Pulling a trailer, do I need to take a trailer test?

Sirrel Squirrel

Sirrel Squirrel

Sirrel Squirrel

Soldato
Joined
5 Aug 2003
Posts
8,535
Location
Essex
I've never been able to fathom it out myself. Want to get a tow bar on the SAAB for pulling the horse box around but two horses and a box will be heavier than the SAAB. That means we gotta do the trailer test I suppose.
 
i thought horse boxes needed a decent towing vehicle (no offence to your saab).

My exboss's Mrs had stables and they always had a range rover or a ford explorer for the horse box.
 
I'm guessing then if I use something like a Discovery weighing about 2T, I could pull a single horse trailer, which would be about 1.25T.

edit/ or a twin horse trailer as long as only 1 horse is in it.
 
Last edited:
I tow a small single axle trailer on a semi regular basis, I assumed this was ok?

And you don't want to tow a horse box with a Saab.
 
Sone said:
i thought horse boxes needed a decent towing vehicle (no offence to your saab).

My exboss's Mrs had stables and they always had a range rover or a ford explorer for the horse box.
Click to expand...

I've seen them pulled by alsorts including 2.0 Mondeos and Vectras. We can use Amandas mums 4.0 HSE Range Rover but the petrol gauge get looked at more than the speedo :p

The SAAB is a 2.0L turbo with low peak torque, should pull it no problem.
 
Dup said:
I've seen them pulled by alsorts including 2.0 Mondeos and Vectras. We can use Amandas mums 4.0 HSE Range Rover but the petrol gauge get looked at more than the speedo :p

The SAAB is a 2.0L turbo with low peak torque, should pull it no problem.
Click to expand...

It's not whether its physically possible its weather its safely possible and pulling something heavier than the towing vehicle is a bad idea(tm)
 
Dup said:
I've seen them pulled by alsorts including 2.0 Mondeos and Vectras. We can use Amandas mums 4.0 HSE Range Rover but the petrol gauge get looked at more than the speedo :p

The SAAB is a 2.0L turbo with low peak torque, should pull it no problem.
Click to expand...

Make sure you check the unbraked towing weight though, I think a Discovery can take something stupid like 4T unbraked.

[TW]Fox;14780816 said:
It's not whether its physically possible its weather its safely possible and pulling something heavier than the towing vehicle is a bad idea(tm)
Click to expand...

Also illegal according to what the DVLA site says.
 
If the mass of what you're towing does not exceed the mass of the vehicle doing the towing, and the total mass of both does not exceed 3500kg, then you are fine on a normal driving license. For the sake of safety however, the mass of what you're towing shouldn't exceed 85% of the mass of the vehicle doing the towing.

E.g. I towed an 830kg race car on a 150kg trailer using a 1400kg Volvo on my standard license. Not a problem.

The details are on the DVLA site but quite hard to find.
 
Supposed to be able to pull 1800 kg on a braked trailer, car weighs 1740kg. I'm sure the trailer weighs 750kg when I last looked at the plate and the horses weigh up to 550Kg. It is close, but I wouldn't deem that unsafe.

One is a small female and the other is on the way. Certainly fine to pull one, which is the usual situation. For both fully grown, we will probably use the Range Rover. Thanks for pointing that out though guys :)
 
[TW]Fox;14780868 said:
:eek:
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I thought. Im sure its not so much, but Parkers believe it is. Will get the book out when she gets home. I'd have thought around 1500 personally.
 
You know, I didn't think 150kg was right! Not sure what I had it confused with. It was a BJT Clubman so somewhere around 350kg I'd guess, with centre boards and tyre rack.
 
Sirrel Squirrel said:
I get the impression that you are allowed to pull a trailer with a Cat B licence as long as the weight of the car is equal to or more than the weight of the loaded trailer and the combined weight isn't over 3.5T.
Click to expand...

You'll also have a recommended towed weight maximum (braked/unbraked?) in your car manual somewhere. I think I remember reading something about 400kg max for my 106, although that could've been for the 1l/1.2l models as they had a different max weight than the 1.4l, and I don't recall if it was braked or unbraked, but I presume unbraked.
 
Do remember that the DVLA rules work on max gross weights (or Max authorised mass), not actual weights.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022564

A single horsebox can frequently have a gross weight, or MAM (in modern speak) of 1500kg, and the gross weight of (for example) a Saab 9-5 is over 2000kg, so you are out of luck towing the trailer with the saab on your post 1997 driving licence.

If you're towing using a disco (gross weight of 3180kg) then you're pretty much limited to a trailer with a max gross of 750kg without taking the additional test.
 
DVLA said:
All drivers who passed a car test before 1 January 1997 retain their existing entitlement to tow trailers until their licence expires
Click to expand...

Thats a bit worrying! Does that mean that I will loose the 'grandfather' entitlement when my license expires? The new photocard ones have 10 years max (iirc) and looking at 4b on my photocard it seems mine expires in June 2010 - hope that doesn't mean i have to take the trailer test?
 
Lumeycom said:
Thats a bit worrying! Does that mean that I will loose the 'grandfather' entitlement when my license expires? The new photocard ones have 10 years max (iirc) and looking at 4b on my photocard it seems mine expires in June 2010 - hope that doesn't mean i have to take the trailer test?
Click to expand...

Isn't that just getting a new photo? In which case, no.
 
