If you passed your car driving test before 1st January 1997 you would not need to take a B&E test.
If you passed your car driving test after 1st January 1997 read on because you may have to take a B&E test
Drivers who have passed their test since 1st January 1997 will only have category B and not have category B&E on their licence. Without this category you will be restricted in the type of trailer you can tow. Category B&E allows you to tow trailers up to 3500kg provided that you do not exceed the towing vehicles towing limit (always refer to your vehicle handbook for its MAM and towing capacities before using it to tow a trailer).
Drivers with only category B on their licence can provisionally tow trailers up to 3500kg if accompanied by a driver who holds category B&E.
Licences issued from 19th January 2013
From 19th January 2013, drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow:
small trailers weighing no more than 750kg trailers weighing
trailers weighing more than 750kg, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer isn't more than 3,500kg
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.
This is also known as Maximum Gross Weight (MGW) or Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). With trailers, the MAM represents the maximum combined unladen weight of the trailer and the permitted load it can carry. For example, if your trailer''s MAM is 3500kg and the trailer weighs 1000kg, then the maximum load permitted to be carried by the trailer is 2500kg. The maximum gross weight of the trailer should be displayed on the type plate.
The MAM of the vehicle refers to the combined vehicle curb weight (unladen weight) and load capacity.
- The MAM of the trailer must not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combined MAM of the trailer and the vehicle must not exceed 3500kg if the MAM of the trailer is more than 750kg.
- If the MAM of the trailer is 750kg or less the combined MAM of the trailer and the towing vehicle must not exceed 4250kg and the MAM of the towing vehicle should not exceed 3500kg.
For Example:
A vehicle with an unladen weight of 1250kg and a MAM of 2000kg, towing a trailer with a MAM of 1000kg could be driven by a category B licence holder. This is because the combined MAM of the vehicle and the trailer does not exceed 3500kg and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the vehicle.
However:
The same vehicle towing a trailer with a MAM of 1400kg could not be driven by a category B licence holder because although the combined MAM does not exceed 3500kg, the MAM of the trailer exceeds the unladen weight of the vehicle.
If this is as clear as mud to you then please contact me for more information or go to www.direct.gov.uk
