Towing License

[Twiglet]

Just looking on the DVLA website - can anyone interpret this as to what I'm actually allowed to tow?!I passed my test after 1997:

Listed below are vehicle category descriptions for driving tests passed after 1 January 1997 and the minimum ages for driving them. All weights refer to maximum authorised mass (MAM) unless stated otherwise. This is the total weight of the vehicle plus the maximum load it can carry.

Cars with and without trailers


Motor vehicles with a MAM not exceeding 3500kg having not more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg. Combinations of towing vehicles in category B and a trailer, where the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3500kg and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle B
Min age: 17

(Incidentally only looking to tow a small flat or box trailer with woodchips or hay at the moment).

 

[shellonabeach]

After several emails to and from the DVLA I have confirmed the following:

For towing on post 97 license.

The trailer weight goes on GROSS weight - ie what it can carry not what it does weigh (this means a double trailer will always take into account the weight of 2 horses.)

The Trailers Gross weight must not exceed unlaiden weight of towing vehicle.

The total of vehicle + Gross weight of trailer must not exceed 3500kg.

Hence this summer I am planning on towing single horse trailer (gross weight 1400kg) with Fourtrak (kerb weight 1759kg) = 3159kg.

As the trailer weighs 590kg & will be carrying 450kg of horse I will be securing all tack / water etc in that!!

 

[GreedyGuts]

I think that realistically if you are going to tow safely in most vehicles you need a trailer licence. It is sooo annoying, but I'm going to bite the bullet and do it over the summer.