Car & Trailer Rules Explained – Part One

Book Your Theory Test Online explains the rules regarding driving a vehicle with a trailer or a caravan. 

In part one of this two part series, Book Your Theory Test Online covers the restrictions depending on when your car driving licence was issued.

Driving a car whilst towing a trailer, or caravan, adds a new dynamic to the driving experience that’s why relevant questions regarding towing appear in the UK theory test.  

Book Your Theory Test Online says: “Depending on when your car driving licence was issued determines what you can and cannot tow in terms of a trailer or caravan. The most up-to-date theory test has been altered to factor in these restrictions.”

Should you have passed your theory test and practical exam after 1997 and you wish to tow a caravan or certain types of trailer, you will be required to take another practical test for the purposes of towing.

Car Licence Obtained Before 1January 1997?

If you’re fortunate enough to have passed your theory test and car practical test prior to 1 January 1997 all entitlements related to towing a trailer remain unaffected. This means you’re permitted to drive a vehicle and trailer combination with a maximum weight of 8,250kgs.

Car Licence Obtained After 1 January 1997?

If you passed your theory test and practical exam post 1 January 1997 you’re still permitted to tow, but you’re limited to a vehicle weight of 3,500kgs maximum, towing a trailer weighing 750kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3,500kgs.

Should you want to tow a caravan or a trailer combination that exceeds the weights listed above, you would be required to pass an additional B+E practical driving exam.

Car Licence Obtained After 19 January 2013?  

Again, if you passed your theory test and practical exam after the above date you’re still entitled to tow. However, you will be restricted to towing a trailer with a maximum weight of 3,500kgs. Furthermore, the weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer must not exceed 7,000kgs

If you want to tow a trailer exceeding 3,500kgs in weight with a car or small vehicle (category B) you will be required to undertake an additional driving test for category C1E (medium-sized vehicles with trailers).

Book Your Theory Test Online says: “As part of driving licence changes implemented on 19 January 2013, driving licence categories were altered. These alterations were made after taking into consideration that the standard practical driving exam does not include a towing exercise.”

Book Your Theory Test Online continues: “To combat the number of accidents occurring as a result of inexperienced motorists attempting to tow, new licence types were introduced. This also saw the emergence of additional driving tests to be taken by drivers who do not have towing permissions as a feature of their driving licence.”

Watch this space for part two covering the car and trailer practical driving test…

Book Your Theory Test Online offers an intermediary service assisting clients with booking a UK theory test or practical test, at test centres across the nation. The service also supplies resources to help you prepare for your theory test – Ready to take your theory test? Book your theory test online today… 

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 10th, 2014 at 8:17 pm and is filed under Driving Safety, UK Driving Law. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.