Driving an HGV (Tractor Unit) on car licence, possible??
Discussion
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.
I've tried a search on Google to no avail!! Anybody know anything about this or where I could find out? Cheers.
As far as I understand it, if you passed your test before 1999 you automatically have 7.5T allowance.
And most tractor units are rated at 7.5T (with the 5th wheel plated) so they are drivable on a car license. Although I tried one out of our yard when I was 19 and it was the scariest thing ever. SO much power. Big black lines down the road... And brown ones in my pants.
I am not a legal expert though. I got that info from the Class 1 drivers.
And most tractor units are rated at 7.5T (with the 5th wheel plated) so they are drivable on a car license. Although I tried one out of our yard when I was 19 and it was the scariest thing ever. SO much power. Big black lines down the road... And brown ones in my pants.
I am not a legal expert though. I got that info from the Class 1 drivers.
stevensdrs said:
My google must work better than yours as there is loads of info on this.
In a nutshell you cannot drive it on a Car Licence (Cat B)
You can drive it on a C1 if it is less than 7.5 Tonnes. (unlikely to be that light)
You can drive it on a C but not with the trailer.
I can find the info you've posted, but can't see anything anywhere that tells me if it's legal or not to remove the 5th Wheel from a normally Articulated Vehicle, to allow it to fall into the categories above.In a nutshell you cannot drive it on a Car Licence (Cat B)
You can drive it on a C1 if it is less than 7.5 Tonnes. (unlikely to be that light)
You can drive it on a C but not with the trailer.
Edited by rash_decision on Friday 23 September 00:47
I know all about this.
Since 1997 (possibly before) the licencing laws follow the rules set down by the EU
The current licence rules are based on weight (MAM) or can be superceded by the number of seats
Up to 3500kgs MAM = B licence
From 3500 to 7500 = C1 licence
over 7500 = C licence
If any of the above have 10 or more seats then they come under PCV D1 or D licences
An artic unit may physically weight less than 7500 but if not plated at less than 7500 then it comes under the rules for a C licence
It would have to be plated and weigh less than 3500 to be allowed for a B licence
It is possible to have a unit downplated to under 7500 which Chris Eubank might have done if he does not have a C licence
The fifth wheel being on or off has no bearing like it did under the old HGV rules which is now why when referring to anything above 3.5 tonnes they are LGVs and not HGVs
Since 1997 (possibly before) the licencing laws follow the rules set down by the EU
The current licence rules are based on weight (MAM) or can be superceded by the number of seats
Up to 3500kgs MAM = B licence
From 3500 to 7500 = C1 licence
over 7500 = C licence
If any of the above have 10 or more seats then they come under PCV D1 or D licences
An artic unit may physically weight less than 7500 but if not plated at less than 7500 then it comes under the rules for a C licence
It would have to be plated and weigh less than 3500 to be allowed for a B licence
It is possible to have a unit downplated to under 7500 which Chris Eubank might have done if he does not have a C licence
The fifth wheel being on or off has no bearing like it did under the old HGV rules which is now why when referring to anything above 3.5 tonnes they are LGVs and not HGVs
Edited by R0G on Friday 23 September 16:33
R0G said:
It is possible to have a unit downplated to under 7500 which Chris Eubank might have done if he does not have a C licence
He has a cat c, I remember reading about it years ago, before the rules changed, so he had the 5th wheel removed. Edited by R0G on Friday 23 September 16:33
His truck's massive anyway, it'll be well into double figures weight wise.
Don't think it's speed limited either, I saw it come past me at about 90, in lane 3 of the m6, at least 10 years ago. that's assuming he still has it of course.
Cyberprog said:
You could have it re-plated.
You could indeed, I think rog explained it all pretty well. To answer the op's question simply, you don't need to remove the 5th wheel but do need to replate it below 7.5 tonnes, if it weighs less than this.
It still requires a cat c1 licence though.
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