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[tunnie]

Towing TB's dead V6 back yesterday, it was uncertain whether it was fully legal for me to do so. I passed my test in 2001 for the car, so its the modern license with limitations.

Reading here, looks like i was ok after all:

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

Car licences obtained on or after 1 January 1997

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 750kgs, 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 will 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

With Omega being 1,700kg's looks like i just scraped under the limit, I was wondering if it was worth taking a 7.5 ton test to get my limit up if i ever need to trailer anything.

Taking another read here:

http://www.dataacademy.co.uk/lgv-hgv-training/category-c1/

Suggests skipping C1, and go straight for C licence. Question is can i go straight to that, skipping the B+E?  :-/

[Andy B]

That's what I hinted when I first replied. I reckon 2 Omegas are going to be more tha 3500kgs  :-/

It's all a farce anyway. You'd be not legal if you used a 3 tonne car to tow a 1 tonne caravan but quite safe. However you'd be legal if you towed a 1750kg trailer with 1750kg car  :-?  :-?

[Arrolman]

Hi,

C1 and C cost the same, can go straight to C as I did, means you can drive any rigid anysize for same money as 7.5 ton licence. However, doesn't allow you to tow anything over the specified limits of the car licence. Would still be required to do B+E or C+E to tow more weight

Cheers,
Iain

[tunnie]

That's what I hinted when I first replied. I reckon 2 Omegas are going to be more tha 3500kgs  :-/

It's all a farce anyway. You'd be not legal if you used a 3 tonne car to tow a 1 tonne caravan but quite safe. However you'd be legal if you towed a 1750kg trailer with 1750kg car  :-?  :-?

Looking at Parkers...

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Detail.aspx?deriv=17932

2.5 Elite is 1770 kg, 2.2 CD comes in at 1549 kg! Elite goodies add some extra weight!

If i had an Elite too, would be over at 3,540. But as i have a CD, just make it at 3,319  8-)

[tunnie]

Hi,

C1 and C cost the same, can go straight to C as I did, means you can drive any rigid anysize for same money as 7.5 ton licence. However, doesn't allow you to tow anything over the specified limits of the car licence. Would still be required to do B+E or C+E to tow more weight

Cheers,
Iain

Damn!

[Andy B]

Looking at Parkers...

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Detail.aspx?deriv=17932

2.5 Elite is 1770 kg, 2.2 CD comes in at 1549 kg! Elite goodies add some extra weight!

If i had an Elite too, would be over at 3,540. But as i have a CD, just make it at 3,319  8-)

I don't think any decent copper is going to grill you over weights & trailers if you're recovering a car on a rope/pole, it's more to do with towing trailers/caravans.

[tunnie]

might investigate taking that test, as never know might need to trailer something. Guy in town does reasonable rates on car transporter trailers

[Elite Pete]

Loo Knee towed me back from Peterborough, I was in a facelift MV6 and he was in his Escort Cabriolet. We were passed by a mini bus full coppers and they didn't even look twice

[Psychoca]

If you can find the funds for it, do your C then your C+E...  Will give you the trailer stuff then...

It is a PITA, the current restrictions on a standard car licence...  I only realised after I had been driving a 3.5 ton van dragging a .75 ton trailer all summer a few years back...

[tunnie]

If you can find the funds for it, do your C then your C+E...  Will give you the trailer stuff then...

It is a PITA, the current restrictions on a standard car licence...  I only realised after I had been driving a 3.5 ton van dragging a .75 ton trailer all summer a few years back...

I bet if i did the C+E, i would need to do the B+E as well, or does C+E cover that?

[Arrolman]

C+E covers it

Cheers,
Iain

[tunnie]

C+E covers it

Cheers,
Iain

Cheers, very interesting that. 

[Mr Skrunts]

Loo Knee towed me back from Peterborough, I was in a facelift MV6 and he was in his Escort Cabriolet. We were passed by a mini bus full coppers and they didn't even look twice

Did they know how far you had travelled though or were they off to the secret policemans ball.

[Mr Skrunts]

Do all classes stay the same from an old (Pink) licence to the new green one for all us oldie that have to upgrade to a new photo licece.  i,e. the 7,5 tonne capacity and the bigger mini bus (seats) capacity.

[Kevin Wood]

Do all classes stay the same from an old (Pink) licence to the new green one for all us oldie that have to upgrade to a new photo licece.  i,e. the 7,5 tonne capacity and the bigger mini bus (seats) capacity.

You should get the same entitlement - but check, because they have been known to craftily remove them.

FWIW, towing an Omega with another Omega will always exceed the towing limits of the towing vehicle so it's irrelevant what license you have IMHO. The Police would generally turn a blind eye to this as towing a disabled vehicle to safety is not the same as deliberately setting out to tow an unsafe load.

The new entitlement is counter productive, IMHO, because it encourages newer drivers to tow with lighter cars. Madness. I guess it was done to "bring us in line" with Europe.

Kevin