Dolph said:
Do remember that the DVLA rules work on max gross weights (or Max authorised mass), not actual weights.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022564

A single horsebox can frequently have a gross weight, or MAM (in modern speak) of 1500kg, and the gross weight of (for example) a Saab 9-5 is over 2000kg, so you are out of luck towing the trailer with the saab on your post 1997 driving licence.

If you're towing using a disco (gross weight of 3180kg) then you're pretty much limited to a trailer with a max gross of 750kg without taking the additional test.
Click to expand...
This is very true.

I often see cars / 4x4's pulled into roadside checkpoints with confused looking drivers who have just found out that they are driving not in accord with their licence!


Category B: Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM and with up to eight passenger seats

Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) or a trailer over 750kgs MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM.

For example:

* a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement. This is because the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and also the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle

Whereas

* the same vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes when coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.5 tonnes would fall within category B+E. This is because although the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is within the 3.5 tonnes MAM limit, the MAM of the trailer is more than the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle
* Vehicle manufacturers normally recommend a maximum weight of trailer appropriate to their vehicle. Details can usually be found in the vehicle's handbook or obtained from car dealerships. The size of the trailer recommended for an average family car with an unladen weight of around 1 tonne would be well within the new category B threshold.

Towing caravans

As for towing caravans, existing general guidance recommends that the laden weight of the caravan does not exceed 85% of the unladen weight of the car. In the majority of cases, caravans and small trailers towed by cars should be within the new category B threshold.

An exemption from the driver licensing trailer limit allows a category B licence holder to tow a broken down vehicle from a position where it would otherwise cause danger or obstruction to other road users.

By passing a category B test national categories F (tractor), K (pedestrian controlled vehicle) and P (moped) continue to be added automatically.
Category B+E: Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM towing trailers over 750kgs MAM

Category B+E allows vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM to be combined with trailers in excess of 750kgs MAM. In order to gain this entitlement new category B licence holders have to pass a further practical test for category B+E. There is no category B+E theory test. For driver licensing purposes there are no vehicle/trailer weight ratio limits for category B+E.
Click to expand...
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_10013073

Vehicles over 3.5ton.
Subcategory C1: Medium sized goods vehicles 3.5 - 7.5 tonnes MAM

Subcategory C1 vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM allowing a combination of up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. But unlike category B, the 750kgs MAM trailer weight limit is an absolute limit.

In order to gain this entitlement category B licence holders have to meet higher medical standards and pass both theory and practical tests for subcategory C1.
Subcategory C1+E: Medium sized goods vehicles 3.5 - 7.5 tonnes MAM plus trailer over 750kgs MAM

Subcategory C1+E allows vehicles to be combined with a trailer over 750kgs MAM provided the combination does not exceed 12 tonnes MAM and the laden weight of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle.

In order to gain this entitlement category B licence holders have to pass further tests - subcategory C1 (theory and practical) followed by C1+E practical. There is no subcategory C1+E theory test. It will not be possible to go directly from category B to subcategory C1+E.

Because EC regulations limit drivers aged under 21 years to driving vehicles or combinations which weigh no more than 7.5 tonnes MAM, drivers under the age of 21 are not allowed to drive subcategory C1+E vehicles up to 12 tonnes MAM. But 18 year old drivers are allowed to take a test for subcategory C1+E which will allow trailers in excess of 750kgs MAM to be towed. Entitlement is limited to a combination weight of 7.5 tonnes MAM until the driver reaches 21 years, at which time the balance of 12 tonnes MAM entitlement automatically becomes effective.
Click to expand...

Car driving licence first obtained since 1 January 1997

Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E and all larger vehicles. In addition to the new driving tests, drivers of vehicles which fall within subcategories C1, C1+E, D1 and D1+E also have to meet higher medical standards.
Upgrading entitlement for trailers

In general, an additional driving test is required for each category or subcategory of entitlement. But there are certain exceptions to this where drivers have already passed one test which involves trailer entitlement for a larger or equivalent sized vehicle.

This means that passing a test for subcategory C1+E or D1+E upgrades category B entitlement to B+E. A test pass for subcategory C1+E upgrades subcategory D1, if held, to D1+E. But a test pass for subcategory D1+E does not upgrade subcategory C1 to C1+E because the trailer size required for a subcategory D1+E test is smaller than that required for a subcategory C1+E test.

Passing a test for category C+E upgrades category B entitlement to B+E and also confers entitlement to subcategory C1 and C1+E and, if category D or subcategory D1 is held, these are upgraded to category D+E or subcategory D1+E. A test passed for category D+E upgrades category B and subcategory D1 to category B+E and subcategory D1+E respectively. But it does not upgrade category C or subcategory C1 entitlements because the trailer size required for a category D+E test is smaller than that required for a category C+E or subcategory C1+E test.
Provisional trailer entitlement

Since 1 January 1997 drivers are no longer able to sit a test in a heavy vehicle/trailer combination (eg category C+E or D+E) unless they have first passed a test and obtained a full licence in the corresponding rigid vehicle (eg category C or D).

This means that although drivers may have been driving a vehicle and trailer combination legitimately, under ‘L’ plates, they are not permitted to sit a trailer test using such a combination until a test has been passed in a rigid vehicle and a full licence obtained for that category.
Click to expand...
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022564
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom