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Old 31 March 2011, 13:54   #1
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Requirements for towing trailers in Great Britain

Here's the DVLA guidance on who can tow what.
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File Type: pdf inf30.pdf (325.9 KB, 1000 views)
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Old 31 March 2011, 15:21   #2
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i fell asleep after page 6 and have just woke up, bugger them.
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Old 01 April 2011, 08:22   #3
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i fell asleep after page 6
Don't worry, I'm sure that would be a valid defence in a court of law!
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Old 05 April 2011, 19:13   #4
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Don't worry, I'm sure that would be a valid defence in a court of law!
Plenty of interest in that then!!.... I'm with Biff.
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Old 21 January 2012, 18:07   #5
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Trailer towing:- B and B+E licence rules explained

I have extensive knowledge on this issue and already have a trailer towing clinic HERE

Trailers over 3500 kgs plated MAM weight come under different rules which is why all the trailers towed by B class vehicles , those of 3.5 tonnes and under, are not plated at more than 3500 kgs or 3.5 tonnes MAM

Trailers without plates use the total of the TYRE LOAD RATINGS to determine the MAM.
A rating of 66 on 4 tyres would give a MAM of 1200 kgs.

Vehicles in the B licence category will have the following information on a plate in the vehicle, in the handbook or on the V5 form.
Information can also be found on many internet vehicle specification sites.
Unladen or Kerb weight - although there is a slight difference in the two it is not that much
GVW - the max weight the vehicle can weigh when fully loaded
GTW - the max weight the vehicle and trailer can ACTUALLY weigh when added together. This does not refer to the total of the vehicle GWV and trailer MAM weights.
Towing capacity - this is the ACTUAL weight that can be towed by the vehicle - it does not mean the trailer MAM weight.
None of the above weights must be exceeded

Some vehicles have a GVW, a towing capacity and a GTW. In such a case the GTW takes priority over the GVW and towing capacity when added together

FOR B+E LICENCES
Where a towing capacity is listed then this would be a legal example:-
CAR has GVW of 2000 and a towing capacity of 1800
TRAILER has a MAM of 3500 and an unladen weight of 1000
The trailer can be loaded with a maximum weight of 800

Where there is not a towing capacity listed then the GTW is used
GTW minus the GVW does not give the towing capacity unless the vehicle is fully laden

EXAMPLE: -
VAN has GVW of 3500 and GTW of 6000
TRAILER has MAM of 3500
The van and trailer can weigh 3000 each and be legal

FOR B LICENCES
The Gov sites are not that good at explaining this so I have managed to find a simple way of determining whether a driver can tow something on a B only licence -

To tow over 750 kgs with a B licence you need to say NO to the following:-
Is the plated MAM of the trailer more than the UNLADEN/KERB/EMPTY weight of the towing vehicle?
Does the GVW of the towing vehicle plus the plated MAM of the trailer add up to more than 3500 kgs?
Is the ACTUAL weight of the empty trailer and its load more than the listed towing capacity?

Example of legally towing over 750 kgs with a B licence - made up figures but not that far from what can be found....
Towing vehicle -
Unladen/empty/kerb = 1500
GVW = 2000
Towing capacity = 1800
Trailer -
Unladen/empty = 800
MAM = 1500 (Perhaps originally a 2000 MAM but downplated by manufacturer so it conforms to B licence towing)
Load trailer with 700 max

Reasons it is legal for towing on a B licence -
The 1500 MAM of the trailer is not more than the 1500 unladen/empty weight of the towing vehicle
The 2000 GVW of the towing vehicle plus the 1500 MAM of the trailer is not more than 3500
The towing capacity/actual weight being towed does not exceed 1800

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.

