How to tell if you need a towing licence

[Justme]

Oh so now we have a difference of opinions.

 

One paper licence checked online is still 12000kg & one is now 8250kg.

[Mark Bolam]

What a truly great system we have.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[Richard 1234]

Oh so now we have a difference of opinions.

 

One paper licence checked online is still 12000kg & one is now 8250kg.

 

 

Mine shows this now on the checker

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[Justme]

Mine shows this now on the checker

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

 

Thats what mine shows too. There was a period that the restrictions codes were all missing. During that time I had a full motorcycle licence not a restricted one...

[Rich Rule]

Oh so now we have a difference of opinions.

 

One paper licence checked online is still 12000kg & one is now 8250kg.

 

 

 

When I had my paper license it said 12000. 3 days later when my license was returned with the change of address and in plastic card format it had been reduced to 8250.

 

When I brought this up with them they denied that I had ever had upto 12000kg, even when I sent them evidence that I didnt have the 107 restriction previously.

 

If I had known I wouldn't have informed them of my change of address.

Edited January 25, 2017 by Rich Rule

[Rich Rule]

I am at a Mac now so can post the screen shots.

 

First one taken on the 9th May 2016, second shot 3 days later on the 12th May 2016.

[Mark Bolam]

I've looked further into this Rich, and it looks like neither of us were ever allowed 12t on a C1+E.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[Mark Bolam]

Or is that just something they added since we passed and decided not to tell us?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[josharb87]

I found this:

 

The 107 restriction is only found on licences where the C1 category is present by virtue of grandfather rights, ie if you had a full car licence before the new categories came into force (1997 I think) you could drive vehicles up to 7.5 tons gvw and 8.25 tons gtw. This entitlement has no age-related restrictions, so will remain present as long as you have your licence.

 

The "new" Euro category C1+E allows 12 tonnes GTW but since this is a greater gtw than you would have had with the old car licence, the restriction 107 was invented to reduce the scope of your entitlement. The new Euro C1+E has the same age restrictions as the cat C, ie it needs to be renewed every 5 years from age 45, but this only requires a medical, not a driving test.

 

So the current situation is that if you have C1+E through grandfather rights you have the code 107 restriction and an enduring licence (ie it doesn't need renewing at 45). To remove the restriction you would need to take a current C1+E test which would give you the full 12 tonnes gtw entitlement (ie remove the 107) but this will need renewing every 5 years from age 45.

 

If you have the C1+E (107) by grandfather rights and take the C1+E test to get the 107 restriction removed, and then don't renew the licence when the medical falls due, you will revert to entitlement you held through grandfather rights, ie C1+E (107).

 

If you have taken the C1+E test since the new category was introduced, you will be 12 tonnes rated anyway. This also will of course need renewing every 5 years from 45.

 

One slightly odd outcome from all this come is you had a full car licence and a full HGV 1 entitlement prior to the introduction of the new licence categories, like I did. Despite having full car and full HGV1 pre-97, my licence now has B+E, C1+E (107), and C+E. It took me a while to work out why the 107 hadn't cleared since the C+E obviously allows me to drive unlimited gross trains weights on the road (subject to Special Types regs etc). The reason is due to the different expiry dates; the C+E now has to be renewed every 5 years (since I am over 45) whilst the B+E and C1+E (107) do not. So if I chose not to renew the C+E entitlement, the 107 restriction would again become effective.

 

I hope that you can make sense of this, it is actually less complicated than it sounds when you write it down. It does however require a little thought to figure it all out!

[monkeybusiness]

I passed my driving test in 1994 aged 17 (in Pwllheli funnily enough JustMe...) and have always been restricted to 8250kg, originally on my initial paper licence and subsequently ever since. When I was 20 I used to drive vans/7.5 tonners with various trailers for exhibition companies and the 8250kg limit and the 1997 cut off date was a serious consideration when it came to employment and also exhibition trailer design. It was common to use 5 tonne Renault Messenger vans that could carry a decent payload of generators/display kit, and have trailers built down to a maximum weight of 3.25 tonnes. We couldn't tow anything of worth behind the 7.5 tonners - the lads that could had all done an additional test (but not a full HGV test).

Edited January 25, 2017 by monkeybusiness