B+E being scrapped?
Discussion
David87 said:
Haven't been following this that closely, but to clarify my belief is correct: you can no longer take a B+E test (and have not been given it for 'free'), but you also cannot tow certain trailers without the B+E? What if you urgently need the ability to do so?
At present, somebody with a normal car licence that passed before 1997 can drive a 7,500 kg vehicle and a 750 kg trailer, or a car and trailer combination up to 8,250 kg.If you passed after 1997, you can drive up to 3,500 kg plus a 750 kg trailer, or a vehicle and trailer combination of 3,500 kg.
The rule change planned would have allowed those who passed after 1997 to tow a 3,500 kg trailer with a vehicle up to 3,500 kg.
David87 said:
Haven't been following this that closely, but to clarify my belief is correct: you can no longer take a B+E test (and have not been given it for 'free'), but you also cannot tow certain trailers without the B+E? What if you urgently need the ability to do so?
Correct.If you currently have a B licence, there is no way for you to get a B+E licence.
But the rules for what you are restricted to towing with a B licence are still in place.
You would have to move up to a larger class licence entirely, and get a +E for that.
Ganglandboss said:
David87 said:
Haven't been following this that closely, but to clarify my belief is correct: you can no longer take a B+E test (and have not been given it for 'free'), but you also cannot tow certain trailers without the B+E? What if you urgently need the ability to do so?
At present, somebody with a normal car licence that passed before 1997 can drive a 7,500 kg vehicle and a 750 kg trailer, or a car and trailer combination up to 8,250 kg.If you passed after 1997, you can drive up to 3,500 kg plus a 750 kg trailer, or a vehicle and trailer combination of 3,500 kg.
The rule change planned would have allowed those who passed after 1997 to tow a 3,500 kg trailer with a vehicle up to 3,500 kg.
Just had this by email, as I signed up to updates on towing.
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/draft-legis...
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/draft-legis...
www.gov.uk said:
A statutory instrument was laid on 16 September 2021 titled the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (the ‘No. 2 Regulations’) and was due to come into force on 15 November 2021. The substantive legislative changes proposed in the No. 2 Regulations would have removed the need for a person to pass the ‘B+E’ car and trailer test before they could pull a heavy trailer behind their car. This would have meant people with licences awarded after 1997 also no longer needed to pass a separate test to tow a heavy trailer.
This statutory instrument was not approved in time for the No. 2 Regulations to come into force on 15 November 2021. Since such affirmative statutory instruments cannot be amended once laid in draft, we have taken action to lay the regulations afresh as the draft Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2021 (the ‘No. 5 Regulations’).
To make rapid progress on this, we are seeking to make use of the urgency procedure under paragraph 14(6) of schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. I am of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, the requirements for this affirmative statutory instrument (by virtue of paragraph 13(1) of schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) to be made after being published in draft for 28 days, together with a scrutiny statement, should not apply.
Forgoing the 28-day publication period will allow earlier laying of the No. 5 Regulations than would have otherwise been possible and strengthen the steps we have already taken to increase HGV testing capacity and ease supply chain issues as quickly as possible. Arrangements will be in place to ensure that the changes made by the No. 5 Regulations are operationally effective as soon as they come into force.
Published 23 November 2021
This statutory instrument was not approved in time for the No. 2 Regulations to come into force on 15 November 2021. Since such affirmative statutory instruments cannot be amended once laid in draft, we have taken action to lay the regulations afresh as the draft Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2021 (the ‘No. 5 Regulations’).
To make rapid progress on this, we are seeking to make use of the urgency procedure under paragraph 14(6) of schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. I am of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, the requirements for this affirmative statutory instrument (by virtue of paragraph 13(1) of schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) to be made after being published in draft for 28 days, together with a scrutiny statement, should not apply.
Forgoing the 28-day publication period will allow earlier laying of the No. 5 Regulations than would have otherwise been possible and strengthen the steps we have already taken to increase HGV testing capacity and ease supply chain issues as quickly as possible. Arrangements will be in place to ensure that the changes made by the No. 5 Regulations are operationally effective as soon as they come into force.
Published 23 November 2021
Ganglandboss said:
Just had this by email, as I signed up to updates on towing.