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

Caravan weights work on a slightly different system as they take into account the recommended (not legal) 85% towing rule

I hope this helps those who are unsure of the rules
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Old 21 January 2012, 18:38   #6
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So if I passed my test in 2001 and have a Discovery that is rated to 3500kg what can I tow without having to do a test?
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Old 21 January 2012, 18:42   #7
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So if I passed my test in 2001 and have a Discovery that is rated to 3500kg what can I tow without having to do a test?
Need more info

Unladen/kerb weight = ??? kgs
GVW = ??? kgs
Towing capacity = ??? kgs
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Old 21 January 2012, 18:53   #8
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Need more info

Unladen/kerb weight = ??? kgs
GVW = ??? kgs
Towing capacity = ??? kgs
Unladen 2285kg
GVW 2880kg
Towing 3500kgs
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Old 21 January 2012, 19:10   #9
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Unladen 2285kg
GVW 2880kg
Towing 3500kgs
In this case the max you can tow on a B licence is 750 kgs making the total 3630 kgs

This will be the case for any vehicle between 2750 and 3500 GVW
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Old 21 January 2012, 19:14   #10
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Cheers, best look at doing my test...
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Old 21 January 2012, 19:18   #11
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Cheers, best look at doing my test...
The upside of that is, once passed, it will last for as long as you retain the B licence - so generally for life

Not bad for a one off financial commitment of around £650 all in for a first time pass
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Old 21 January 2012, 19:22   #12
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True, what gets me is that I can tow a smaller trailer without a license yet need a test for a larger one?
Still I need to get it done regardless.

Thanks for the help.
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Old 21 January 2012, 19:25   #13
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True, what gets me is that I can tow a smaller trailer without a license yet need a test for a larger one?
Still I need to get it done regardless.

Thanks for the help.
You're welcome

Getting the right vehicle and trailer for B licence towing can be a bind but is easily possible
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Old 05 February 2012, 21:55   #14
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Trailer towing:- B and B+E licence rules explained

I have extensive knowledge on this issue and already have a trailer towing clinic HERE

Trailers over 3500 kgs plated MAM weight come under different rules which is why all the trailers towed by B class vehicles , those of 3.5 tonnes and under, are not plated at more than 3500 kgs or 3.5 tonnes MAM
That is not correct. I used to own a mini artic, which was a B class (3500kg GVW, 8700kg GTW) vehicle towing a trailer with a MAM of 6700kg. It came under the B + E licence category.
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Old 06 February 2012, 07:10   #15
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That is not correct. I used to own a mini artic, which was a B class (3500kg GVW, 8700kg GTW) vehicle towing a trailer with a MAM of 6700kg. It came under the B + E licence category.
Trailers for Articulated set ups come under different rules in regards to their contruction requirements

As they differ greatly from the standard type of towing trailer and are quite rare in the UK it did not seem worth mentioning
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Old 06 February 2012, 12:33   #16
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I am a little scared to ask , but when does a B vehicle become a C vehicle ?

Is it some random bit of paper issued by the DVLA that can mean a landy can be either depending on the time of day and state of tide/colour it has been painted ? ( sarcasm there) .

I have both BE & C1E as I'm ahem 'older', but just wondering ?
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Old 06 February 2012, 20:12   #17
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I am a little scared to ask , but when does a B vehicle become a C vehicle ?
When the MAM of the vehicle itself is over 3500kg.
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Old 24 February 2012, 09:01   #18
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Dear forum,
I'm and B+E licence holder from Sweden. Can anyone with some certainty tell me if I still get go to the UK and collect my newly purchased Rib and to it to the ferry? Considered that the trailer is legal and the car is legal together w the trailer?

I'm a bit confused so mant thanks in advance for any clarification.

BRGDS
Matt
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Old 24 February 2012, 12:10   #19
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Dear forum,
I'm and B+E licence holder from Sweden. Can anyone with some certainty tell me if I still get go to the UK and collect my newly purchased Rib and to it to the ferry? Considered that the trailer is legal and the car is legal together w the trailer?

I'm a bit confused so mant thanks in advance for any clarification.

BRGDS
Matt
Perfectly legal
as a Swedish EU member you have the same driving rights as a UK EU member in regards to driving laws
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Old 27 February 2012, 23:26   #20
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the b + e is to tow up 3.5 on a cable braked trailer that is rated to 3.5 ton. If you have air breaks and the towing vehicle has a mam of less than 3.5 you can tow what ever weight the trailer / car / cab are plated to.
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