Towing... Category B+E and just B

[Too Late]

Hi all

I need to tow a car, but i have just found out that if i want a trailer, i need a Category B+E licence.

https://www.gov.uk/towing-rules/y/car-or-light-veh...

Quick question:
Category B
You can tow trailers up to 750kg MAM (maximum authorised mass).

Does that mean the total weight including the trailer and contents can not be greater than 750kg?
Or the contents on the trailer can not be greater than 750kg

Thanks
Nick

[InitialDave]

It's not quite that simple/restrictive. There's a good sticky at the top of SP&L.

What do you want to tow, and what do you want to tow it with?

[Deerfoot]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Have a coffee and a read...

[TooMany2cvs]

You won't find a more authoritative guide than this...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=11...

[KevinCamaroSS]

To answer the original question, 750kg is the total of trailer and contents.

[youngricharduk]

You can tow more than 750kg MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) if your towing vehicle has a MAM less than 3500Kgs. For eg if the MAM of your vehicle is 2000kg you can tow a trailer with a MAM of 1500Kgs. Have a look at the weight plate on the vehicle to see whats it's GVW (Gross vehicle weight) is. The important bit to remember when looking at the B licence aspect is that the actual weights don't come into at all.

[R0G]

From the other thread

R0G said:

Too Late said:

Quick question.

I would like to collect a car and tow it home on a trailer
I do not have a B+E on my licence.

My dad on the other hand has a B+E on his licence.

If I wanted to drive up there. Tow the car back on the trailer. Can I take my dad with me and put l plates on for it to be legal?

Got a 110 defender and looking to rent a large trailer for the day motorway and a roads mainly)

Thanks
Nick

Yes you can do that and DAD does not have to be insured unless he actually drives it

Make sure you inform your insurer that you are doing that = usually no extra cost

[Jimmy Recard]

I always thought that you couldn't tow a laden trailer with L plates, apparently I was wrong

[R0G]

Jimmy Recard said:

I always thought that you couldn't tow a laden trailer with L plates, apparently I was wrong

The current B+E test requires a load of 600kg to be in the trailer

[Jimmy Recard]

R0G said:

The current B+E test requires a load of 600kg to be in the trailer

Good point. It just didn't occur to me you'd be allowed to do something like described, but if there isn't anything against it, I suppose people should capitalise

[R0G]

The daft thing is that legally a B licence holder can drive a BE set up with their 100 year old great grandma next to them who has a current driving licence but is not insured to drive it and has never towed in their life !