Towing query

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Kelly1982

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I was under the impression that everyone passing their test after 1997 HAD to take a trailer test.

My friends OH spoke to the DVLA the other day and they said that as long as the 3 things combined (car, trailer & horse) does not come to more than 3.5tonne you can still tow on a car license.

Is this true coz it caused a bit of a debate??
 
Its true of the MAM of car and trailer come to less than 3.5 tons, but not the weight of the car, horse and trailer.
 
So if the car and trailer came to less than 3.5 tonne you can still tow without a test
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It's not what they actually weigh, it is what they are capable of weighing - the maximum authorised mass. It causes so much confusion, but basically the only thing you can tow without taking a test is a shopping trailer.
 
God it is well confusing isn't it!!! I would take a test anyway to be on the safe side so i wouldn't constantly be worrying but my friends OH was telling her she didn't need to.
 
Ive just swapped from a Terrano to a Jeep. Loved them both, both fairly good mileage but Jeep drives like a car and Terrano was a bit hard on the arms.

Both have great towing weights, so would recommend either.
 
just a quickie - dont always trust what the dvla say. they are like most other companies. new staff dont know what they are telling you and the older staff will contradict what someone else has told you.

I had my trailer assessment lesson on Saturday. My instructor told me I can drive on motorways on L plates even though the DVLA said I couldnt.
 
Thats actually so true!!! Whenever you ring companies like that you always get conflicting advise!!

Are you doing your lessons one at a time or are you having a course??
 
Really? He told you you can tow on the motorway with L plates?! A traffic cop told me definitly not! Nobody can drive on a motorway with L plates on, and you'd be pulled over and done for it.

There is confusion though, becuase the Allens photographic guide for preparing to take your towing test says you're not allowed to tow horses in the back with L plates on. I don't know where they got that from because I checked with the DVLA, and traffic cop and a driving instructor and none of them had heard of it!

I agree though, the dvla are totally useless and don't have a clue.
 
yes my instructor said he has fully investigated it and becuase I already have my car licensce i can drive on the motorway as im not an unlicensed driver. Its only because Im learning to drive a trailer why i have to have L plates on.

He also said most police dont actually understand the law because its is so wide. He has police stopping him all the time to get info on the driving laws.

I drove home on the motorway on Saturday and loads of police passed me Not one of them pulled me over so obviously its not against the law to drive on motorways with L plates

You can tow horses on L plates as I do and I know a lot of people who do. As long as you have got someone sitting along side you who has the correct license then its ok to do so,
 
well its hard to say Kelly as ive been towing for a while on L plates so have had quite a bit of experience. My mum does training for this company who have agreed to do the training for my trailer test. He said I was a very good driver and was very careful when towing. Said I was very good at reversing (even with a broken finger!) and even though we measured the length of the car and trailer wrong, I managed to get it in the garage on the course!!! He said I should only need 1 lesson before the test. Ive booked it in for next Tuesday (10th from 1030 till whenever I want to finish) but depending on how the operation goes tomorrow on my hand depends whether or not I can go and drive
 
You can def tow on the motorway with L plates, as when I did my HGV course he said exactly the same... as long as you are a licenced driver you are fine, we used to go on motorway lots in my lessons both for trailer test and HGV (yes, muggins here has done both - how broke am I?!) and the examiners sometimes take you onmotorway in Reading as test centre right by M4.
 
Well, if that is the case then that's great! I'm fed up of always having to tow cross country to avoid the motorways... I wonder if I can find it in writing anywhere on the internet to prove it to my husband! lol!
 
dont know as the dvla website is awful and ive never been able to find it. If you can wait till my lesson next week I can ask my instructor where to find it?? then I can let you know
 
Oh good luck for your test and your operation as well.

Must of missed the post about your broken finger. How did that happen??
 
Totally! I wouldn't waste my time on the dvla website.
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If you wouldn't mind asking your instructor that would be great! Thanks very much! Not in a hurry so can easily wait a week. Saving up money at the moment to have some training and then take my test....
 
i dont mind at all. ill ask him then i can print it off and keep it in the car in case i ever get pulled by the police.
Its expensive for the lessons etc isnt it. Think the bloke ive got training me charges about £300 a day then its £89 for your test! it soon adds up if you need a few lessons
 
Oh good grief! I won't tell my husband that yet! I've got my stage 3 coming up at the end of May and that is costing me a fortune!

A print out for the car would be very usefull! I had one off the Government website when I used to tow with a Saab before I got my 4x4 to say I was legal weight wise.... Just nice to have back up!
 
wow! I am soooo impressed!!!!! I'll come to you the next time I want to find something obscure on the internet!
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