Trailer tests

[300bhp/ton]

Thinking of taking my trailer test as it would be handy.

I've had a look on the Direct Gov website but can't find an answer to my questions.

What are the regs/laws on how you practice for such a test? I assume with L plates you can then tow a trailer on the road to learn and practice with, but what restrictions are there?

Thanks.

[rowey200]

I'd be interested to know more about this subject also. I know the law changed sometime ago with regards what you can tow with a standard uk licence. I also looked into the 'trailer test' but could not find much info....can anyone advise further

[soda]

From a driving school website -

When practising for your B+E Test you must clearly display L-plates (or D-plates if preferred in Wales), on both the front and rear of the vehicle.

You must be accompanied by a person aged 21 years or over, and who has held a B+E category licence for three years and still holds that licence.

HTH

[Distant]

Soda is correct, you can tow on L-plates if supervised.

I've started doing towing training and I'm not too far from you, PM winging it's way to you.

[mph1977]

soda said:

From a driving school website -

When practising for your B+E Test you must clearly display L-plates (or D-plates if preferred in Wales), on both the front and rear of the vehicle.

You must be accompanied by a person aged 21 years or over, and who has held a B+E category licence for three years and still holds that licence.

HTH

and who gained their additional categories by test rather than grandfathering ( or is that only C1 and D1)?

[Distant]

Nope, grandfathering is fine.

[TheLurker]

Sorry for dragging an oldish thread back up.

How does insurance work? Do you need to tell them that you will be towing a trailor?

[soda]

TheLurker said:

Sorry for dragging an oldish thread back up.

How does insurance work? Do you need to tell them that you will be towing a trailor?

I'm not honestly sure but I would err on the side of caution were insurance companies are concerned and let them know.

[Vidal Baboon]

You can drive a car with a trailer with a MAM of 3500kgs can tow a trailer with a MAM of 750kgs.

So drive train weight total= 4250kgs

You can also tow:

a trailer with a MAM which does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (i.e. you can tow a trailer with a MAM heavier than 750kgs, providing you have a vehicle capable & the drive train weight stays below 4250kgs)

It's usually IIRC 80% of the towing vehicle's gross weight.

So for e.g.

VW Passat 1500kgs + Trailer at 1200kgs= Tot DTW of 2700kgs

So, you can practice legally until you require doing the B+E test, insurance usually extends to trailers, you just need to check that it does with your insurer.

This was confirmed through a phonecall to DVLA & is strictly IIRC.

[vonhosen]

Vidal Baboon said:

You can drive a car with a trailer with a MAM of 3500kgs can tow a trailer with a MAM of 750kgs.

So drive train weight total= 4250kgs

You can also tow:

[b]
a trailer with a MAM which does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (i.e. you can tow a trailer with a MAM heavier than 750kgs, providing you have a vehicle capable & the drive train weight stays below 4250kgs)[/b]

It's usually IIRC 80% of the towing vehicle's gross weight.

So for e.g.

VW Passat 1500kgs + Trailer at 1200kgs= Tot DTW of 2700kgs

So, you can practice legally until you require doing the B+E test, insurance usually extends to trailers, you just need to check that it does with your insurer.

This was confirmed through a phonecall to DVLA & is strictly IIRC.

3.5 tonnes (not 4.25) if the trailer is over 750Kgs.

[Vidal Baboon]

vonhosen said:

Vidal Baboon said:

You can drive a car with a trailer with a MAM of 3500kgs can tow a trailer with a MAM of 750kgs.

So drive train weight total= 4250kgs

You can also tow:

[b]
a trailer with a MAM which does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (i.e. you can tow a trailer with a MAM heavier than 750kgs, providing you have a vehicle capable & the drive train weight stays below 4250kgs)[/b]

It's usually IIRC 80% of the towing vehicle's gross weight.

So for e.g.

VW Passat 1500kgs + Trailer at 1200kgs= Tot DTW of 2700kgs

So, you can practice legally until you require doing the B+E test, insurance usually extends to trailers, you just need to check that it does with your insurer.

This was confirmed through a phonecall to DVLA & is strictly IIRC.

3.5 tonnes (not 4.25) if the trailer is over 750Kgs.

I queried this with the DVLA, they said I am entitled to drive a vehicle weighing up to 3500kgs + tow a trailer up to 750kgs. Making the drive train all up weight 4250kgs.

Is that incorrect?

[vonhosen]

Vidal Baboon said:

vonhosen said:

Vidal Baboon said:

You can drive a car with a trailer with a MAM of 3500kgs can tow a trailer with a MAM of 750kgs.

So drive train weight total= 4250kgs

You can also tow:

[b]
a trailer with a MAM which does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (i.e. you can tow a trailer with a MAM heavier than 750kgs, providing you have a vehicle capable & the drive train weight stays below 4250kgs)[/b]

It's usually IIRC 80% of the towing vehicle's gross weight.

So for e.g.

VW Passat 1500kgs + Trailer at 1200kgs= Tot DTW of 2700kgs

So, you can practice legally until you require doing the B+E test, insurance usually extends to trailers, you just need to check that it does with your insurer.

This was confirmed through a phonecall to DVLA & is strictly IIRC.

3.5 tonnes (not 4.25) if the trailer is over 750Kgs.

I queried this with the DVLA, they said I am entitled to drive a vehicle weighing up to 3500kgs + tow a trailer up to 750kgs. Making the drive train all up weight 4250kgs.

Is that incorrect?

That's fine, but you can also tow a trailer over 750Kgs, provided the GTW is no more than 3500Kgs (ie 2 tonne vehicle towing 1.5 tonne trailer).

[Vidal Baboon]

vonhosen said:

Vidal Baboon said:

vonhosen said:

Vidal Baboon said:

You can drive a car with a trailer with a MAM of 3500kgs can tow a trailer with a MAM of 750kgs.

So drive train weight total= 4250kgs

You can also tow:

[b]
a trailer with a MAM which does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (i.e. you can tow a trailer with a MAM heavier than 750kgs, providing you have a vehicle capable & the drive train weight stays below 4250kgs)3500kgs

It's usually IIRC 80% of the towing vehicle's gross weight.

So for e.g.

VW Passat 1500kgs + Trailer at 1200kgs= Tot DTW of 2700kgs

So, you can practice legally until you require doing the B+E test, insurance usually extends to trailers, you just need to check that it does with your insurer.

This was confirmed through a phonecall to DVLA & is strictly IIRC.

3.5 tonnes (not 4.25) if the trailer is over 750Kgs.

I queried this with the DVLA, they said I am entitled to drive a vehicle weighing up to 3500kgs + tow a trailer up to 750kgs. Making the drive train all up weight 4250kgs.

Is that incorrect?

That's fine, but you can also tow a trailer over 750Kgs, provided the GTW is no more than 3500Kgs (ie 2 tonne vehicle towing 1.5 tonne trailer).

Thanks for confirming, that's what I was trying to convey in bold.

Ahh, spotted my mistake

Edited by Vidal Baboon on Thursday 2nd December 23:59

[300bhp/ton]

vonhosen said:

Vidal Baboon said:

vonhosen said:

Vidal Baboon said:

You can drive a car with a trailer with a MAM of 3500kgs can tow a trailer with a MAM of 750kgs.

So drive train weight total= 4250kgs

You can also tow:

[b]
a trailer with a MAM which does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (i.e. you can tow a trailer with a MAM heavier than 750kgs, providing you have a vehicle capable & the drive train weight stays below 4250kgs)[/b]

It's usually IIRC 80% of the towing vehicle's gross weight.

So for e.g.

VW Passat 1500kgs + Trailer at 1200kgs= Tot DTW of 2700kgs

So, you can practice legally until you require doing the B+E test, insurance usually extends to trailers, you just need to check that it does with your insurer.

This was confirmed through a phonecall to DVLA & is strictly IIRC.

3.5 tonnes (not 4.25) if the trailer is over 750Kgs.

I queried this with the DVLA, they said I am entitled to drive a vehicle weighing up to 3500kgs + tow a trailer up to 750kgs. Making the drive train all up weight 4250kgs.

Is that incorrect?

That's fine, but you can also tow a trailer over 750Kgs, provided the GTW is no more than 3500Kgs (ie 2 tonne vehicle towing 1.5 tonne trailer).

If that's the case, then the directgov website is a little vague. As I'd have thought most caravans would be fine to tow with something like a Disco 2 according to those weights.

They do seem to make it confusing.

[cosicave]

Yes, it is confusing. Of course, jargon doesn't help make things clearer.

[Glade]

Just doing some research... this link seems to sum it up

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensi...

direct.gov.uk said:

Category B: Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM and with up to eight passenger seats

Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) or a trailer over 750kgs 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:

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

Whereas

the same vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes when coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.5 tonnes would fall within category B+E. This is because although the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is within the 3.5 tonnes MAM limit, the MAM of the trailer is more than the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle
Vehicle manufacturers normally recommend a maximum weight of trailer appropriate to their vehicle. Details can usually be found in the vehicle's handbook or obtained from car dealerships. The size of the trailer recommended for an average family car with an unladen weight of around 1 tonne would be well within the new category B threshold.

Edited by Glade on Sunday 10th April 13:30

[jagracer]

Nothing new there then.

[XLR Motorsport]

I'm so glad this is a current topic. Having just booked my B+E for two weeks time, does anyone know what I can expect from the test?

As far as experience goes, I'm OK for experience. But want to make sure I'm OK on the theory too. Could someone very kindly confirm the speed limits when towing please? And is there any other theory I should know before the test?

Thank you in advance for all your help.

[oldcynic]

A friend of mine is an instructor and his first trailer candidate failed on either one or two counts - he was highly embarrassed (and I think paid for the retest):

1. Physically check that the handbrake is applied or released before decoupling or after coupling - ie don't just look at it

2. Once the trailer is coupled, use the jockey wheel to raise the rear of the vehicle a little to check that it is firmly coupled. Don't just pull on it to check.

I can confirm point 2 is a good idea, because it's better than finding out your coupling is worn to buggery when driving down the road. That was not a joyful day!

[Lefty]

bd.

I turned 17 in jan 1997, 21 days too late and passed my test in Feb '97.

I only discovered a few years ago, having been towing 3.5 tonne trailers behind 3.5 tonne GVW Land Rovers that I was breaking the law and driving uninsured

That's an interesting rule though, that I could tow, say, 1500kg tonnes with a vehicle of GVW <2000kg. My current Land Rover has a GVW of 2999kg though, no idea why so it still doesn't help me.