How to tell if you need a towing licence

[Justme]

Sorry, just read the 'all 3' caveat.

Stand down Feds!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

 

lol

[skyhuck]

That letter refers to vehicle weights, not licencing.

 

I thought it was max weights for licencing, actual weights for towing weights etc, regardless of driver.

 

The letter refers to the weight VOSA will apply, IE actual weight, not plated weight.

[skyhuck]

Well I am 100% sure I am right.

 

That is ONLY once you PASS your BE test. Then its real weights.

 

Your B licence has limits in reguard to MAM of vehicle & Trailer.

 

 

What if the trailer is carrying a tractor with an MOT?

[Justme]

That letter refers to vehicle weights, not licencing.

 

I thought it was max weights for licencing, actual weights for towing weights etc, regardless of driver.

 

Correct.

 

Real weights are used for the MAM & GTW.

 

IE my car can tow 1200kg but as I have BE I can borrow a 3500kg trailer & load a box of crisps on it & have a real weight of about 1000kg. That would be legal

 

If I did not have BE it would not be legal as the GTW would total more than 3500kg. Even though the real weight inc car would only be 2800kg.

 

 

With towing you have to comply with Licencing, C&U plus the makers recommendations.

 

My original post is only covering licencing as that is the area of most confusion. Plus it limits the C&U further any way till you pass BE.

[Justme]

What if the trailer is carrying a tractor with an MOT?

 

The load on the trailer has no bearing on anything (unless over weight) so it having or not having an MOT is of no interest.

[Justme]

It is also worth mentioning that not all vehicles can tow the full 750kg un braked trailer weight.

 

They are limited by C&U to 50% of listed kerb weight, makers also spec the un braked weights too.

[Justme]

If you are stopped for being over weight/GTW you MUST be weighed. They can not use the plated weights.

 

However this is about licences.

 

If you are stopped for no trailer towing licence then they do use plated weights.

[skyhuck]

The load on the trailer has no bearing on anything (unless over weight) so it having or not having an MOT is of no interest.

 

Tractors can't have an MOT, although you were 100% sure they could

[Justme]

Tractors can't have an MOT, although you were 100% sure they could

 

 

What? I never mentioned MOT or tractors?

 

You brought it up.

[inthewoods]

If you are stopped for being over weight/GTW you MUST be weighed. They can not use the plated weights.

 

However this is about licences.

 

If you are stopped for no trailer towing licence then they do use plated weights.

 

So what happens if there's no plate on the trailer?