Towing a trailer - changes in licences?

dodgyrog

Well-Known Member
My friend who runs a car repair and maintenance business has told me that as of September 2014 anybody driving a vehicle pulling a trailer with a combined weight of 3 tons (tonnes?) will need to do a 5 day training course (but no test) to stay legal (costing £250). So my Shogun and 4 wheel trailer puts me in that category.
I guess those of you pulling a quad on a trailer will be affected.
Does anybody know of this change and can confirm its' voracity please?
 
Sounds nonsense to me.
There is a whole load of new braking laws coming into force around that time and I seem to remember that trailers may have to have an mot but never heard what your mate is on about.
 
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Drivers Licence
Holders of driving licences issued before July 1996 and providing that they have Group A or if after 1990, category B, are entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to a maximum train weight of 8.25 tons.​
However holders of car licences issued after July 1996 will only be able to drive a vehicle and trailer combination of up to 3500kg assuming that the trailer and its load are lighter than the towing vehicle. ie. a 2000kg vehicle with a 1500kg trailer. To tow a larger trailer wighing up to 3500kg a B + E licence must be obtained.​
 
This from the gov.uk site:

Driving licence rules and what you can towThe rules on what you can tow are different depending on when you passed your driving test.
[h=2]Licences issued from 19 January 2013[/h]From 19 January 2013, drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow:

  • small trailers weighing no more than 750kg
  • trailers weighing more than 750kg, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer isn’t more than 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)
If you want to tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg, when the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer is more than 3,500kg, you’ll have to pass a further test and get B+E entitlement on your licence.
You’ll then be able to tow trailers up to 3,500kg.
[h=2]Licences held from 1 January 1997[/h]If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997 and have an ordinary category B (car) licence, you can:

  • drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM
  • tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as it is no more than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (with a combined weight of up to 3,500kg in total)
For anything heavier you need to take a category B+E driving test.

[h=2]Licences held before 1 January 1997[/h]If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997 you are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM.
This is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road.
You also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.
 
Far too many Pippas just passing their tests and coupling up to the Ifor Williams horsebox with three tons of nervous horse on board and then towing it with a car too light.
But what really gets my back up is farmers doing haulage and low-loader work with what is basically an articulated vehicle often under braked and running on red diesel. No Operators Licence or driver CPC. We have a multi millionare farmer near here that moves sewage waste from the treatment works and the farmers get paid to spread it on fields of barley and the drivers of this 20 ton combo have not started shaving yet.
 
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Far too many Pippas just passing their tests and coupling up to the Ifor Williams horsebox with three tons of nervous horse on board and then towing it with a car too light.
But what really gets my back up is farmers doing haulage and low-loader work with what is basically an articulated vehicle often under braked and running on red diesel. No Operators Licence or driver CPC. We have a multi millionare farmer near here that moves sewage waste from the treatment works and the farmers get paid to spread it on fields of barley and the drivers of this 20 ton combo have not started shaving yet.

We have the very same situation around the corner from me, had the bike sideways twice this last week on a very slick sheen of squashed tatties & fine mud!,:evil: you'd think with all that money they would put a roadsweeper on.
 
Think your friend is getting confused and is talking about the driver CPC,this is only relevant if you are driving professionally and is your main job.
Search for driver CPC then click on the gov.uk link have a read,if your towing a trailer for recreational purpose don't think you have much to worry about.

link Driver CPC for lorry, bus and coach drivers - GOV.UK
 
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I think teyhan is right, accordiing to my lisence I have authority to tow and drive up to 7 ton vehicle on my full driving lisence, I think the law change years ago but dont know when.
 
Yep it's the driver CPC. The old grandfather rights are no longer being allowed for those that passed before 1990 will be required to pass a 40 hr CPC but only if driving professionally. If it affects you your transport manager will let you know.
 
Sorry mate but you are getting mixed up with a Transport Manager CPC and a holder of a LGV CPC which are two totally different schemes. You will need to have completed the driver CPC by which your entitlement will expire, i have done 14 hours of mine which was so boring the chap going through with ours fell asleep.
 
also if you look further in the small print when you turn 70 its a medical every 12 months or you can only tow a 750 kgs trailer no mater when you passed your test my father had a class 1 hgv packed it in and now cant drive anything over 3.5 t inc 750 kg trailer
 
A medical is compulsory every 5 years starting at your 45th birthday for LGV licence holders.
 
This from the gov.uk site:

Driving licence rules and what you can towThe rules on what you can tow are different depending on when you passed your driving test.
Licences issued from 19 January 2013

From 19 January 2013, drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow:

  • small trailers weighing no more than 750kg
  • trailers weighing more than 750kg, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer isn’t more than 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)
If you want to tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg, when the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer is more than 3,500kg, you’ll have to pass a further test and get B+E entitlement on your licence.
You’ll then be able to tow trailers up to 3,500kg.
Licences held from 1 January 1997

If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997 and have an ordinary category B (car) licence, you can:

  • drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM
  • tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as it is no more than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (with a combined weight of up to 3,500kg in total)
For anything heavier you need to take a category B+E driving test.

Licences held before 1 January 1997

If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997 you are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM.
This is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road.
You also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.

Hi All
This is my job, I teach this every day and this quote is correct. the thing that has just changed which has come into effect from 15th Nov'13 any trailer test (B+E) Category C, C1+E, C+E the vehicle or trailer must be loaded, B+E min of 600kg of marked bags of sand or stone or a IBC with 1000lts (1000kg) category C 5000kg C+E 15000kg.

When I book someone in, I do a 2 hour assessment and then arrange a course to suit that person, Normally for the average person this is 4 hrs training and 3hrs on the day of the test 1.5 hrs to warm them up and 1.5 hrs for the test. So on average 9 hrs my prices are £48.50ph + £115 for the test fee.
 
CPC comes in force September 10 2014, this is for all commercial vehicles over 3.5 ton. This was brought in in September 2009 to all existing LGV license holders, they need to undertake 35 hours of periodic training to drive for financial gain. I deliver the CPC training.
 
Hi tikka22250
If I drive a vehicle and trailer with a gross train weight of more than 3.5 tons for hire and reward do I need to do CPC training. If I am over 70 do I need a medical to drive a vehicle over 3.5 tons but under 7.5 tons
 
Thank f*** I passed my test in November 1996 so I have got B+E C1+E and D1+E already. A month later and I would have had to get them separately!
 
Hi tikka22250
If I drive a vehicle and trailer with a gross train weight of more than 3.5 tons for hire and reward do I need to do CPC training. If I am over 70 do I need a medical to drive a vehicle over 3.5 tons but under 7.5 tons


If you hold a full licence B+E pre 1997 ie 3.5 transit/landrover + trailer over 750kg you do not need to undertake CPC. At the present time you do not need to take a medical to renew your standard driving licences on your 70th birthday, this will include C1 & C1+E with 107 code 8.250kg maximum authorised mass.

Jon
 
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