Towing a trailer on a 2008 licence........

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jeanettethree

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Basically
My friend has been told by the driving standards agency that she can tow a trailer upto 3.5tonnes without having to do an additional test....How accurate is this? She passed her driving test in 2008.

I always believed that any licence after 1997 had to do the additional can B/C(?) test-all the info on the internet is confusing.

But it does make sense? If us younger drivers can drive a 3.5t surely we can tow it too??


Any info is greatly appreciated :)
 
hi
from what i understand (& i have an 07 licence) is that as long as the overall weight of car & trailer doesnt exceed 3.5t & the trailer weighs less than the car you can legally tow without an additional licence. But please dont quote me on this as its just my interpretation of all the waffle on the dvla website!
 
I agree-all the information the net is very confusing!!

I passed after 1997, and after discussing with the DVLA and a towing instructor, it was clear I would have to take the b+e test to tow a horse trailer.

The other option is to tow with somebody who is legal to tow (whether passed before 1997 or has their b+e) and drive with L plates on, there are no restrictions as to where you can drive doing this :)
 
Hmmm, thanks for the replies, its making it sound a little less confusing!

What im wanting to do is

1.buy a new equitrek thats only 900 + odd kg unladen
2.only travel my horse

This way i will be def under 3.5t....

But im just SO unsure, i dont want to break the law :S but i keep getting mixed answers from people, even the DVLA lol!
 
so basically i can tow upto 3.5t as long as the trailer doesnt weigh more than the unladen car weight........ which in my case is 1.5t

So i may be able to do it with a 900odd kg trailer and a 600kg horse. I WISH!
 
It's not the weight of the trailer that has to be under 3.5 tonne, it's the weight of the entire outfit.... Trailer, Horse, Car and all contents. Then remember that the car HAS to be heavier than the trailer and contents.

Then there is the confusion on whether it is the actual weight of the trailer or the Maximum allowed weight (MAM). People have differing views on this.

What car were you planning on using? I really can't see any combination that would be safe and legal. I'd recommend doing the test or getting someone to sit with you with the full licence and put L plates on.
 
When we investigated this option, I was told it wasn't possible. I can't 100% remember the reason, somethings telling me the 3.5 tonne limit is the combined weight of car, trailer, horse, people, tack, water etc, although don't quote me on that.

I just remember getting a flat 'no' when we asked about that, from more than one person. If you get a different answer from them, maybe if they confirm in writing you might be OK?

IMO though it's not worth the risk, it seems like such a grey area and the b+e test really isn't hard. Maybe it would be best to have it, just so you know you are safe and legal?
 
i understand it now


MAM is the most the trailer can carry (regardless of if it actually has that weight in at that time or not)

so lets say a new equitrek = 2T MAM

Then an unladen Ford Ranger is lets say 1.5T. It wont work- the whole lot will ACTAULLY weigh under 3.5t but the trailer weighs more than the car. (It has to weigh less)

So it looks like my B+E here i come :(
 
jeanettethree said:
i understand it now


MAM is the most the trailer can carry (regardless of if it actually has that weight in at that time or not)

so lets say a new equitrek = 2T MAM

Then an unladen Ford Ranger is lets say 1.5T. It wont work- the whole lot will ACTAULLY weigh under 3.5t but the trailer weighs more than the car. (It has to weigh less)

So it looks like my B+E here i come :(
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Don't worry. I did my test the other month and passed and it's really not hard. If you can pass your driving test, you can pass this no problems. It's practically the same with a reverse in it.

Besides, in all honestly it's good to take the test, as driving my empty trailer is nothing like with horses in, so I am pleased I passed and feel safer towing for it as it's good to get some lessons which you my not have done otherwise.

x
 
im looking to do my test soon but its going to work out to £500 which isnt viable at the mo. if you have someone acompanying you while you drive on L plates you can travel anywhere but not on the motorway. which restricts you slightly if going somewhere far.
 
miss_buffay said:
im looking to do my test soon but its going to work out to £500 which isnt viable at the mo. if you have someone acompanying you while you drive on L plates you can travel anywhere but not on the motorway. which restricts you slightly if going somewhere far.
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You can drive on the motorway with L plates on, there are no restrictions like there is when you have a provisional liscence.

As to cost, I think my test was £120. I also had a 10 hour intensive course, which I think was round £280, so I paid £400 in total. Definately shop around though, I was quoted £860 for the first place I phoned, which was for just 8 hours training!!
 
Also, I think I am correct in saying this, from April this year they changed the 'Grandfather' regulations...ie the driving and towing a trailer with someone who has the correct license in the car. I believe this is no longer allowed.
 
I'm pretty sure the change in 'grandfather rights' only applied to the lgv liscence as opposed to the b+e,as far as I'm aware you are still ok when towing a trailer :)
 
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Grandfather rights still apply at the moment to cars and trailers, just not 7.5 tonnes and over. They have said it will change in the future, but haven't given a date.
 
miss_buffay said:
im looking to do my test soon but its going to work out to £500 which isnt viable at the mo. if you have someone acompanying you while you drive on L plates you can travel anywhere but not on the motorway. which restricts you slightly if going somewhere far.
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The is new legislation that you have to have someone with you that has passed the B+E test to sit with you with L plates on now, not someone who passed before 1997. I recently did my test and cost more like £1300 when you add fuel and 2 new tyres in too!
 
Aoibhin said:
bugger if i have to reverse the trailer im never gonna pass.

still cant reverse our small trailer & been towing that for 12 years now, i just unhitch & turn trailer around by hand then turn car around & hitch up.
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Might be a bit difficult with a horse trailer lol.

Honestly, practise makes perfect, it took me 45 mins the first time I tried to reverse my trailer in to the barn, now it only takes 1 minute and I can usually do it first time.

Resist the urge to unhitch your smaller trailer and start practising now :)
 
im lucky that in my area there is a man who does the training and you use his 4x4 and trailer and its £125 a day for 3 days intense lessons and on the 3rd day you do your test in his car and trailer and its £115 for the test which he books for you. think its deffinatly worth shopping around to see what you can get. i dont have a 4x4 yet so works out well for me!
 
its about £80 to do your test, i really don't understand why people even bother trying to work out if their car/trailer will be under 3.5t...just do the bloody test, its not even difficult. IMHO if you can't pass the test then you shouldn't be towing a horse about... i know there are a lot of people who passed before 1997 who should also not be towing but thats another issue entirely!
 
I did mine for just under £300 that's including the £120 test. As I had (and I assume you would to) my own car and trailer, so I had just single lessons with an instructor and some lovely friends/family took me out too which helped as I had never towed before.

So you don't have to go for those instensive courses if you have your own trailer/4x4 and it can and did for me work out cheaper to have lessons instead with the test.

Goodluck everyone whose taking it.
x
 
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