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/draft-legis...
what does that actually mean?https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/draft-legis...
www.gov.uk said:
A statutory instrument was laid on 16 September 2021 titled the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (the ‘No. 2 Regulations’) and was due to come into force on 15 November 2021. The substantive legislative changes proposed in the No. 2 Regulations would have removed the need for a person to pass the ‘B+E’ car and trailer test before they could pull a heavy trailer behind their car. This would have meant people with licences awarded after 1997 also no longer needed to pass a separate test to tow a heavy trailer.
This statutory instrument was not approved in time for the No. 2 Regulations to come into force on 15 November 2021. Since such affirmative statutory instruments cannot be amended once laid in draft, we have taken action to lay the regulations afresh as the draft Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2021 (the ‘No. 5 Regulations’).
To make rapid progress on this, we are seeking to make use of the urgency procedure under paragraph 14(6) of schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. I am of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, the requirements for this affirmative statutory instrument (by virtue of paragraph 13(1) of schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) to be made after being published in draft for 28 days, together with a scrutiny statement, should not apply.
Forgoing the 28-day publication period will allow earlier laying of the No. 5 Regulations than would have otherwise been possible and strengthen the steps we have already taken to increase HGV testing capacity and ease supply chain issues as quickly as possible. Arrangements will be in place to ensure that the changes made by the No. 5 Regulations are operationally effective as soon as they come into force.
Published 23 November 2021
This statutory instrument was not approved in time for the No. 2 Regulations to come into force on 15 November 2021. Since such affirmative statutory instruments cannot be amended once laid in draft, we have taken action to lay the regulations afresh as the draft Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2021 (the ‘No. 5 Regulations’).
To make rapid progress on this, we are seeking to make use of the urgency procedure under paragraph 14(6) of schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. I am of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, the requirements for this affirmative statutory instrument (by virtue of paragraph 13(1) of schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) to be made after being published in draft for 28 days, together with a scrutiny statement, should not apply.
Forgoing the 28-day publication period will allow earlier laying of the No. 5 Regulations than would have otherwise been possible and strengthen the steps we have already taken to increase HGV testing capacity and ease supply chain issues as quickly as possible. Arrangements will be in place to ensure that the changes made by the No. 5 Regulations are operationally effective as soon as they come into force.
Published 23 November 2021
dhutch said:
I think it means that having vetoed them, in order to get them signed off, they have to resubmit them as a draft. So they are doing that, and trying to go via a fast track route.
Summary; lord only knows
This does a reasonable job of explaining it: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2021-11-09/deb...Summary; lord only knows
Tl;dr: they didn't get it together to pass it through the Commons in time, so it was pulled, and is being replaced by another one that takes advantage of a "fast track" provision in the exiting the EU legislation to allow it to be pushed through faster this time.
The SI was approved by the Commons yesterday and the Lords today. The next step is for the it to be "signed" by the minister, so we should see a new date published in the next couple of days.
https://commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/document/527...
https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2021-12-15/deb...
https://commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/document/527...
https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2021-12-15/deb...
Looks like it changes from today! - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-for-towing-a...
My licence is not showing B+E online yet though...
My licence is not showing B+E online yet though...
An additional legislative change from the 16th December 2021 also means that drivers with B (Car) entitlement will automatically have B+E (Car & Trailer) entitlement without the need to take a B+E test. This will allow you to tow a vehicle up to 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM).
BE entitlement informationPlease note that these changes will not be reflected on your current driving licence, or on any of our online services. There is no need to contact DVLA regarding this change, your photocard driving licence will be updated the next time you transact with DVLA.
BE entitlement informationPlease note that these changes will not be reflected on your current driving licence, or on any of our online services. There is no need to contact DVLA regarding this change, your photocard driving licence will be updated the next time you transact with DVLA.
jamesssss said:
Presumably the easiest way is to pay the £20 and say you lost it?
The easiest way would be to do nothing at all. Like they’ve said, entitlements will be added automatically.
Having a bit of plastic with BE on it wouldn’t matter if they did decide to do a U-Turn on this, which I severely doubt they could / would.
Everyone panicking trying to get an unnecessary replacement is just going to put an already strained DVLA under more pressure.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff