Do I legally have to take the trailer test?

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CobsGalore

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Car is a 2005 Freelander. I think the MAM is 2080kg, and the car can tow 2000kg.

Trailer is 800kg unladen. Pony is 500kg.

Do I legally have to take the trailer test?

(I passed after 1997)

I'm sorry I know this has been done so many times, but it's so confusing!
 
If you passed afetr 1997 then yes, you do need to take the test.

It's crazy really, I passed in 1996, have never towed anything and would have no idea how to, but legally can. My OH learnt to drive on a farm, can tow and reverse anything, but passed his test in Jan 1997 so had to take the test.

Be careful though, when you take your trailer test, they also assess your driving skills. Apparently quite a few people fail on this rather than their trailer towing ability (or this is what my OH's instructor told him - he had 1 lesson to prepare for the test).
 
From Direct Gov:

Licences held from 1 January 1997

If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997 and have an ordinary category B (car) licence, you can drive either:

a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or 3,500 kilograms (kg) Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (with a combined weight of up to 4,250kg in total)
a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as it is no more than the unladen or ‘kerb’ weight of the towing vehicle (with a combined weight of up to 3,500kg in total)

For anything heavier you need to take a category B+E driving test.
 
CobsGalore said:
Car is a 2005 Freelander. I think the MAM is 2080kg, and the car can tow 2000kg.

Trailer is 800kg unladen. Pony is 500kg.

Do I legally have to take the trailer test?

(I passed after 1997)

I'm sorry I know this has been done so many times, but it's so confusing!
Click to expand...
Please post this question again in the HHO TOWING CLINIC (link in my signature below) when you have the plated MAM of the trailer

The trailer unladen weight has no bearing on the licence rules but the MAM does

2080 plus trailer plated MAM must not add up to moore than 3500
 
Yes I believe you still have to take the test to tow a trailer, but you could drive a 3.5t lorry. I am in the same boat, I find the idea of towing on my own a bit daunting but I think it would either be get rid of car and get lorry (don't use car much but would be weird popping to supermarket in a lorry!), or alternatively upgrade car to a biggun and get a trailer, so I think I will have to look into doing the test. Booo money! Booo tests! It does kind of make sense that you can't just go off and do it without being shown how!
 
ROG said:
Please post this question again in the HHO TOWING CLINIC (link in my signature below) when you have the plated MAM of the trailer

The trailer unladen weight has no bearing on the licence rules but the MAM does

2080 plus trailer plated MAM must not add up to moore than 3500
Click to expand...

Ahh I see.

So as long as the trailer MAM is less than 1420kg (3500 - 2080) and I just put one pony in it, I can drive it on a B license?
 
mandwhy said:
Yes I believe you still have to take the test to tow a trailer, but you could drive a 3.5t lorry. I am in the same boat, I find the idea of towing on my own a bit daunting but I think it would either be get rid of car and get lorry (don't use car much but would be weird popping to supermarket in a lorry!), or alternatively upgrade car to a biggun and get a trailer, so I think I will have to look into doing the test. Booo money! Booo tests! It does kind of make sense that you can't just go off and do it without being shown how!
Click to expand...

TBH I don't mind taking the test, I just don't understand all these confusing calculations which explain WHY I have to take the test :confused: lol
 
I drove my XC70, with a bateson Devaille Trailer plus my 500kg mare on my "normal" licence, perfectly legally!

Originally i think it was a straight ban but then caravan owners complained :D
 
CobsGalore said:
Ahh I see.

So as long as the trailer MAM is less than 1420kg (3500 - 2080) and I just put one pony in it, I can drive it on a B license?
Click to expand...
Yes

Only the manufacturer of a trailer can down plate it so if you have a trailer plated higher than 1420 and they have gone out of business it cannot be down plated
 
ROG said:
Yes

Only the manufacturer of a trailer can down plate it so if you have a trailer plated higher than 1420 and they have gone out of business it cannot be down plated
Click to expand...

Thank you! :D I think I vaguely understand now!

Out of interest, what is the usual MAM of a trailer? And what if you can't see a plated MAM on the trailer?
 
ncarter said:
If you passed afetr 1997 then yes, you do need to take the test QUOTE]
Many think that but its not always correct - there are specific rules to follow but many tow one horse quite legally on a B licence with the right vehicle and trailer .... here are some examples of legal B licence towing ...

BATESON LIGHT HORSE TRAILER
CHEVAL LIGHT HORSE TRAILER
IFOR LIGHT HORSE TRAILER

Contact trailer manufacturer to have trailer downplated if needed (free or very little cost)

Toyota Rav 4 (4X4) with these specifications/dimensions
Unladen/kerb = 1425
GVW = 1785
Max towing weight = 1500
Max trailer plated MAM = 1425 kgs


Nissan X trail (4X4) with these specifications/dimensions
Unladen/kerb = 1515
GVW = 2050
Towing = 2000
Max trailer plated MAM = 1450 kgs

Kia Sportage (AWD) with these specifications/dimensions
Unladen/kerb = 1678
GVW = 2140
Towing = 1600
Max trailer plated MAM = 1360 kgs

