confused over towing laws

C

Christmas_Kate

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 December 2005
Messages
12,933
Visit site
Okay, I've just read an article which says

"if you pass your test AFTER 1997, you are limited to a MAM of 3.5 tonnes. You will need to pass another test in vehicle categories B+E to tow a trailer combination that exceeds 3.5 tonnes".

SO, firstly what does MAM mean? lol.

Secondly, as My OH didnt pass his test until 1998, can he tow a combination of under 3.5 tonnes?

Bearing in mind the pony only weighs 1/4 of a tonne, an estate would weight 1 1/2 tonnes, leaving over a tonne for trailer and passengers in the car.

So, would he be legal to tow under those circumstances??
 
Probably not, it depends on the trailer... I have recently learnt this! The rules are SO bloody confusing. I thought I could legally tow an empty trailer but Sooty pointed out to me that it is the weight the trailer CAN carry that counts
crazy.gif


I'm am actually REALLY annoyed about how unclear it all is.
 
yes, it does seem very confusing. We only want to tow a little shetland to a couple of shows. We don't want to be buying a 4x4 which we'd only use properly twice a year.

What about a sheep trailer? lol
 
MAM is the maximum weight that the trailer and the car could potentially carry. Doesn't matter what is actually in it. I don't know anyone who's managed to get within the law.
 
You are only really allowed to tow a trailer of something like 500kg on a post 1997 licence. The mam is something like the maximum weight that the trailer can be. So if the trailer weighs 1000kg and can carry 1500kg the mam would be 2500kg. So it does not matter what you pony weighs, if your trailer can carry more that is what counts (i think it is a while since i went into it). This number should be on the trailers plate. I did speak to the DVLA, they were not hugely helpful but they did basically say that to tow a horse trailer I would need to take the B+E test.

This test is basically like the HGV test. It has the same reverse manouver that they do, same emergency stop. Un hitch and rehitch. Plus the normal drive around town doing your whole mirror signal manouver thing. I strongly recommend that if you want to do a test to have some proper lessons. I went in thinking I would be fine as I can reverse etc the trailer fine but it was a lot more difficult than I thought and my blind spot checking was not up to speed. A lesson or too might have polished me up enough to pass!. I have given in and bought myself a lorry (less than 3.5 tonne) as I couldn't be doing with the hassel and expence of another test.
 
It might be cheaper to buy a converted van or hire a small lorry for the amount we will use it then?

grr, why all these laws!
 
Hi,

MAM is an acronym for Maximum Allowable Mass.

If you're OH passed after 1st Jan 1997 then he/she can only take a total weight of 3.5 tonnes inc. towing vehicle and towed horse box. Thats the normal stuff for an estate or 4x4 with a horse box.

Now it gets interesting - "..you're limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750 kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. ."

Directgov websites are confusing? yep. Don't know who writes this stuff.

Personally i wouldn't worry - not really very likely that you will be stopped and weighed!

Cheers,
Neil
 
I'm currently towing on my 3rd EB provisional licence. I did the test last year but because I didn't look over my shoulder while turning left - I failed imediately which was a pain as I had only 3 'errors' and would have passed
mad.gif


I reapplied but it was returned because I never put the money in - doh! It cost the same as a normal driving test. The test with the trailer is the same as a normal teat as well - hill starts, reverse around a corner (both ways!) etc. If your doing the test make sure the number plate matches the towing vehicle and stick on some L plates.

It is a pain and the law really isn't that clear. I know loads of people who are towing and don't even have a towing provisional licence!
 
but to tow a trailer you dont need a "provisional trailer licesnce" providing you have a full car licenece you can drive one on L plates if "instructor" has correct entitlement
 
Irrelevant if you might not get stopped, what about insurance should you have an accident???

IMO it's not worth the risk, I took my test 1 1/2 years ago and although it wasn't the nicest experience (I took 4 goes
blush.gif
) it's a huge relief to pass and know everything is legal.

Is it really worth the risk not to? On the grand scheme of horsy things, £80 isn't really that much. Plus if you do get caught, I believe you can get the car/trailer impounded as well as a fine/points/re-test (but that's just what I have heard...)
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]


SO, firstly what does MAM mean? lol.

Secondly, as My OH didnt pass his test until 1998, can he tow a combination of under 3.5 tonnes?

Bearing in mind the pony only weighs 1/4 of a tonne, an estate would weight 1 1/2 tonnes, leaving over a tonne for trailer and passengers in the car.

So, would he be legal to tow under those circumstances??

[/ QUOTE ]


You can tow a trailer with just a car licence (post 1997) upto 750kg. However, if two conditions are met, you can tow a larger tailer. These two conditions are:

1) The Maximum Authorised Mass of the trailer is less than the kerb (ie empty) weight of your car.

2) The MAM of the car and the MAM of the trailer added together is less than 3.5tonnes

With regards to point 1), it is important that the figures add up. Most estate cars will weigh about 1.3-1.6 tonnes empty (ie their kerb weight) and a typical single horse trailer will weigh 750 kg empty, and as you say, the pony may weight 250kg. So in theory, it is possible to be legal

HOWEVER, you it is the MAM that matters, not the actual weight. The MAM of the trailer may be stamped on the manufacturer's plate near the tow hitch. You will have to send this back to the manufacturer to have this down rated to the weight you need otherwise, you be illegal on this technicallity. Ifor Williams and Bateson both do this.

Note also that some trailers have a miniumum they can be downrated to (due to the specification of the components).


Hope this helps.
grin.gif
 
I don't know why the DVLA don't make it really clear and simple - this law seems to confuse nearly everyone! Its about £100 to sit (its cheaper on weekdays than weekends), and lessons were about £30 when I looked into it last year. Its not worth the risk towing without doing the test, I imagine if you were stopped it would technically be driving without a license and insurance. My car & trailer isn't too much over, but still enough to make it illegal
frown.gif
(trailer MAM 1700kg, car MAM around 2000kg),
 
I think the law is appropriate for most uses - eg small trailers, caravans etc - so there I can understand why some trailers can be towed without the need to a futher test.

Towing a horse or two is rather at the limit of towing with a private/light goods vehicle, so tests cannot be avoided in most circumstances.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top