Discussion
I recently got carried away in the PH classifieds and bought a bike engined kit car. Now I'm thinking I will need a trailer to carry it around and get to track days.
A friend has just pointed out that as I got my driving licence a decade ago: I'm not allowed to tow anything without passing a trailer test!
Has anyone sat this? Difficult? It's going to be a massive faff to get the trailer, tow bar, lessons, test etc.
A friend has just pointed out that as I got my driving licence a decade ago: I'm not allowed to tow anything without passing a trailer test!
Has anyone sat this? Difficult? It's going to be a massive faff to get the trailer, tow bar, lessons, test etc.
I wonder how heavy the car you've bought will be?
From DVLA:
"MAM (Maximum Authorized Mass) means what the vehicle, trailer or combination of both is allowed to weigh when fully laden. Please beware of this as your unladen weight may be below 3500kg but your combination MAM could be over 3500kgs so making it illegal to tow without B+E"
"Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kg MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) OR a trailer over 750kg MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM."
"For example:
(i) a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement. This is because the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and also the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle."
From DVLA:
"MAM (Maximum Authorized Mass) means what the vehicle, trailer or combination of both is allowed to weigh when fully laden. Please beware of this as your unladen weight may be below 3500kg but your combination MAM could be over 3500kgs so making it illegal to tow without B+E"
"Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kg MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) OR a trailer over 750kg MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM."
"For example:
(i) a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement. This is because the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and also the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle."
Edited by AndyLB on Wednesday 10th August 21:14
AndyLB said:
I wonder how heavy the car you've bought will be?
From DVLA:
"MAM (Maximum Authorized Mass) means what the vehicle, trailer or combination of both is allowed to weigh when fully laden. Please beware of this as your unladen weight may be below 3500kg but your combination MAM could be over 3500kgs so making it illegal to tow without B+E"
"Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kg MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) OR a trailer over 750kg MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM."
"For example:
(i) a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement. This is because the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and also the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle."
Ooh this could be good news.... The car weighs just less than 500kg (I'm told, haven't weighed it myself yet)From DVLA:
"MAM (Maximum Authorized Mass) means what the vehicle, trailer or combination of both is allowed to weigh when fully laden. Please beware of this as your unladen weight may be below 3500kg but your combination MAM could be over 3500kgs so making it illegal to tow without B+E"
"Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kg MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) OR a trailer over 750kg MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM."
"For example:
(i) a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement. This is because the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and also the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle."
Edited by AndyLB on Wednesday 10th August 21:14
I've been looking at the following web page:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensi...
Doesn't the bit you quote come from a link in the section "Car licences held before 1 January 1997"?
My licence is from 2001
Im not overly sure about this, but Cat B is Cat B. You have a Cat B licence, car + trailer outfits which meet the criteria posted are Cat B, therefore you are licenced to tow them.
Also if you read the bit marked "Car driving licence first obtained since 1 Jan 1997" (You and I) it says:
"Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E and all larger vehicles."
But you won't fall under B+E, you'll fall under B so no dramas!
A trailer usually weighs between 400-600 kgs so add that to the weight of your track car, and the towing car should be heavier than them both. You also need to check the towing weight of the tow vehicle I think, and that it has been type approved (if newer than a certain date, 2001 I think).
Also if you read the bit marked "Car driving licence first obtained since 1 Jan 1997" (You and I) it says:
"Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E and all larger vehicles."
But you won't fall under B+E, you'll fall under B so no dramas!
A trailer usually weighs between 400-600 kgs so add that to the weight of your track car, and the towing car should be heavier than them both. You also need to check the towing weight of the tow vehicle I think, and that it has been type approved (if newer than a certain date, 2001 I think).
Edited by AndyLB on Wednesday 10th August 21:33
AndyLB said:
Im not overly sure about this, but Cat B is Cat B. You have a Cat B licence, car + trailer outfits which meet the criteria posted are Cat B, therefore you are licenced to tow them.
Also if you read the bit marked "Car driving licence first obtained since 1 Jan 1997" (You and I) it says:
"Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E and all larger vehicles."
But you won't fall under B+E, you'll fall under B so no dramas!
Likely to have issues with the maximum weight he can tow with his licence type thoughAlso if you read the bit marked "Car driving licence first obtained since 1 Jan 1997" (You and I) it says:
"Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E and all larger vehicles."
But you won't fall under B+E, you'll fall under B so no dramas!
Eta 750kg trailer max, 3.5 tonne max on the vehicle and mam not over 4.25 tonnes, and vehicle cab able of towing the weight.
Edited by Brite spark on Wednesday 10th August 21:56
Bear in mind that it's not the actual weight of the tractor (tow vehicle) and the actual weight of the trailer, it's the plated weight - I.E. What it can tow. Also, remember that the car will have fluids etc in which will make it heavier.
I did my B+E a while back. Piece of piss really - but definitely use a training company to do it.
I did my B+E a while back. Piece of piss really - but definitely use a training company to do it.
Brite spark said:
Likely to have issues with the maximum weight he can tow with his licence type though
Eta 750kg trailer max, 3.5 tonne max on the vehicle and mam not over 4.25 tonnes, and vehicle cab able of towing the weight.
Eta 750kg trailer max, 3.5 tonne max on the vehicle and mam not over 4.25 tonnes, and vehicle cab able of towing the weight.
vexed said:
Looks like I need a trailer that weighs 250kgs, and I'll be ok! I'm not sure how realistic that is, I shall have a look.
Not quite, if you read it again:(i) a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement.
Your track car weighs 500kg. The average small car transporter trailer weighs between 400 and 600kg, if your car was 1250 and capable of towing 1200 it would be a goer.
On second thoughts just do the test.
Edited by AndyLB on Wednesday 10th August 22:09
vexed said:
I recently got carried away in the PH classifieds and bought a bike engined kit car. Now I'm thinking I will need a trailer to carry it around and get to track days.
A friend has just pointed out that as I got my driving licence a decade ago: I'm not allowed to tow anything without passing a trailer test!
Has anyone sat this? Difficult? It's going to be a massive faff to get the trailer, tow bar, lessons, test etc.
upto 750KG is fine, over 750KG requires trailer test HTH!A friend has just pointed out that as I got my driving licence a decade ago: I'm not allowed to tow anything without passing a trailer test!
Has anyone sat this? Difficult? It's going to be a massive faff to get the trailer, tow bar, lessons, test etc.
oh and you are provisional on trailer's over 750kg, so get ya dad in the passenger seat and your fine!!
Petrolhead_Rich said:
upto 750KG is fine, over 750KG requires trailer test HTH!
It's strange that everyone says that when the official info on the subject clearly states otherwise.As long as the plated gross weight of the trailer is less than the unladen weight of the car, within the cars towing limit and the trailer and car combined gross weight is less than 3.5 tons you can tow it on a B license.
That is what the DVLA website says in black and white. I'm not sure where anyone gets information to say otherwise:
DVLA said:
"Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kg MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) OR a trailer over 750kg MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM."
Regardless of that, I've done my B+E and it's not too bad. A bit like re-doing your car test with a trailer on, but they are less worried about all the stupid cliched driving practices and more leniant on silly mistakes.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff