B+E trailer test woes begin

L

Ladylina83

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 October 2009
Messages
2,022
Visit site
Hi guys can someone please help me

I need to get my licence changed to include provisional B+E but I can't find the form anywhere

The only form I have come across on the DVLA is for driving larger vehicles and you have to have a doctor sign the form is this right :-(

... oh I haven't even started yet ! I'm quickly realising that having transport that you can't use is almost as frustrating as having non at all !!!
 
You don't get a provisional B+E. Contact a reputable instructor and they will give some lessons on the basics, reversing etc, plus general driving as 90% fail the test on the actual driving on the roads bit, not the trailer manourver. Then they will book the test for you and hey-presto, you pass and drive yourself wherever you want! :)
 
Really !! I am sure I had read it somewhere !! Fantastic

SO My BF who used to drive articulated truck ie cab + trailer for a living is going to teach me a bit so I can get used to having it behind me - I understand I will need some L plates right ?? I figure this can only help me and then hopefully when I go for an assesment I can skip a couple of the days training. My general standard of driving is really good and I actually did a mock test thingy and training only last year for driving company cars at work - like a "so you think you are a safe driver" thing and passed with flying colours.

... also the girls at the beauty therapists last night commented on my fantastic reverse parking of the disco on a terraced street last night :-) Which made me smug as I've only had it 6 days and it's HUGE compared to my little old polo !!

Any tips anyone ??
 
I'm not sure your BF can sit with you, I MIGHT be wrong.....but even though he has these things on his licence, i'm sure I read somewhere that only a proper instructor can sit with you.....

Someone correct me if I'm wrong please!
 
Yes, as long as he's got his B+E then he can sit next to you with L plates.

Yes I thought my standard of driving was pretty good and the only things I got naughty marks for on my test was hesitation at a junction (i mean come on, I did have a trailer behind and it wasn't as if I was there 20 minutes!:rolleyes:) and something for having to change down a gear whilst going up a hill.
Then I went back to the test centre to do the reversing etc and got rather in a flap. I had to pull forward 3 times!! Once more and I'd have failed but I managed it in the end. Even the examiner said "you made a bit of a meal of those last few minutes but I'm delighted to say you passed." He said he'd have been very disappointed if he'd have had to fail me because the rest was so good!!:o

Any tips.... Just drive "properly" and mirrors mirrors mirrors!!:D And speed limits too! Obviously they are slightly different with a trailer, but also, driving round areas you know quite well (as I was on the test routes) you don't really notice the speed signs, especially if they have changed recently and you can become very unstuck doing 40 in a 30 zone or even trubdling along at 30 in a 40 zone!!:eek:
 
DragonSlayer said:
I'm not sure your BF can sit with you, I MIGHT be wrong.....but even though he has these things on his licence, i'm sure I read somewhere that only a proper instructor can sit with you.....

Someone correct me if I'm wrong please!
Click to expand...

No, as long as he has his B+E on his licence (not just HGV) then you are fine with L plates. What you can't have is someone who is old enough not to do the B+E sat next to you. It must be someone who has done the test, no "grandfather rights" anymore.
 
DragonSlayer said:
I'm not sure your BF can sit with you, I MIGHT be wrong.....but even though he has these things on his licence, i'm sure I read somewhere that only a proper instructor can sit with you.....

Someone correct me if I'm wrong please!
Click to expand...

Nope on looking up the provisional I though I had to have I found information that says as of May 2010 people who passed their test pre 1997 have had their "Grandaddy" rights removed for towing supervising towing. Anyone who has passed an actual towing test either B+E or above and held their licence for over 3 years is ok - I don't think they would be allowed to just have instructors with you it would create a monopoly but you can understand why the person supervising you should know what they are doing .
 
chickeninabun said:
No, as long as he has his B+E on his licence (not just HGV) then you are fine with L plates. What you can't have is someone who is old enough not to do the B+E sat next to you. It must be someone who has done the test, no "grandfather rights" anymore.
Click to expand...

Ah sorry crossed post's :-) but I'm glad I have actually learnt something from the endless reading on the net I have been doing !!
 
