Vintage Lorries and Licenses

[real4star]

I passed my test in July 2008 and have a standard B License (with B1, f, k and p)

I have been offered a 1948 Bedford dropside (OLB?) its an older restoration but is in A1 condition... for £5500

Can I drive this old beast on my standard license or does it weigh too much?
Does the 3500ton limit apply with old/vintage lorries

Neal

[niagra]

I think it's pre 1960 lorries that you can drive with a standard licence.

[Lucas CAV]

real4star said:

I passed my test in July 2008 and have a standard B License (with B1, f, k and p)

I have been offered a 1948 Bedford dropside (OLB?) its an older restoration but is in A1 condition... for £5500

Can I drive this old beast on my standard license or does it weigh too much?
Does the 3500ton limit apply with old/vintage lorries

Neal

Yes- you can drive it-
And it is MOT exempt too.

[john2443]

DVLA doesn't seem to have anything, FOBHVC scroll nearly to the bottom.

[real4star]

Thanks

I have no idea how much this Bedford weighs... can I still drive it if it's MAM exceeds 3500kg?

Neal

[john2443]

real4star said:

Thanks

I have no idea how much this Bedford weighs... can I still drive it if it's MAM exceeds 3500kg?

Neal

You can drive any weight providing it's unladen and not used commercially.

It's bloody difficult to find something official that states it though! After much digging I found the doc, Google inf52 dvla and there's a pdf, scroll down to 'Goods vehicles that can be driven
with a full category B licence' and it's hidden in there.

Scroll down a bit more and it says 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes can be driven at age 18, above 7.5 t age 21 - based on when you passed your test you must be over 21 but I don't think it weighs over 7.5t anyway.

Edited by john2443 on Thursday 22 November 06:34

[real4star]

Thanks.

So if I've understood the DVLA and FOBHVC info,

On my 2008 B car license, I can drive a commercial vehicle as long as:

• It's built before 1960
• Unladen
• With a MAM no greater than 7.5tons/7500kg
• And I'm over 21 (I'm 28)

But I can't drive anything built after 1960 that weighs more than 3.5tons/3500kg.

Neal

[Bluetoo]

basically above is correct, the vehicle will have a MAM, GVW, or MGW listed on it's plate or V5. so long as it is less than 7500kgs GVM/MAM and pre 1960 you are licnensed to drive it, unladen and not for any commercial purpose, otherwise 3.5t weight limit applies as you state.

Another matter is whether you should drive it without first getting some decent off the highway practise though, they can be unwieldy beasts that are reluctant to stop change gear and steer when they get going and may take a little getting used to first. But enjoy

[john2443]

real4star said:

Thanks.

So if I've understood the DVLA and FOBHVC info,

On my 2008 B car license, I can drive a commercial vehicle as long as:

• It's built before 1960
• Unladen

*With a MAM no greater than 7.5tons/7500kg

• And I'm over 21 (I'm 28)

But I can't drive anything built after 1960 that weighs more than 3.5tons/3500kg.

Neal

As above because

DVLA said:

• Vehicles with a MAM of more than 3.5 tonnes but less than 7.5 tonnes may be driven from the age of 18.
• Vehicles which weigh more than 7.5 tonnes can be driven from the age of 21.