Trailer towing:- B and B+E licence rules explained

[aspenarb]

So I think I get it but I want to be crystal clear as one of my guys is getting worried about this.

I have a transit 3.5tonne

Timber wolf 125 which states weight of 580odd kg

All guts driving got theirs licenses after 97 but before 2013.

So they are all ok to drive this.

May thanks

 

Yes they can tow a small chipper/trailer on their license but that gives them a greatly reduced payload because of the 3.5 ton gross limit.

 

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

 

Bob

[Sussex Groundie]

I'm so glad I am old lol, this looks so confusing.....

[openspaceman]

Yes they can tow a small chipper/trailer on their license but that gives them a greatly reduced payload because of the 3.5 ton gross limit.

 

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

 

Bob

 

As I read it they can gross 3500kg on the truck and still pull 750 trailer. Also can pull a heavier trailer as long as the MAM of vehicle plus MAM of trailer do not exceed 3500kg.

 

The bit that changed seems to be that tests passed after 2013 cannot pull a trailer heavier than the unladen weight of the vehicle.

 

It still strikes me that anyone intending to work in this industry would be advised to get the B+E licence in quick succession whilst the test mentality is still fresh.

 

My last driving test was 45 years ago and I would have to work hard to pass one again.

[treequip]

So I think I get it but I want to be crystal clear as one of my guys is getting worried about this.

I have a transit 3.5tonne

Timber wolf 125 which states weight of 580odd kg

All guts driving got theirs licenses after 97 but before 2013.

So they are all ok to drive this.

May thanks

 

Yes

 

 

....

[Dan Curtis]

that gives them a greatly reduced payload because of the 3.5 limit

Bob

 

Not quite Bob. Yes they can drive the combo but they're still entitled to a 4.25t gtw.

 

Weights as they exist apply to the maximum permissible weight, not what you actually have in the vehicle at the time.

 

A 3.5t transit in the eyes of the law weighs 3.5t regardless of what is in it. The unbraked trailer entitlement is another 750kgs. This gives you a max weight of 4.25t on a B licence. This is all acceptable until you're over 3.5t in the towing vehicle.

[jose]

thank you guys

I will let them know in the morning as one of them was getting worried about this.

[Justme]

The OP would be able to give you a totally definitive answer but I was told by my large government employer that I could take out our drivers training for B+E as I had passed the B+E test at least 3 years ago. yet lads that had passed class 1 or C+E or had grand father rights to B+E cant supervise training for B+E as they hadn't sat the test!

 

Re B+E your employer would be wrong. Lots of people thought this when it first came in.

 

Grandfather rights to the B+E does allow them to supervise B+E learners.

 

Re the C cats they would be right that a grand father rights cat C+E cant supervise cat C+E. They need to take the test & wait 3 years.

 

Re a tested cat C + E. They can supervise a cat B+E.

 

The reduction in rights to supervise was limited to the vocational cats which does not include cat B+E.

[ROG.]

SUPERVISING A B+E LEARNER

In April 2010 new rules were introduced for those supervising certain learner drivers but they only affected those supervising VOCATIONAL categories such as C1 C1+E D1 & D1+E where the supervising driver had those categories given to them for free when they passed a pre 1997 car test.

They do not affect those with a pre 1997 B+E licence who wish to supervise a B+E learner.

 

All B licence holders have B+E provisional on the paper part of their licence and can tow an empty or loaded trailer on all roads including motorways.

 

The usual rules apply when a learner is driving -

The supervising driver must be aged over 21

The supervising driver must have held a B+E licence for at least 3 years

L plates must be fitted to the front of the vehicle and the rear of the trailer

Correct insurance for a B+E learner

The supervising driver does not need to be insured unless they are driving

[AHPP]

Hang on. This is interesting!

 

I got my licence after 1997 and before 2013. Are you saying I can put L-plates on my 3.5 tonne vehicle, sit a pre-1997 licence holder in the passenger seat and tow a 3.5 tonne trailer? And my pre-97 licence passenger doesn't need to be insured but my insurance needs to cover me for >750kg towing while supervised?

 

Really as easy as that? Sounds too good to be true.

[ROG.]

Hang on. This is interesting!

 

I got my licence after 1997 and before 2013. Are you saying I can put L-plates on my 3.5 tonne vehicle, sit a pre-1997 licence holder in the passenger seat and tow a 3.5 tonne trailer? And my pre-97 licence passenger doesn't need to be insured but my insurance needs to cover me for >750kg towing while supervised?

 

Really as easy as that? Sounds too good to be true.

 

Correct - that is perfectly legal