It's a bloody minefield....

c035.gif
 
I believe it is only for an LGV liscence that the 'grandfather rights' do not apply. For towing, you are fine to either have someone who passed their test before 1997 with L plates on, or someone who has theie B+E liscence. This was at least the case a year or so ago :) Hope that helps!
 
After reading on here about grandfather rights not applying anymore to towing I contacted the DVLA and have an email from them saying its ok for someone to sit with you as you practice so long as they passed before 1997 so agree with titch. So Iam ok to tow with L plates so long as my mum is in the car. I keep a copy of the email just incase in my car and that was July I contacted them.
 
vicky_sut said:
After reading on here about grandfather rights not applying anymore to towing I contacted the DVLA and have an email from them saying its ok for someone to sit with you as you practice so long as they passed before 1997 so agree with titch. So Iam ok to tow with L plates so long as my mum is in the car. I keep a copy of the email just incase in my car and that was July I contacted them.
Click to expand...

Oo...if I pm you my email, I don't suppose you could email me a copy could you? My sis wants to learn, and I said I would sit next to her, having passed my test in the Dark Ages....she has a 4 x 4 and I'm quite willing to sit whilst she tows with L plates on.....
 
titch said:
I believe it is only for an LGV liscence that the 'grandfather rights' do not apply. For towing, you are fine to either have someone who passed their test before 1997 with L plates on, or someone who has theie B+E liscence. This was at least the case a year or so ago :) Hope that helps!
Click to expand...

Just found this on the Berkshire Driving School website...

Supervising Drivers ?
From April 2010 it became a requirement that drivers should HAVE PASSED THE TRAILER TEST. This means that drivers with ?Grandfather Rights? with the +E on their license will not be able to able to supervise a learner pulling a trailer. Drivers who gain the trailer qualification will need to wait three years before they are permitted to supervise a learner. This means that most Mums and Dads are no longer permitted to supervise their sons or daughters practicing with a trailer.
Click to expand...
 
chickeninabun said:
No, as long as he has his B+E on his licence (not just HGV) then you are fine with L plates. What you can't have is someone who is old enough not to do the B+E sat next to you. It must be someone who has done the test, no "grandfather rights" anymore.
Click to expand...
NOT CORRECT

The grandfather rights for upgrades only affected those supervising C1 and D1 - not B+E

Anyone who has held a BE for 3 years and is over 21 years old may legally supervise a BE learner

Those with a B licence will have BE provisional already on the paper part of the licence
 
I don't know if it's different in various parts of the UK, but I was under the impression that if you have your L-plates up, you can drive with someone beside you, as long as they passed their driving test before January 1999. Other than that, it may be different.
 
titch said:
I believe it is only for an LGV liscence that the 'grandfather rights' do not apply. For towing, you are fine to either have someone who passed their test before 1997 with L plates on, or someone who has theie B+E liscence. This was at least the case a year or so ago :) Hope that helps!
Click to expand...

I believe the above to be correct also. If it is a post-97 B+E licence holder though, they must have passed their test at least 3 years.

I found a company who did a free 1hr assessment of my manouvering/driving and could then advise 1/2/3 day course for me. They advised 1 day course (morning practicing and test in afternoon) and I passed 1st time with just a couple of silly minors on test sheet.

The manouvere is the worse part and is done first :rolleyes: which isn't very nice, but as long as you have a good instructor who teaches you well and you don't panic on the day (easier said than done!), you should be fine.

The on road driving is marked to the same standards (and more!) as your initial driving test, so checking mirrors ALL the time, signalling and positioning yourself correctly and keeping correct speeds etc. Also holding and turning the steering wheel correctly (eg "feeding" it between hands, not resting one hand on gear stick and spinning wheel with one hand! ;) ), it's amazing how many bad habits you pick up...

Good luck doing test. :)
 
chickeninabun said:
Just found this on the Berkshire Driving School website...
Click to expand...
Quote:
Supervising Drivers ?
From April 2010 it became a requirement that drivers should HAVE PASSED THE TRAILER TEST. This means that drivers with ?Grandfather Rights? with the +E on their license will not be able to able to supervise a learner pulling a trailer. Drivers who gain the trailer qualification will need to wait three years before they are permitted to supervise a learner. This means that most Mums and Dads are no longer permitted to supervise their sons or daughters practicing with a trailer.




