Driving an HGV (Tractor Unit) on car licence, possible??

[rash_decision]

I seem to remember a number of years ago reading that it's possible to drive an Articulated Lorry type Tractor Unit, on a car licence, if you remove the 5th Wheel from it, as it's then no longer an articulated vehicle??

I've tried a search on Google to no avail!! Anybody know anything about this or where I could find out? Cheers.

[v8will]

It would depend on the weight of the tractor unit. I'd say you would need C or C1 on your licence.

More to the point, why would you want to?

[cahami]

If its below 7.5 tons and you are licsenced to drive up to 7.5 ton i see no reason why you cant.

[gsfrontera]

Id suggest you contact the DVLA and ask them. I would say no but im really not sure.

[johnpeat]

cahami said:

If its below 7.5 tons and you are licsenced to drive up to 7.5 ton i see no reason why you cant.

If you passed more recently, that limit is 3.5tons??

I'm pretty sure this is a no - a mate of mine works as a forklift driver but they put him through his Class C so that he can move trucks in the yard (even tho he clearly doesn't NEED a licence to do that anyway)!?

[rash_decision]

v8will said:

It would depend on the weight of the tractor unit. I'd say you would need C or C1 on your licence.

More to the point, why would you want to?

When I was younger (a lot! Lol) my Parent's Neighbour had a small Haulage Company. He took me to a few Truck Shows (Truckfest was one) at Edinburgh Showground, and some of them were pretty spectacular with really elaborate paint jobs, Stainless Exhausts, well trimmed interiors etc. Not such bad looking big things to be running around in.

I was just talking with a Colleague tonight about things for sale on E-bay etc (we're bored as we're both Offshore on Nightshift! Lol) and the subject of Trucks came up. I thought I could drive one, he thought I couldn't!?

[Big_Dog]

Didn't Chris Eubank have one to cruise about in. Guess he could have taken his test though.

[Fun Bus]

It is a common myth - especially the disabling the fifth wheel part. You do need the relevant LGV licence still as others have pointed out.

[rash_decision]

Big_Dog said:

Didn't Chris Eubank have one to cruise about in. Guess he could have taken his test though.

He did have his HGV Licence.

According to Google he has his (or had?) HGV Licence. Although some of the later pictures show, that the 5th Wheel on his Truck has been replaced with a Stainless Steel Tank, which may indicate that his Licence for that particular category had expired, and he was now driving on his normal Licence?? I can't think of any other reason he would have removed the 5th Wheel, unless it changes things on the Insurance front?

[soda]

You can definitely drive a unit without a trailer on a C license, not sure about C1 though.