FREELANDER 1 (2001 - 2005)
Unladen/kerb = 1500
GVW = 2040
Towing = 1800
Max trailer plated MAM = 1460 kgs

SUBARU FORRESTER (4X4)
Unladen/kerb = 1465 minimum
GVW = 2050 maximum
Towing = 2000
Max trailer plated MAM = 1450 kgs

Skoda Yeti (4X4) with these specifications/dimensions
Kerb = 1530
GVW = 2070
Towing capacity = 2000
Max trailer plated MAM = 1430 kgs

Suzuki vitara (4X4) with these specifications/dimensions
Kerb = 1400
GVW = 1950
Towing = 1850
Max trailer plated MAM = 1400 kgs


Deduct trailer unladen weight from max trailer plated weight to get maximum load/horse weight for the trailer
Example:- Nissan (1450) minus IFOR HB403 (770 appx) = load/horse 680 kgs

Many standard saloon/estate cars can also be used for B licence towing with a horse trailer.
The types of surfaces being driven on must be considered if not using a 4X4
Click to expand...
 
dianchi said:
I drove my XC70, with a bateson Devaille Trailer plus my 500kg mare on my "normal" licence, perfectly legally!

Originally i think it was a straight ban but then caravan owners complained :D
Click to expand...
The rules have always the same as they are now for B licence towing

Are you certain you are legal on the XC70 because from the figures I have seen it has a GVW about 2400 which only leaves 1100 kgs plated MAM for the trailer and as most trailers are at least 700 unladen then that only leaves 400 fot the horse/load ??????????????

My assumption is that you mean NORMAL to be the B licence ??
 
ROG said:
The rules have always the same as they are now for B licence towing

Are you certain you are legal on the XC70 because from the figures I have seen it has a GVW about 2400 which only leaves 1100 kgs plated MAM for the trailer and as most trailers are at least 700 unladen then that only leaves 400 fot the horse/load ??????????????

My assumption is that you mean NORMAL to be the B licence ??
Click to expand...

Yep my partner was traffic police so went over it all with a fine tooth comb :D
 
dianchi said:
Yep my partner was traffic police so went over it all with a fine tooth comb :D
Click to expand...

I fail to see that you are legal unless I have the wrong figures

I have known a few traffic cops who got this wrong so please could you post in the HHO TOWING CLINIC (link in my signature below) with all the relevant details
 
ROG said:
YES :D

See the list I posted which has quite a few examples on it
Click to expand...

That's bonkers! I have always been told nope nope nope! We have a subaru forester and a 550kg pony... I can't quite work the maths out - what trailers would be suitable, and are we likely to be able to find any 2nd hand?
Thankyou :D
 
ROG - thanks for correcting me! I have just paid for my OH to pass his test!!! Hope he needed it....we will be towing a 450kg pony with a 5 series BMW (I know, not ideal, but company car), in a HB505....any thoughts?!

Do you have to take int account the weight of people tack etc in the car too?
 
ncarter said:
ROG - thanks for correcting me! I have just paid for my OH to pass his test!!! Hope he needed it....we will be towing a 450kg pony with a 5 series BMW (I know, not ideal, but company car), in a HB505....any thoughts?!

Do you have to take int account the weight of people tack etc in the car too?
Click to expand...
There are seperate weights for the car GVW and trailer MAM

That BMW has a GVW of more than 2300 kgs so would deffo need B+E for that set up

Hope company gave permission to use it for that purpose and the insurer is ok with it ??
 
tankgirl1 said:
That's bonkers! I have always been told nope nope nope! We have a subaru forester and a 550kg pony... I can't quite work the maths out - what trailers would be suitable, and are we likely to be able to find any 2nd hand?
Thankyou :D
Click to expand...
Dunno about finding trailers but I listed some options for your vehicle a few posts ago

Easily legal to tow your pony on a B licence because you have the right vehicle so it just needs the right trailer which will probably need down plating to a max MAM of 1450 kgs

A trailer plated at 1450 MAM with an unladen weight of 800 would leave 650 for the horse/load

Those who told you no no no obviously did not have or understand the rules correctly
 
ROG said:
There are seperate weights for the car GVW and trailer MAM

That BMW has a GVW of more than 2300 kgs so would deffo need B+E for that set up

Hope company gave permission to use it for that purpose and the insurer is ok with it ??
Click to expand...

Car is not with us yet but yes we have permission. Thanks for the clarification. :)
 
A couple of people have told us lately that they are bringing in a new law that means everybody has to take a test to tow over 3.5. I havent see or heard anything about this but a few people have commented so just wondering if anybody else has heard anything ??
We passed test many moons ago and have an old rice trailer which is heavy so think we will be over the limit with a neddy in it.
 
maree t said:
A couple of people have told us lately that they are bringing in a new law that means everybody has to take a test to tow over 3.5. I havent see or heard anything about this but a few people have commented so just wondering if anybody else has heard anything ??
Click to expand...
Those people have misinterperetted the new rules for B+E

The new rule is this ....

Any driver who passed both B and B+E after 19/01/2013 will be restricted to a max trailer MAM of 3500 kgs for B+E


Simple really aint it :D
 
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