Trailer licence (B+E)

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 13:34
Trailer licence (B+E) - mss1tw

Hello again!

I passed my car test in 2003 so I do not have the entitlement to tow a trailer.

Can anyone advise me of the process and costs to get this added to my licence please?

Thank you

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 13:47
Trailer licence (B+E) - Auristocrat

See link: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022564

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 13:55
Trailer licence (B+E) - mss1tw

Thank you - I'd seen that already but I have to be honest I struggle to understand a word of it :o)

Car driving licence first obtained since 1 January 1997

Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E and all larger vehicles. In addition to the new driving tests, drivers of vehicles which fall within subcategories C1, C1+E, D1 and D1+E also have to meet higher medical standards.

Upgrading entitlement for trailers

In general, an additional driving test is required for each category or subcategory of entitlement. But there are certain exceptions to this where drivers have already passed one test which involves trailer entitlement for a larger or equivalent sized vehicle.

This means that passing a test for subcategory C1+E or D1+E upgrades category B entitlement to B+E. A test pass for subcategory C1+E upgrades subcategory D1, if held, to D1+E. But a test pass for subcategory D1+E does not upgrade subcategory C1 to C1+E because the trailer size required for a subcategory D1+E test is smaller than that required for a subcategory C1+E test.

Passing a test for category C+E upgrades category B entitlement to B+E and also confers entitlement to subcategory C1 and C1+E and, if category D or subcategory D1 is held, these are upgraded to category D+E or subcategory D1+E. A test passed for category D+E upgrades category B and subcategory D1 to category B+E and subcategory D1+E respectively. But it does not upgrade category C or subcategory C1 entitlements because the trailer size required for a category D+E test is smaller than that required for a category C+E or subcategory C1+E test.

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 13:54
Trailer licence (B+E) - RT

The B only licence category DOES allow you to tow trailers BUT there are weight restrictions - bear with me as lit's a litlle difficult to get your head around.

Firstly the gross plated weight of the trailer cannot exceed 100% of the car's kerbweight, including driver and 90% fuel which is the recent definition of kerbweight.

In addition, the sum of the car's gross plated weight and the trailer's gross plated weight cannot exceed 3500kg.

Some examples, all assuming a difference of 500kg between the car's kerbweight and gross plated weight:-

Car 1200kg kerbweight, 1700kg gross plated weight > maximum trailer gross plated weight 1200kg

Car 1500kg kerbweight, 2000kg gross plated weight > maximum trailer gross plated weight 1500kg

Car 1800kg kerbweight, 2300kg gross plated weight > maximum trailer gross plated weight 1200kg

If it's a caravan you're looking to tow, there is a recommendation that beginners don't exceed 85% of the car's kerbweight - it's sensible but isn't a legal restriction.

If you need to tow heavier trailers, you'll need to take the towing test to get a B+E licence.

Edited by RT on 27/01/2012 at 14:02

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 17:34
Trailer licence (B+E) - mss1tw

The B only licence category DOES allow you to tow trailers BUT there are weight restrictions - bear with me as lit's a litlle difficult to get your head around...

Many thanks RT. I only want to tow a motorcycle trailer, so I should be OK!

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 19:26
Trailer licence (B+E) - RT

The B only licence category DOES allow you to tow trailers BUT there are weight restrictions - bear with me as lit's a litlle difficult to get your head around...

Many thanks RT. I only want to tow a motorcycle trailer, so I should be OK!

Probably - I'm not familiar with the weight of a motorbike trailer so I can't be sure - just remember that it's the maximum trailer weight that needs to be less than your car's kerbweight - don't go using a trailer man enough to haul a Harley or a Gold Wing trike if you only need to tow a lightweight bike.

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 19:33
Trailer licence (B+E) - jamie745

So are you saying if you have a really heavy car you could essentially tow the Vatican?

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 20:25
Trailer licence (B+E) - RT

So are you saying if you have a really heavy car you could essentially tow the Vatican?

Not with a B only licence.

Even with a B+E where there's no limits on the driver, the vehicle limits still apply.

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 14:56
Trailer licence (B+E) - Ethan Edwards

I got my car one in 1980. I've never towed and have no clue about it. But I am licensed to do it. Which strikes me as a bit bizarre.

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 15:15
Trailer licence (B+E) - unthrottled

Whereas I'm not!

RT and I were discussing this very topic on 'legal'. I think it is grossly unfair.

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 15:39
Trailer licence (B+E) - RT

The 3500kg boundary between cars and LGVs, which is used for the B only towing restriction is very old and has never been updated to reflect the fact that cars and vans are a lot heavier than they used to be.

Every town must have carparks which technically have a 30cwt unladen weight limit, ostensibly to permit cars but prevent goods vehicles using it, if the local by-laws were never repealed or revised - now that 30cwt limit is just 1524kg so many, probably most, cars are parking illegally !!

It's all to do with EU harmonisation, starting in 1998 to bring licences across Europe into line ready for the introduction of Euro-licences - the problem is that test standards varely widely across the EU and forcing "experienced" drivers to take a towing test would be silly when East Europeans test standards may be much lower.

My understanding is that EU Commisioners want to get rid of the UK's +E grandfather rights when Euro-licences come into force but successive Transport Ministers have resisted that.

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 15:44
Trailer licence (B+E) - unthrottled

Because harmonisation worked so well for the Euro...

EU Commisioners should worry about their own problems, not UK drivier licencing. Besides, doesn't Britain slug it out with Sweden and the Netherlands for having the lowest road fatality rate in the EU-and the world?

Up yours Delors!

[political rant over]

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Fri 27 Jan 2012 19:16
Trailer licence (B+E) - jamie745

By practically every measure you care to use, the UK has the second safest roads in the World behind Sweden. Considering we have 33 million vehicles in a small country using a horrendously out of date road network, thats pretty good going.

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Sat 28 Jan 2012 05:11
Trailer licence (B+E) - 1litregolfeater

Must be boozy brits, too expensive in Sweden

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Sat 28 Jan 2012 07:36
Trailer licence (B+E) - NARU

The best summary of what you can tow on your B licence is on a very easy to understand flowchart on the Ifor Williams trailers site

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Sat 28 Jan 2012 09:52
Trailer licence (B+E) - mss1tw

Absolutely perfect, many thanks.

Here is a link:

www.iwt.co.uk/customer-care/faq-categories/towing-...t

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