Doing the B+E test by yourself - seriously !!

ROG

ROG

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This is interesting – a B licence towing set up can be presented for the B+E test but L plates must be used for the test. So you can train yourself, go to test by yourself, fit L plates, do the test, then, pass or fail, remove L plates and drive away by yourself.

DSA B+E TEST AND VEHICLE/TRAILER REQUIREMENTS

OK, doing the B+E test without any training at all is probably not the best idea but it does show there is an option

Setting up a reversing area which needs to be 11 metres wide and 4 times the length of the set-up/combination would take some ingenuity but is not impossible
Starting/finishing area to be 1.5 times the width of the set up
2 combination lengths from base line to cone B
2 combination lengths from cone B to A cones
Finishing area length (garage) to be approx 1 combination length (max 12 metres)
Max 2 forward shunts on the reverse which can be done at any point
At no point must any part of the combination go outside the designated area for that particular test


The B+E test
No medical or theory test required
Read a number plate from a certain distance
VIDEO - Show Me Tell Me Questions - usually 5
The next three can be in any order:-
VIDEO - Reversing Exercise (old measurements) - done in test centre grounds if test conducted from practical test centre - some tests are now being done from training school grounds
VIDEO - Uncouple/couple up - done in test centre grounds if test conducted from practical test centre - some tests are now being done from training school grounds
One hour road drive - includes the independent drive and is done virtually the same as the basic car test

DISCLAIMER - I have no connection to any companies which may be featured in those videos
 
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Hmm intresting! So in theory if your fairly happy reversing and can remember how to do the whole driving to pass your test you could just go take your test.

I'm looking in to doing mine this year but its like a minefield.
 
dafthoss said:
Hmm intresting! So in theory if your fairly happy reversing and can remember how to do the whole driving to pass your test you could just go take your test.

I'm looking in to doing mine this year but its like a minefield.
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Basically yes

Perhaps going to a test centre which does B+E and watching the in-centre part of the test would be helpful
 
I don't think booking yourself in for a test without any training is a wise thing to do as you don't just need to know how to tow, you need to learn how to pass the test! I don't know about anyone else, but I first learned to drive round a field, then with family on the road with L plates, but still had lessons from a proper instructor to learn not to drive, but how to pass the driving test!
 
Its not something I would do, firstly as I have no access to trailer that you can tow without a lisence. But when I said driving to pass your test I ment things like moving your head when you look in the mirrors rather than just looking. I'm planning on doing the same thing with the trailer mainly practicing reversing in the field then going for some training before taking my test. But looking at places to take your test, some say a days training some say 5 :confused: I'm planning on being fairly happy reversing and manovering the trailer before going but they all have diffrent recomendations for how long it will take and I know its diffrent for each person just like with driving tests.
 
ROG- whilst your here can I just check something?

Do I need to have had my license 3 years before I can sit with someone?
 
jesstickle said:
ROG- whilst your here can I just check something?

Do I need to have had my license 3 years before I can sit with someone?
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YES
The supervising driver MUST have held the licence category for which they are supervising for at least 3 years - and be age 21+



Totally agree with the other posters about the knowing what the DSA want in order to pass the test
That does not mean it is outside the remit of some especially if they have not long done the B test
 
My friend did this, bought the books , learnt the test , passed with flying colours and never had to fork out for lessons
 
Don't forget that the person sitting next to you actually has to have passed the test themselves. Them having the right to drive a trailer is not enough any longer.

My licence entitles me to pull a trailer and I do but I would not be able to teach my daughter on the roads, despite holding a full licence for nearly 30 years and pulling trailers for 10.
 
Lizzie66 said:
Don't forget that the person sitting next to you actually has to have passed the test themselves. Them having the right to drive a trailer is not enough any longer.

My licence entitles me to pull a trailer and I do but I would not be able to teach my daughter on the roads, despite holding a full licence for nearly 30 years and pulling trailers for 10.
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I didn't realise this had changed? I thought that if you had 'grandfathers rights' you were allowed to supervise while someone was learning, as long as you have L plates on the vehicle and trailer? :confused::confused:
 
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Lizzie66 said:
Don't forget that the person sitting next to you actually has to have passed the test themselves. Them having the right to drive a trailer is not enough any longer.

My licence entitles me to pull a trailer and I do but I would not be able to teach my daughter on the roads, despite holding a full licence for nearly 30 years and pulling trailers for 10.
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That doesn't apply for trailers, only 7.5 tonners and up. Currently people who passed before 97 can still supervise.
 
Erm, I don't understand ROG...you're telling us you can book a trailer test...how else would you get the licence?!

I also believe for a 3.5t 'grandfather' rights licence holders can sit and supervise an L-plater :)
 
Lizzie66 said:
Don't forget that the person sitting next to you actually has to have passed the test themselves. Them having the right to drive a trailer is not enough any longer.
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OH NO !! not this misinformation again !!!!!!

Not blaming you Lizzie as you probably heard it off someone else who failed to read the new supervising rules properly when they came out in April 2010

Those new supervising rules were for VACATIONAL categories C1 C1+E D1 & D1+E but the word TOWING was used in the announcement BUT is was followed in brackets but the categories I mentioned

At no point was B+E mentioned or alluded to in those changes
 
AprilBlossom said:
Erm, I don't understand ROG...you're telling us you can book a trailer test...how else would you get the licence?!
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Yes you can book a B+E test yourself and can present yourself for that test with B licence towing set up so no supervising driver required
 
Oh, so the examiner doesn't count as a supervisor like in a normal driving test then?

Its all very complicated sounding, think until I have lots of pennies to spend on an intensive course with test combined I'll just accessorise with some trendy L plates and a Dad in the car :D
 
AprilBlossom said:
Oh, so the examiner doesn't count as a supervisor like in a normal driving test then?

Its all very complicated sounding, think until I have lots of pennies to spend on an intensive course with test combined I'll just accessorise with some trendy L plates and a Dad in the car :D
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The examiner is not a supervisor in any test - its one of those weird anomolies

If the set up is outside the B licence towing rules then using Dad is fine
 
Is the examiner is not a supervisor in any test, then how do people take regular driving tests without their instructor or other supervisor in the car :confused::confused::confused:

I can't be bothered trying to work out the minefield that is 'will my setup work on a B licence', although I suspect it wouldn't anyway, steed too heavy and car too weedy.
 
AprilBlossom said:
Is the examiner is not a supervisor in any test, then how do people take regular driving tests without their instructor or other supervisor in the car :confused::confused::confused:

I can't be bothered trying to work out the minefield that is 'will my setup work on a B licence', although I suspect it wouldn't anyway, steed too heavy and car too weedy.
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Me also a little confused when examiner in vehicle on test but there are laws/rules regarding this somewhere probably in the RTA
Calling the test time supervising 'law limbo time' is the best I can think about it :D

You can always find out if your set up is legal for B licence towing but putting a post in the HHO TOWING CLINIC thread
 
I've just passed my b+e test and had an intensive 4 hour lesson the day before and then another 2 hours instruction the morning before my test, I have done some towing before but would definitely recommend at least having some instruction as they give you cheats to make the test easier!! I learnt with MT training in Gloucestershire and would highly recommend them!!
 
ROG said:
This is interesting – a B licence towing set up can be presented for the B+E test but L plates must be used for the test. So you can train yourself, go to test by yourself, fit L plates, do the test, then, pass or fail, remove L plates and drive away by yourself.

This is exactly what I did the first time I took my test!! It was a couple of years ago and I only failed on the emergancy stop, which is no longer part of the test!

I used this book (am assuming it has since been updated) and even spoke to the author who gave me some very good tips

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Pass-Towing-Test-10/dp/0955581400

Set up the reversing exercise in the field with cones and a jump!

Edited to add that I re-took my test with an instructor because I found taking my beloved horse trailer around the city centre too stressful the first time and also I didn't want to knacker the clutch any worse on the equally beloved old faithful Fourtrak.

I chose to use a car and trailer instructor rather than others with a big set-up of 4x4 and trailer simply because I wanted it as easy to suceed in passing the driving test as possible. The car I took the test in was a Skoda (I drive a Golf) and so all controls were indentical and I didn't have to worry about where the indicators / wipers / reverse gear etc were!! Also being small I was able to get away at roundabouts quickly!
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I failed my B+E last month all my trailer relevant bits- reverse and hitch etc we all good (i was really pleased) but failed on 'Obstruction' - row of parked car on my side of the road on a hill, I waited to check clear and safe to proceed, manoeuvred out to pass them and just as I was making my way passed, a van came over the brow of the hill towards me and didn't give way- there was room to pass but I was failed for causing an obstruction

I'm really despondent now at the cost it takes to retake if I'm going to fail of something that I couldn't help at all- whats the point?
 
nikCscott said:
I failed my B+E last month all my trailer relevant bits- reverse and hitch etc we all good (i was really pleased) but failed on 'Obstruction' - row of parked car on my side of the road on a hill, I waited to check clear and safe to proceed, manoeuvred out to pass them and just as I was making my way passed, a van came over the brow of the hill towards me and didn't give way- there was room to pass but I was failed for causing an obstruction

I'm really despondent now at the cost it takes to retake if I'm going to fail of something that I couldn't help at all- whats the point?
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I first took my towing test about 3 years ago and put off re-doing it for ages. I wish I had taken it again sooner. They have already shrunk the reversing area who knows what they are going to do next to make it more difficult!

I think yours was one of those unlucky moments which unfortunately you cannot control. Like I said above I took mine in a car and trailer second time round which gave me an advantage in the trailer only being as wide as the car which meant that I could get through narrower gaps etc.
 
The new reversing area is fine! I took mine end of March, the week after it changed and had no problems at all.

Nikk I think you were really unlucky :( I passed 1st time with 3 minors and one was for a car flying up behind me after a scheduled stop. It wasn't there when I checked my mirrors and pulled off and appeared at the last moment. I kept going, but got a minor. In my defence it was in a 30 outside a college and it was going WAY over 30. But I only got a minor for it. Doesn't sound like yours was your fault either!

I did mine in a 4x4 and a box trailer (not horse). I was glad it wasnt a small car as i'm used to towing with my 4x4!!!
 
Mine was in a car and trailer- when I do it again i'll go with a centre that used 4x4s so I'm more used to it.

The reversing box was small but like I said I did it perfectly and the rest of the trailer related stuff. I tow regularly with my Mum with me I'm a confident and safe tow'er and I can't afford £250 to fail on something so stupid- TBH the way I handled the situation I was presented with said more about my standard or driving than the fail- I'm pretty miffed about it! :mad:
 
nikCscott said:
Mine was in a car and trailer- when I do it again i'll go with a centre that used 4x4s so I'm more used to it.

The reversing box was small but like I said I did it perfectly and the rest of the trailer related stuff. I tow regularly with my Mum with me I'm a confident and safe tow'er and I can't afford £250 to fail on something so stupid- TBH the way I handled the situation I was presented with said more about my standard or driving than the fail- I'm pretty miffed about it! :mad:
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How much more confident do you think you would have been if the set up you were using conformed to B licence towing so you could go out on your own and you could do the test in that same set up?
 
ROG said:
How much more confident do you think you would have been if the set up you were using conformed to B licence towing so you could go out on your own and you could do the test in that same set up?
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I don't really understand what you mean????

I was confident in my towing (obviously nervous under exam conditions) :confused:
 
I towed with my father for a while an then took the test- passed straight away with no lessons. It is not nearly as dramatic as some make out.
 
nikCscott said:
Mine was in a car and trailer- when I do it again i'll go with a centre that used 4x4s so I'm more used to it.

The reversing box was small but like I said I did it perfectly and the rest of the trailer related stuff. I tow regularly with my Mum with me I'm a confident and safe tow'er and I can't afford £250 to fail on something so stupid- TBH the way I handled the situation I was presented with said more about my standard or driving than the fail- I'm pretty miffed about it! :mad:
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The test cost £250?? Jeez, didn't hadn't realised it was that much!

Ditto what Shellonabeach, take the test before they make it harder again and once you've got it you've got it for life. When I did my driving test, there was no theory and you could tow anything once you'd passed. Dread to think what the normal driving test will be like by the time my children start driving!
 
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