What can I tow?

[Buff]

I am considering changing to a 4x4, which is much heavier than my current car, however as a diabetic I have a restricted categories that I am permitted to drive.

My category entitlements are B, BE, valid from 1991.

My question is whether my licence entitles me to drive a car and trailer (c/w boat) with the following combined weight

Car – 2600kg + Trailer and Boat – 1360kg + Passengers – 200kg = 4160kg

I believe the answer is yes because BE entitlement allows you to drive a car and heavier trailer combination?

Anyone in the know?

Thanks

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by Buff

I am considering changing to a 4x4, which is much heavier than my current car, however as a diabetic I have a restricted categories that I am permitted to drive.

My category entitlements are B, BE, valid from 1991.

My question is whether my licence entitles me to drive a car and trailer (c/w boat) with the following combined weight

Car – 2600kg + Trailer and Boat – 1360kg + Passengers – 200kg = 4160kg

I believe the answer is yes because BE entitlement allows you to drive a car and heavier trailer combination?

Anyone in the know?

Thanks

Have a look here it may help

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/law/driving_licences.htm

[9D280]

It all depends when you passed your test (as opposed to what your current licensse issue says) amongst other things- there are "grandfather rights" for those of us who didn't need to do the current trailer test originally for towing "big" stuff, otherwise you're same as anyone else who would sit their test now. I forget the cut- off date.

One thing to watch is that if your "train" is 4.1 tonnes, you may be illegal as I THINK the B / BE is for 3.5T GTW. I used to be legal to drive 7.5tonnes (and did), but lost that 3 or 4 re-issues ago......


There's a few pages on the DVLA website if you can get your head round the legal speak.

[TonyC]

Car licences held before 1 January 1997

All drivers who passed a car test before 1 January 1997 retain their existing entitlement to tow trailers until their licence expires. This means they are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM.

[BruceB]

As long as you avoid vehicles with a gross weight of less than 3500kg and don't start towing something ridiculous like a 7.5m RIB you should be fine.
I looked into this years ago for the same reason when the new restrictions were introduced and for normal recreational use it wasn't a problem.
It is also possible to replate vehicles which ARE over the 3500kg like LD 110's to 3499kg and make them legal to use on a normal licence.

[TonyC]

Originally Posted by BruceB

It is also possible to replate vehicles which ARE over the 3500kg like LD 110's to 3499kg and make them legal to use on a normal licence.

Why would you need to replate a 110? The MAM of a Standard Land Rover Defender 110 is 3050kg, and even the heavy duty version is only 3500kg which means they can both be driven on a normal Category B licence.

And then as long as you have category B+E, you can tow a trailer up to 3050kg (Std) or 3500kg (HD) {provided it's breaked of course)

[BruceB]

I don't know about the latest version but about 10 years ago 110's were plated as a gross vehicle weight of something like 3510kg, just over the 3500kg limit on that licence.
I looked into it at the time as I was considering buying one as a replacement for the 90 I had. I found it was possible to have one replated as 3499kg and consequently drive it, no vehicle changes other than having it reclassified.

[TonyC]

strange. Ive got a 1996 and a 1999 owners manual here, and they both say either 3050kg or 3500kg.

[chewy]

Originally Posted by TonyC

strange. Ive got a 1996 and a 1999 owners manual here, and they both say either 3050kg or 3500kg.

Hasn't this caused the 110's to end up needing a different MOT if plated over 3500kg?

[BruceB]

All I remember is that 10 years ago when I looked at it it was an issue for my licence and replating was the fix, don't remember exactly the details as I only looked at it when I was considering selling my 90 and upsizing to a 110.
The idea was dropped as I eventually got fed up sitting by the side of the road with bits that had fell off the 90 and I bought a Jeep.