I have emailed that site to inform them of that error
 
i dont cope well with pressure and i find it very stressfull and have failed mine twice first time a silly panic moment out driving and this time i got in a total flap doing the reverse and side marker light hit pole in cone so with only 4 minors i failed again it is a nightmare 3rd time lucky for me
 
My suspicious nature wonders if they are trying to scare parents into paying for lessons for their sons/daughters with them believing they can no longer teach their own kids.
 
stacie21 said:
i dont cope well with pressure and i find it very stressfull and have failed mine twice first time a silly panic moment out driving and this time i got in a total flap doing the reverse and side marker light hit pole in cone so with only 4 minors i failed again it is a nightmare 3rd time lucky for me
Click to expand...

I do feel for you. Have you tried to see if something like rescue remedy could help? also how about someone "practising" a test with you so you can try to think you are just with a friend testing you next time?

I do sympathise. Its a long time since I sat my test but I was as wound up about doing my driving test as I was about my A levels. Particuarly as we lived in the back of nowhere and being able to drive meant a massive life change (and for my slightly younger brother who nagged the hell out of me!)

Seriously changing your mindset has an immediate impact, so try the practise with friends or if worst comes to the worst, imagine your tester with no trousers on...!
 
you already have the b+e provisional entitlement on your paper part of your licence. Im 98% sure on your paper part it says that who ever is sat next to you has to have had their b+e entitlement (test) for 3 years. And as far as i can make out on the BHS website your can have a pre 1997 with you when towing but grand father rights are excluded on anything bigger. You need L plates when ever towing. I will say one thing, towing with a friend with you who hasnt done there test is completely different to when you do it under training. Its very easy to pull the trailer, at the end of the day, it going to follow where ever you drive, its the rest of it, handbrake everytime you stop, all round checks everytime you pull away, observation and indication crazy! and coupling and uncoupling in a certain way!
 
china said:
I will say one thing, towing with a friend with you who hasnt done there test is completely different to when you do it under training. Its very easy to pull the trailer, at the end of the day, it going to follow where ever you drive, its the rest of it, handbrake everytime you stop, all round checks everytime you pull away, observation and indication crazy! and coupling and uncoupling in a certain way!
Click to expand...
Good point.

The way that the DSA want you to drive is usually quite different to your usual style of driving
 
pip6 said:
My suspicious nature wonders if they are trying to scare parents into paying for lessons for their sons/daughters with them believing they can no longer teach their own kids.
Click to expand...

I quite agree, I can see how it would be within the interests of a driving school to lead people to believe that they cannot tow with an L plate!

I'm sure there are plenty of folks out there who could manage to go out to competitions without ever taking a test, they just need an older friend or reletive to go with them! The training is all about teaching you HOW TO PASS THE TEST, just like with a normal driving test. AFAIA, it's only with lorries that they changed the rules on provisional driving.
 
Last edited:
I dont think that is the case - I don't think you can have livestock on board while towing with L plates !

Having experiance of general driving with the trailer on board can only help your confidence though
 
iv never heard that you cant carry livestock, your b+e test isnt to allow you to carry livestock, its just to tow upto 3.5t. I have towed mine on numerous occasions with L plates.
Yes its good for your confidence but can also make you abit cocky. The best thing to practice is the reversing and getting used to that and feeling confident doing that and leave the road driving to when you do your training so you pick up the 'correct' way straight away. When you pass you can cross your hands and do what you like, but running up to it youl want to be strict on yourself. I practised 10 and 2 and MSM when driving my car back and forth from my training so it was ingrained on me for the 2 hours i was with the examiner!
 
Oh trust me with my BF training me the last thing I will be is cocky - I imagine he'll beat me with a ( metaphorical ) stick until I get it right ! Men are dangerous when they are armed with the knowledge they know more than you about something lol

I'm going to look up the livestock thing as I don't want to be wrong but it would be very helpful if I could tow them with L plates - what are the motorway rules ??
 
You can tow livestock (and on the motorway which not everyone realises) with L plates on. Basically, you can do everything you would do if you had passed the B+E test, so long as you have someone qualified sat next to you :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top