License to tow.

[crankedup]

My Son and Daughter both passed the test about 7/8 years ago. Their license differs from mine, which I obtained 36 years ago:yikes: I can tow caravans and wot not without additional tests but am unsure about their restrictions with their license.

[slinky]

This is true, Mrs S' sister wants to become a Paramedic, but due to when she passed her driving test she is having to spend in excess of £1k to get the additional driving entitlements on her license..

I passed a few years previously and have none of these worries...

slinky

[Dwight VanDriver]

www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/vehicle_cat_desc.htm

Check what catergories are on their Licence against the list that is shown. If they dont have it then they need to take a test.

DVD

[JonRB]

I passed in September 1987 and have B, BE, C1, C1E, D1, D1E, f, k, l, n, p

That means I can ride a moped without L plates, but can't drive a tank (category h).

So do more modern licences award fewer categories then?

[scorp]

Mine is a modern one (2 years):

B, B1, f, k, p only

[philthy]

IIRC there's something about towing a trailer greater than 750kg's. I can't remember exactly what though.

Phil

[g_attrill]

A more lengthy discussion here:

www.practicalcaravan.com/features/caravanlaw.html

Gareth

[crankedup]

Many thanks, that article has cleared that one up, pity for Son and Daughter its not to thier favour tho.

[rewc]

crankedup, If they passed their test after 1998 ( I think that was the year) and have B on their licence, but not E, then they can still tow a caravan, or any trailer as long as: 1) the car kerb weight is more than the trailer/caravan maximum laden weight ( MPTLM as it is now known)and 2) the maximum laden weight of the car and the MPTLM of the caravan / trailer does not exceed 3500kg. This should cover 90% of the car / caravan combinations on the road. I drive a Honda CRV with maximum laden weight of 1990kg and 5 berth caravan with a MPTLM of 1350kg which is a fairly large combination and is under 3500kg.

[rgwm]

Just an idle query - does anyone know of anyone who has taken a test to tow a trailer?

As an old b****r it doesn't affect me, I can tow pretty much anything upto an 8.25 tonne train weight - ie 7.5 tonne truck plus trailer, but I'm intrigues as to what test they can devise, and how it is conducted.
Just curious!

[rewc]

rgwm, The test can be taken with a small trailer. You drive around as per normal test, try to reverse it( a bit difficult with a small trailer as it tends to jack knife with small movements) and answer questions on hitching, loading and safety cable etc.
Unless you intend towing a trailer weighing more than the kerb weight of the tow vehicle or the tow vehicle maximim weight and the trailer maximum weight combined do not exceed 3500kg you don't need it anyway and class B is all that is required.

[SS UTE]

One of my employees took the trailer test about three years ago. The examiner told him the only difference between that test and a HGV test was the HGV driver had to have a medical. IIRC his test lasted well over an hour and was extremely involved.

[manitee]

but of course if this Law is the subject of EU Legislation then its NOT Legal here

manitee