Towing licence

[tomsmarty]

Right need to do my towing licence as I understand you can only tow up to 750kg now? Anyone had to do this, who can give me advice on how to go about doing it.

[smiith]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022521

All of 15 seconds that took

[blackie_2k5]

What are you looking to tow?

[Kebabman]

I did it in a two day intensive course with the test on the afternoon of the second day. It's all pretty easy and apart from hitching up and the reversing it's pretty much the same as a normal driving test. Cost me about £400 I think.

[tomsmarty]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022521

All of 15 seconds that took

Most things that get posted can be found easily but still doesn't get people's personally experiences of doing things. But thanks for the link.

[tomsmarty]

I did it in a two day intensive course with the test on the afternoon of the second day. It's all pretty easy and apart from hitching up and the reversing it's pretty much the same as a normal driving test. Cost me about £400 I think.

Ah right thanks. I will try and find people who offer the courses near me :)

Need my licence as I need to tow for work, they said they will cover expenses I just need to book the test and training.

[Viper]

Just google for local driver training centres near you then get in contact with them. You're lucky your company are covering expenses. It's needlessly expensive!

[tomsmarty]

Just google for local driver training centres near you then get in contact with them. You're lucky your company are covering expenses. It's needlessly expensive!

Just had a look and a local company want £500. Glad I'm not footing the bill lol

[Rogue_Shadow]

ocal company want £500. Glad I'm not footing the bill lol

I'm sure if you were, it would be £250 right :homme:
lol

[tomsmarty]

I'm sure if you were, it would be £250 right :homme:
lol

Haha! Busted already, how am I going to convince my boss if I can't fall you!

[Aidan-106]

major rip off cost me 400

[yr51ocw]

I have been quoted £450 by two local companies. My employer is going to put £120 towards it which brings it down to what I would call a reasonable price

[Jonny52002]

I didn't release you needed a license to be honest until I spotted it on here, I towed my old track Saxo VTR from Barnsley to Oulton Park having never towed anything before and driving a long wheel base Citroen Relay van I had hired.

Managed to get there no trouble apart from my sat nav taking me up a dead end private drive, had to reverse out onto a main road which was interesting.

[yr51ocw]

it all depends on the combined MAM of the trailer and the vehicle being used to pull it. If its over 3.5ton then you need your class B+E licence.

[Kebabman]

I didn't release you needed a license to be honest until I spotted it on here, I towed my old track Saxo VTR from Barnsley to Oulton Park having never towed anything before and driving a long wheel base Citroen Relay van I had hired.

Managed to get there no trouble apart from my sat nav taking me up a dead end private drive, had to reverse out onto a main road which was interesting.

You'd definitely be over the limit with this combination! The police are getting pretty hot on it recently round here. I've heard of quite a few people that have either been done for it or pulled over and checked.

[mlawlan69]

all just a cash con im telling you!!!

just look at a licence of somebody who passed years ago (80s 90s) and they can drive plenty more than us who passed more recently.

just another way to get you to pay for something.

[Kebabman]

all just a cash con im telling you!!!

just look at a licence of somebody who passed years ago (80s 90s) and they can drive plenty more than us who passed more recently.

just another way to get you to pay for something.

Yep, absolute bloody rip off. Unfortunately it's not worth the risk any more. The police used to be quite lenient about it but have clamped down a lot recently.

[mechsman]

To the OP:

You can actually drive up to 4.25 tonnes on a standard B licence if you have the right combination of car and trailer. See below (copied from an old post of mine):

For standard B class licence after 01/01/97.

MAM = maximum authorised mass (vehicle/trailer + payload. this is what the vehicle/trailer is rated too NOT what you have in it at the time)
ULW = UnLaden weight

Follow the number sequence:
1. is the MAM of the vehicle 3500kg or less? Yes = go to 2, no = go to Answer 1

2. is the combined MAM of the trailer + the tow vehicle 3500kg or less? Yes = go to 3, no = go to 4.

3. is the MAM of the trailer greater than the ULW of the tow vehicle? Yes = go to answer 2, no = go to answer 3.

4. does the trailer have a MAM of 750kg or less? Yes = go to 5, no = go to answer 2.

5. is the combined MAM of the vehicle and trailer 4250kg or less? Yes = go to answer 3, no = go to answer 2.

Answer 1: Not permitted to drive the vehicle
Answer 2: NOT permitted to tow
Answer 3: PERMITTED to tow

so it's actually not as simple as >750kg = no towing on a standard licence. You could potentially tow up to 1749kg (1 -> 2 -> 3 -> answer 3) on a standard B licence if you could find the right car and trailer combo (hint: VW passat estate + single axle car trailer + 106 = legal).

Caveat: This is how I (and a good number of other people including IFor Williams trailers) understand the rules. Please satisfy yourself as to the legallity of you rig before towing!

The 106/saxo are only rated for 700kg (braked or unbraked) anyway if I remember correctly.

[tomsmarty]

Cheers for that, cleared it up. However seeing as I would be driving a crew cab transit pick up and towing diggers/ dumpers I think I will have to do it :n:

[Quick]

What catagories have you got on your license at the moment??

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022547

Tells you about them.

[tomsmarty]

Only got car and bike (125cc).