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

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eltax91 said:

That just says you must have held your full driving license for 3 years. Doesn’t say B+E entitlement held for 3 years too.

I’m almost certain I read it on a leaflet I got when I passed as I was thinking about getting my brother some practice in

It does

be over 21
be qualified to drive the type of vehicle you want to learn in, for example they must have a manual car licence if they’re supervising you in a manual car

I will change the above to be specific for what you want to do
be qualified to drive the type of vehicle (BE) you want to learn in, for example they must have a manual BE licence if they’re supervising you in a BE combination

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eltax91 said:

Yes R0G. But what it doesn’t say anywhere online is that you must hold BE for 3 years before training.

Here’s a ver common scenario:-

Pass test after 1997
Drove around for 15 years As normal
Now in my mid thirties
Took BE test December ‘19

Can I now supervise BE, or do I need to wait until December ‘22?

It’s not clear online whether you must wait. The link you sent just says be over 21 and hold the entitlement you are teaching in

The sentence in the link covers ALL categories so I just added BE to highlight your case
It says you must hold the category which you are supervising for 3 years
You want to supervise BE so you need to have BE on your licence for 3 years before doing so - and be aged over 21

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I can see your point
There is specifics for LGV & PCV on this but it seems not for BE
After having another look I can see how it can be read either way

I will try and remember to call the authorities on Tuesday to see where the definitive is written

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F17SRF said:

Thanks eltax/Rog! Rog will be interesting to see what you come back with

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/2864/regulation/17/made
Nothing like the law itself !

a person has relevant driving experience if he satisfies either of the following requirements—
(i)he has held the relevant licence for a continuous period of not less than 3 years or for periods amounting in aggregate to not less than 3 years, or

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Tophatron said:

Apologies if this has already been asked, but can a driver with a provisional B+E licence being supervised by someone who has passed the B+E test over 3 years ago drive with a trailer on the motorway?

Thanks!

YES

The supervising driver is anyone, even those with the free pre 97 BE, who has had the BE for over 3 years and is over age 21 so that could be your 100 year old granny !

Supervising driver only needs to be insured if they drive it

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crosseyedlion said:

passed my b+e first time on Monday, after a day and a bits tuition. Mentally exhausting!

The trailer bit of it was really easy, the challenge was it was very much a car test with a trailer attached (the driving element is actually longer) than a trailer test.

Nevertheless, still enjoyed it. Passed with 2 minors. I dont have to give 'can I tow with this combination' a second thought now if its within the capacity of the tow car and trailer. Its a good feeling.

Money well spent as it was also a good refresher after 16 years driving.

WELL DONE

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As you passed B+E after 2013 you cannot use that licence to tow that 5.3T trailer

You would need C1+E simply because of the trailer MAM

It is one of those weird things but as I have never seen one on UK roads I suspect it is not an issue which DVLA/DVSA will look into changing

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Slow said:

If you have a b+e from pre 2013 you are good to go as it states any maximum weight if the vehicle is rated for it. Anyone passing after then has no method to tow the same load with any licence as the pickup isn’t a c1/c class vehicle?

C1 covers B so not a problem

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C1+E covers B+E

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Gtom said:

Is there anything on the used market that can tow a caravan with a mtplm of 1412kg but keep under the 3500kg total? Ideally it would be nice for it to be a ford too.

I co-own an Elddis xplore 544 (1350kg) that I tow with a Nissan x trail that is currently under the 3500kg limit but the caravan is being swapped for an elddis avante 550 (1412kg). The x trail is going too so I’m losing my tow car and I don’t think my wife’s mk2 focus estate will be a suitable machine.

Worst case I’m going to have to do my test and possibly a few lessons.

Skoda Octavia is one of many

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PurpleSector said:

ROG I went ahead and bought an ID plate online and downplated it myself, which I gather from reading the rest of this thread isn’t allowed as it needs to be the manufacturer. I should of asked at the time you replied if I could do it myself, I just assumed it was ok. If done officially is it recorded on a database? Can the police tell at the side of the road? What would be the repercussions if I was stopped? I don’t really understand what’s unsafe about downplating your own trailer to bring the weight into a legal window.

I kept the original ID plate in the glovebox, thinking it would be easier to explain to someone what I’d done and why, turns out it might have incriminated me more ??

The trailer was made by Conway, who I don’t think exist anymore. Although I’m told might be made by someone else now. If they don’t want to downplate it what are my options to be legal? Buy a new 750kg trailer ?!

If an incident occurred then it is likely that all insurance will be voided using a false plate

What licence do you have - B or BE?
What is the GVW of the vehicle?
What is the max tow capacity of the vehicle?
What is the current legal plated MAM weight of the trailer?

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PurpleSector said:

Thanks Rog.

Void insurance - serious stuff! Glad I haven’t used it yet - albeit because of covid. Again, can I ask - how does anybody ascertain that it’s a false plate? Let’s say I buy a trailer, how do I know it’s not a real plate?

B licence

GVW 2900(just ordered a replacement that will be 3100 GVW)

Tow capacity 2500 braked, 750 unbraked.

Manufacturer trailer spec - single axle braked, 900kg GVW, 580 payload. (It’s a box van trailer for 2 motorbikes)

I doubt you will come across a trailer with a false plate

With a GVW of 2900 on a B licence then the max trailer you can tow is 750kg - generally one of those small un-braked trailers
You could contact the trailer manufacturer and have the 900 reduced to 750 but that reduces the payload to 430kg

Procedure =
You contact manufacturer
You remove plate and send to manufacturer with payment
Manufacturer sends you new plate
You fit new plate

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If manufacturer does not exist any more then the only way is to remove any plate then change the tyres so the tyre load ratings do not add up to more than 750kg (375 max each tyre)

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A plate which is not registered is not legal - that is a fact
No plate means the total of the tyre load rating are used as the MAM

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I would suggest contacting any UK trailer manufacturer who will explain the trailer registration stuff
Ifor Wiiliams and Bateson can explain it very well but there are others

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A manufacturer can explain about the data base better than me

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I think the Xtrail GVW is about 2100kg ????
If that is correct then a box type trailer plated at 1400 will be ok on a B licence

If the trailer weighs say 400 empty then it can be loaded with 1000kg so sand bags or IBC can be used for the test weight

That set up can be used for the B+E test
L plates and side mirrors for the examiner needed

You could drive without L plates or a supervising driver to the test centre then put on L plates and do the test
After the test - pass or fail - L plates can be removed and you drive out

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Captain Answer said:

Thanks for input all

XTrail GVW is 2050 so the math for B category does work provided the trailer weight is correct, will start keeping an eye out for a trailer now

Even if I don't end up using it for the test I still need to get something to do the garden work anyway

I too am in the Midlands ROG, how do we book into your services

I am in Leicester near to the walkers crisp factory

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Captain Answer said:

I live near East Midlands Airport, always good to find local people on here

I was a LGV and B+E instructor before I retired so if you want to come to me for some B+E test reversing and DVSA on road training for FREE then please contact me
BUT - make sure it is on a dry day coz I hate getting wet !

PS - if you can put a dozen cones into the trailer then great

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Captain Answer said:

So I ended up getting an unbraked trailer, saw a very nice 2 year old barely used Ifor Williams cage sided trailer with a nice long drop ramp tail that was too good to ignore, can take load of 500KG at a time, no way I will hit that with clearing the garden - if I like it enough I may end up keeping it after

Nice one