weight under 751 kg and I don’t exceed the Train weight for the car, or is this a non starter?

Legally yes but keeping the load to a max of 170kg may not be practical

[R0G]

There is no legal requirement to down plate a trailer so it does not exceed the max towing capacity or GTW of a vehicle
There are plenty of internet myths saying otherwise

Just use the lowest weight of either the max tow or trailer MAM as the max limit for the loaded trailer

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meb90 said:

Hi

Just checking my understanding having read the thread.

Car is a Mondeo:
Max Vehicle Mass: 2295kg
Max Train Mass: 4095kg

On my current B (post 1997) licence, I can tow a trailer up to 1205kg (3500-2295) Max Authorised Mass.

If I do my B+E test, I can tow a trailer of MAM of anything (up to 3500kg) as long I don't go over 1800kg (4095-2295)? [Actual trailer rating excepted - I get that I can't overload the trailer]

Cheers!

All your figures are legally spot on

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Slow said:

You can only tow 750kg on a regular B

Where did that incorrect info come from?

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F17SRF said:

Thank you! Had another look and still can't find this info online though, strange!

https://www.gov.uk/driving-lessons-learning-to-drive/practising-with-family-or-friends
Does that help?