Right ive always thought if u passed your test after 1997 you only have a cat B driving licence. which only entitles you to tow a 750 kg trailer

if u passed before 1997 you have B+E, which means u ok to have a mass of about 8 tons i think.

anyway, since finding out this "rule" i havnt towed anything over 750 (honest) for fear of been done buy the police.

ive been on a different thread with regards to some one whos looking to buy a 4x4 for towing, and i raised the "750 law" in there and some one has said im wrong

here the basic flow
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee Ivatt

also make sure ur mate passed his driving test before 1997, or he legally cant tow anything over 750 kg!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by ebit
Yes you can



http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...es/DG_10013073

Quote:
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.




NO YOU CAN'T - read your own link again! New drivers, passing their test after 1997, do not have B+E entitlement, and therefore can not tow cars / boats or trailers weighing over 750kgs

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.

Small holiday trailers with a tent and cooker in yes, car trailers, boats etc, NO.
Quote:
Originally Posted by James
oh wow, never knew about that!


Sorry James, your newly learned info was actually incorrect..., best forget it!
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Yesterday, 11:52 PM #30 ebit
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 48




It also says

Quote:
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
and

Quote:
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
If the MAM doesn't exceed 3.5 tonnes you can drive in on a cat B license.

Quote:
If you passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 you're limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750 kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. You'll need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight limits.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...les/DG_4022521

Quote:
Originally Posted by SiB
Sorry James, your newly learned info was actually incorrect..., best forget it!

No it's correct.



So forgive me if im reading this wrong but it looks like i CAN tow a trailer as long as the complete vehicle and trailer unit weigh in at 3.5 ton or less?

this is very important to me as i often need to tow things in my line of work and it would save me a lot of hastle if i knew i was actually safe to tow 3.5.