Idiots guide to getting licence for 7.5t please

[Puppy]

Seeing as I passed my test about 6 months too late to automatically be allowed!

Has anyone done this recently and how was it?

Do I first apply for a provisional? How long does that take and how expensive is it?

And then is it like getting a normal licence in that with L plates on you can drive with someone else who is qualified to that level sat next to you (i.e My mother whose had her licence for 30 odd years would be able to sit beside me and me drive a horsebox) but not on the motorway.

Would I be able to do that with the horses inside?

How is the written side of the test? How much preparation is required? Would I be able to do that at my normal local driving test centre.

Am I likely to need extra lessons from a qualified instructor?

How long is the whole thing likely to take?

Do you sit the test in your own vehicle, and does it have to be a full up 7.5t one. i.e If I bought a 6.5t horsebox, would I not be able to sit my test in it?

Most importantly - how much does it all cost?

Provisional
Written
Lessons
Test
etc

And once I've passed would my insurance be for that of a "new" driver or would it be based on the fact I've been driving without any accidents/points for 8 years?

Mega mega thank you in advance to anyone who can help or give some personal experience (I'm quite scared of the idea as I don't yet really understand what's involved!

) And all the website I come accross don't seen to answer the questions I want to know.

Oh, and can I just do an extremely self indulgent happy dance and say, wahooo, after all these years of owning horses we are FINALLY going horsebox shopping

What a dream come true!!

Cheers! H. x

 

[Scoopy]

I have no advice to give on this one, as im too old !

But does this mean i will be seeing you about !

 

[Puppy]

LOL! Yes Ms Oldie, it does indeed!!

It was always the plan to get some transport after buying Be so that I could get competing

Just so happens it's been moved forward a few months

 

[JustKickOn]

With horse boxes its a HGV license isn't it??

Read an article in a mag a while ago. You have to be over 21, once you have your provisional then you can drive on the roads, but I don't know if you can with horses or not. Deff. have to have somebody who has a full license next to you though.

[ QUOTE ]
Am I likely to need extra lessons from a qualified instructor?

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't think so unless you feel that you need one. If you know somebody who can drive a horse box then that should be fine. I think you need to learn how do drive corners and the such but not too sure.

Not sure on the costs, if you search on the internet I'm sure that will bring some results and some HGV websites ect.

Hope I've shed some light and good luck to you if you end up taking the test!

Lizzie x

 

[Scoopy]

I cant wait to cut you up at shows and share a beer

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
With horse boxes its a HGV license isn't it??

[/ QUOTE ]

no

Hence why I put 7.5t....

 

[HenryandPeta]

Hopefully my mate Lorna (Orange Empire) will see this - she's been researching this so she can drive my lorry!

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
I cant wait to cut you up at shows and share a beer

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL! Oh nice

Shall bring beer on the days Mother is there to drive home

Sounds like a plan!!

 

[JustKickOn]

Oh, my mistake then. Think you still have to be over 21 (Which I'm guessing out are? No offence intended)

I think the best thing you can do is have a flick through some websites and they'll give guidelines as to what you can do ect.

Anyway, good luck with the process.

Lizzie x

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

the 7.5ton license and the HGV are exactly the same test and you do the same theory and cost the same - i would do your HGV then you can drive whatever !!

where do you live the BHS are doing subsedised training for £400 instead of a grand !!

 

[dieseldog]

I think you need to get a medical first.

Also as it is the same price to do a 7.5t as a big HGV I would do the proper HGV one. I don't think the test is any harder. Also go on the BHS website as there is an offer for women to do the HGV test, with all the trainig at about the quarter of the price. You have to live in certain areas , but worth a phone call.

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the best thing you can do is have a flick through some websites and they'll give guidelines as to what you can do ect.

[/ QUOTE ]

Which is why I said in my post I wanted personal experience and straight forward answers because the website weren't answering the questions that I had...

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
the 7.5ton license and the HGV are exactly the same test and you do the same theory and cost the same - i would do your HGV then you can drive whatever !!

where do you live the BHS are doing subsedised training for £400 instead of a grand !!

[/ QUOTE ]

Is it really?! Man, I don't want to do an HGV test... That sounds big and scary!

Re the BHS thing, (thanks DD also

) is that not dependent upon you working in the horse industry?

I live in Cambridge so I don't think I'm in the right area. But also, I'm slightly worried that because it talks of commitment to the course that it maybe would clash with uni commitments...

ARGH!! This is going to be harder than I thought...

 

[Heidi1]

Not sure if this will help......

Clearstone

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
Also as it is the same price to do a 7.5t as a big HGV I would do the proper HGV one. I don't think the test is any harder.

[/ QUOTE ]

But pressumably I'd have to then sit the test IN an HGV, so practicing in my own lorry would be useless, and therefore I'd have to pay loads for lessons driving a much bigger vehicle..?

I really don't want an HGV licence, I just want to be able to practice in and pass to drive a 7.5t

 

[Sooty]

Do the trailer test (significantly cheaper) and get a 4x4 and trailer. At least you will never got bogged down in a rain-soaked field, you will only have one vehicle to test, tax and insure, it is a smaller outfit to handle on country roads and the chances of the engine not starting are reduced if the vehicle is used more regularly. Just a thought... There are advantages to a lorry, but IMHO there are far more to a trailer. Unless you are going to use it often, or share it with someone. With towing you can drive on L plates as long as you have someone qualified (that would be your mum then!) with you, I am not sure about the rules for driving a 7.5tonne - whether you have to do it with an instructor or can drive on L plates. I am sure someone will be able to tell you more. I think it was the 7.5 tonne that Troggy's bf did recently; it cost him over £1k but that included training and use of a lorry for the test.

 

[Sooty]

Of course if you already have the lorry, ignore that last post!

 

[Puppy]

Ah, thanks but no Sooty, we definitely want a lorry

No doubt about that at all!

 

[Puppy]

Thanks Heidi but I can't really find the answer to my questions on there as I've no intention of using my license for working as a trucker

 

[Puppy]

LOL! No we don't have one yet, but we are going to start shopping v soon

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
the 7.5ton license and the HGV are exactly the same test and you do the same theory and cost the same - i would do your HGV then you can drive whatever !!

where do you live the BHS are doing subsedised training for £400 instead of a grand !!

[/ QUOTE ]

Is it really?! Man, I don't want to do an HGV test... That sounds big and scary!

Re the BHS thing, (thanks DD also

) is that not dependent upon you working in the horse industry?

I live in Cambridge so I don't think I'm in the right area. But also, I'm slightly worried that because it talks of commitment to the course that it maybe would clash with uni commitments...

ARGH!! This is going to be harder than I thought...

[/ QUOTE ]

really dont worry its easy and the exact same test but basically you drive a slightly bigger lorry but once you done it then thats it !! also if you take a 7.5ton what happens if one day you then need to take HGV or drive a bigger lorry - you would have to pay the same amount all over again

yea im not sure but it is london and i cant do it as i earn too much money at work !!

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

you do a 5 day course in an HGV

to get the provisional go to your post office you will need a medical (easy) and send your licence off it doesnt cost anything !!

then take your theory like you did for your car test (get the book and revise)

then book up a 5 days course (terst on friday)

http://www.dttdrivertraining.co.uk/id71.html

 

[trundle]

I don't have personal experience of this or anything like that, but if it were me, I would actually go for the full HGV test -simply because the prices of the smaller HGV boxes are lower than the prices for similarly-sized non-HGV boxes.

 

[OrangeEmpire]

Yes henry1997 I am likewise failing to do work and am here instead!

Following research i have found out that:
You need a provisional C1 licence from the DVLA
You need to take a medical
You have to take a theory test
You have to take a practical HGV test for the licence

Given that you wouldn't take a car test without lessons I suspec the same should apply to the HGV test... I haven't yet found where my local instructors are though!
Good luck to you!

 

[smerls]

Useful website

http://www.centraltransporttraining.co.uk/index.htm

 

[ClaireH78]

Thanks ST, the info on that website is great and I have requested a pack as I to as the OP missed out on being qualified for 7.5t by about 6 months so may as well do HGV.

Do you know the approx price for the course etc, I am just being impatient about the info pack arriving!

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks ST, the info on that website is great and I have requested a pack as I to as the OP missed out on being qualified for 7.5t by about 6 months so may as well do HGV.

Do you know the approx price for the course etc, I am just being impatient about the info pack arriving!

[/ QUOTE ]

oh i have the pack at home but if you call them they are really helpfull and will tell you over the phone !!

I think the medical is £50 at your doctors

I think it works out to about a grand all in !! but that is with 5 days instruction

Ive done my theory but as im now in the zone for the Euro III and will need an 06 reg HGV ive bought a 2 horse lorry !!

I will still do my HGV but have 2 years to do it !

Its not bad price you get 4 days tuition and then your test which is included and in there vehicle !!

if youget a 7.5ton though you can drive that with L plates on with a parent etc sitting next to you just probably get used to driving a lorry maybe !!

 

[GinaGem]

I've been looking into doing this too. This company are very local to me and were very good with answering all my questions when i rang them:

http://sitebuilder.yell.com/sb/Displaycompany.do?p=homepage&id=SB0002068357000010

The total cost for 5 days training, test, medical and theory was about £1000. (they supply the 7.5t lory). The guy said that the medical costs about £40 and they could recommend someone as some doctors charge up to £80.

He said you must get a provisional before booking the course. I think i read somewhere that you could drive on L plates but don't rely on that.

 

[JM07]

if you are considering the time and expense of getting another licence, then go straight into a class "C"......

wont limit you to just 7.5's......

may come in very handy in later years....

 

[Puppy]

Thank you for the advice guys, but perhaps I'm not making myself clear. I really don't want to do an HGV test. I do not have an additional £1000 to spend on doing a course outright. Most of the time I shall be taking one horse out and about, and a 3.5t would do us perfectly. However, sometimes, for sponsored rides etc, when my mother is going to come along too, I shall want to take both our girls, in which case a 3.5t would be too small. Therefore, we shall have to go for smallish lorry with a larger payload. (GAH! If only Star wasn't so big....

) We certainly don't want an HGV. If I decided in the future that I want to do an HGV, (I don't work with horses, and I can't see my career ever giving me time for having multiple horses to compete so I very much doubt this being the case) then I shall risk having to pay again, but that will be when I have an healthy income after my law degree, and not when I'm a poor student.

Hence, what I really wanted to know, is if I can legally get plenty of practicing at driving a 7.5t under supervision, as I mentioned, in our own vehicle, instead of paying for hours of tuition, and then only have to pay a nominal amount for some instruction, the theory and the actual test - and what sort of cost would this be? I appreciate what you're all saying with the "If I were yous..." but I am basing this on what's best for my situation.