trailer licences

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zelli

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Hey, how do you go about getting a trailer licence? I know it involves some kind of course but thats it! Also would anybody happen to know how to find places that do the tests etc
 
I haven't! lol. OH has, got it 3 years ago, will be 21 by the end of the year (do you have to be 21 to have it then? bummer if so!) were in the south east.
 
I did mine a couple of years or so ago. I had lessons with BSM with my car and trailer, and they told me how to book it all. You need to find somewhere that does HGV tests as you'll need their facilities to do a trailer test.
 
At 21, go to any of the hgv trainers down your area, Enterprise/Driver Services etc

A straightforward lesson of a couple of hours and bingo, licence is in the bag.
Test takes approx 1 hour.

You can take this test from 17yrs, however the insurance gets difficult until you reach 21!!! IF you can get the insurance that is!

The website link you need is below.... All the information you need is there.

Good luck with it, and it really is a very simple test, however has he considered the 7.5t test instead? Give him much more scope for towing and the opp to drive boxes as well!!

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/index.htm
 
Got to disagree....I spent a fortune on my test and lessons. Learning to tow a trailer was a nightmare! I'd been driving about 5 or 6 years when I did mine, am/was a confident driver but I just had so many bad habits. The trailer test is v difficult and the reverse manouvere is a pain.
 
I'm with Chestnut Cob I'm afraid, its not as simple as all that! I had also been driving a long time and also towing for a year with supervision and L plates, and I still needed two days of lessons and then my test, cost me about £500 total. The problem is that because you take your test at an LGV test centre, the examiners are used to testing people who are training to be a profesional driver so look for certain standards etc. Its not impossible but I wouldn't say you can just turn up and do the test!
Also, taking the 7.5t (category C) test does not entitle you to tow a trailer, I ckecked, double checked and triple checked this and ended up having to take my trailer test and my HGV test to be able to both tow a trailer and drive my 7.5t box!
 
Im with everyone but BoltonRider - Really not as simple as that, I again had lessons with an instructors and did my test - and it also cost me about £500 in total. And its really not a you either can or you cant type of thing - yes if your lucky enough to have passed your test pre 1997 then you can just get in a car and tow but you will probably find things like reversing difficult.
BoltonRider - I wish I lived in your world everything sounds so simple !
Sx
 
Nothing to do with a poor instructor.. the standards are v high that are expected. The examiner himself told me that they expect people taking the trailer test to be able to drive at the standard of a driving instructor taking their "teaching" test and then add on a trailer. It's like me saying I could have a quick lesson then take my HGV test and pass.....
 
Must be me then????????

http://www.horsedata.co.uk/trailer_test.htm

Details of what is expected....

Test is no more than 90 minutes.... I would assume and hope that if you plan on towing with horses....you are an experienced driver, who remembers what they were taught when learning to drive.
Your required manouveres are off road in the test centre, no stress involved!
The reverse manouvere is straightforward, with minimal practise and fore thought, and it's done on the right side, the easiest for the driver.

I admit....I'm struggling to see the difficulties you all encounter with this test....

Drive legally, keep to the speed limits, allow yourself PLENTY of extra room, double your braking distance, THINK before doing anything, then think again.

I've taught 70+ peeps to pass this test, and not one has needed more than 6 hours with me, all have passed...
and if it's any consolation....should you be really nervous...
you can have 15 minor faults....get 16 and you fail.
Do something stupid or dangerous and you fail.

Drive legallly, with courtesy and think ahead, when doing the required manouveres, get out and plan it in your head if required....it's allowed!!! Think, think and think again....

It's straight forward, logical and any experienced, carefull driver should have no real difficulty in taking the trailer test!

The 7.5t Licence allows enough towing weight to pull a standard box without additional training, however if you pass the 7.5t test would you want to tow? The idea would be to go for a box if your going to spend the dosh getting the licence!?!?
 
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