Trailers and lorries - another licence question

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alcraw

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Sorry, I know there's a few threads like this, but I can't find the answer to this particular question...

I passed my driving test in 2000 so currently can't tow a decent sized trailer, or drive a box over 3.5 ton. I have been looking into doing my trailer test later in the year, as I have a 4x4 and have had access to a trailer. However, the owner of the trailer has just bought a 7.5 ton horse box which I would probably also be able to use.

So, is there one test that I can do which will allow me to tow AND drive up to 7.5 ton? I can only see courses for one or the other, and don't really want to fork out for two tests. Very confusing....
 
Ditto above, check DVLA website - but I'm pretty sure when I was doing my lorry test a couple of years ago (can't remember what letter it is, but entitled you to drive up to 18tonne rigid lorry - but not artics) a pass covered you to tow a 750kg trailer. I wouldn't have wanted to do so without some formal trailer training from an instructor though.
 
Nope, there's not. I asked when I did my trailer test.


A B license (standard car license) alllows you to drive up to 3.5tonnes, inc a car+trailar combo. So a normal car and a small trailer

An E license allows you to tow something much heavier: car up to 3.5 tonnes AND a trailer, with a max combo of car + trailer = 7.5 tonnes

To drive anything over 7.5 tonnes (as a ridged) you need a C license. You cannot tow anything over 750kg with a C license.

(there's also C1 license, which is what older drivers have, and it allows you to drive between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes)

To be able to do both you would need a C+E license, which is an articulaled lorry license, and you can't sit the test until you've done your C license anyways.

All a bit confusing but basically:

if you want to drive a large trailer (most horse boxes) you need to do your E license.
If you want to drive anything UPTO 7.5 tonnes you need to do your C1 license
If you want to be able to drive ANY weight (as a ridged) you need to do your C license.



C1 seems a bit pointless: it's a very similar test to the full C license and costs the same to do the training, and you don't need your C1 to sit your full C.
 
i know that you need your b+e to tow a trailer with a car, and your c1 or c to drive a 7.5t lorry. I think you may need to sit your c before you can do you c+e but i'm not certain. The other thing is that i'm not sure if you sit your c+e if you will have your b+e as well. The best thing I would recommend would be would be to phone one of the driving schools and talk to them. They'll be able to recommend what will be best.

Not sure where you are but if your up in the Glasgow/Edinburgh area I'd recommend Happy Hour Driving School (http://www.happy-hour-driving.com/). They're really up to date on all the laws. They might be worth a call even if you can't get lessons from them.

Hope this helps
 
Kallibear said:
C1 seems a bit pointless: it's a very similar test to the full C license and costs the same to do the training, and you don't need your C1 to sit your full C.
Click to expand...

The c1 exists because there used to be a law saying you couldn't drive over 7.5t's if you were under 21 or 25 years old (can't remember which) so it allowed younger drivers to drive up to 7.5t's. They got rid of the law to try and encourage younger drivers to become lorry drivers. There's really no point for the c1 now.
 
Thanks for the replies. I also emailed one of the driving schools last night (PJE in Ross on Wye if anyone's used them?!), and they confirmed I'd need to do 2 tests:

Unfortunately by law you must take two seperate tests, one for car and trailer (B+E) and another for 7.50 tonne (C1). May i suggest you take C test though, which is as 7.5 but will enable you to drive a bigger lorry.

For either C1 or C you have to take a medical, apply for provisional licence and pass a theory and hazard perception test. For B+E all you need to do is a practical driving test.

Soooo frustrating! Looks like I'm going to have to stick with the trailer test for now (around £500 for lessons and test) as the C course is over £900!!!
 
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