Trailer towing:- B and B+E licence rules explained

[ROG.]

Not sure if this is the right forum to post this in but it seems from doing a forum search that some may need my help with this...

I hope you will find this useful - many other sites have.
GOOGLE (copy & paste) the title below to confirm this.

Trailer towing:- B and B+E licence rules explained

Trailer MAM means the maximum weight the trailer can be when fully loaded (weight of empty trailer plus weight of load)

Trailers over 3500 kgs plated MAM weight come under different rules which is why all the trailers towed by B class vehicles, those of 3.5 tonnes and under, are not plated at more than 3500 kgs or 3.5 tonnes MAM

Trailers without plates use the total of the TYRE LOAD RATINGS to determine the MAM.
A rating of 66 on 4 tyres would give a MAM of 1200 kgs.

Vehicles in the B licence category will have the following information on a plate in the vehicle, in the handbook or on the V5 form.
Information can also be found on many internet vehicle specification sites.
Unladen or Kerb weight - although there is a slight difference in the two it is not that much
GVW - the max weight the vehicle can weigh when fully loaded
GTW - the max weight the vehicle and trailer can ACTUALLY weigh when added together. This does not refer to the total of the vehicle GWV and trailer MAM weights.
Towing capacity - this is the ACTUAL weight that can be towed by the vehicle - it does not mean the trailer MAM weight.
None of the above weights must be exceeded

Some vehicles have a GVW, a towing capacity and a GTW. In such a case the GTW takes priority over the GVW and towing capacity when added together

FOR B+E LICENCES

Where a towing capacity is listed then this would be a legal example:-
CAR has GVW of 2000 and a towing capacity of 1800
TRAILER has a MAM of 3500 and an unladen weight of 1000
The trailer can be loaded with a maximum weight of 800

Where there is not a towing capacity listed then the GTW is used
GTW minus the GVW does not give the towing capacity unless the vehicle is fully laden
EXAMPLE: -
VAN has GVW of 3500 and GTW of 6000
TRAILER has MAM of 3500
The van and trailer can weigh 3000 each and be legal

FOR B LICENCES
The Gov sites are not that good at explaining this so perhaps my simpler way of explaining will help.....

To tow over 750 kgs with a B licence you need to comply with these rules:-
The plated MAM of the trailer must not be more than the UNLADEN/KERB weight of the towing vehicle
The GVW of the towing vehicle plus the plated MAM of the trailer must not add up to more than 3500 kgs
The ACTUAL weight of the empty trailer and its load must not be more than the listed towing capacity

Example of legally towing over 750 kgs with a B licence - made up figures but not that far from what can be found....

Towing vehicle -
Unladen/empty/kerb = 1500
GVW = 2000
Towing capacity = 1800

Trailer -
Unladen/empty = 800
MAM = 1500 (Perhaps originally a 2000 MAM but downplated by manufacturer so it conforms to B licence towing)

Load trailer with 700 max

Reasons it is legal for towing on a B licence -
The 1500 MAM of the trailer is not more than the 1500 unladen/empty weight of the towing vehicle
The 2000 GVW of the towing vehicle plus the 1500 MAM of the trailer is not more than 3500
The towing capacity/actual weight being towed does not exceed 1800

Here is another way of looking at the B licence towing rules with examples:-

RULE 1 - The gross plated weight of the trailer (MAM) cannot exceed the vehicle kerbweight.

RULE 2 - Also, the sum of the vehicle gross plated weight (GVW) and the trailer gross plated weight (MAM) cannot exceed 3500kg.

Examples:-

Vehicle 1200kg kerbweight, 1700kg gross plated weight (GVW) = maximum trailer gross plated weight (MAM) 1200kg SEE RULE 1

Vehicle 1500kg kerbweight, 2000kg gross plated weight (GVW) = maximum trailer gross plated weight (MAM) 1500kg SEE RULES 1 & 2

Vehicle 1800kg kerbweight, 2300kg gross plated weight (GVW) = maximum trailer gross plated weight (MAM) 1200kg SEE RULE 2

The weight which can be loaded on the trailer is the trailer gross plated weight (MAM) minus the trailer unladen weight
Trailer gross plated weight (MAM) 1500 with unladen weight 900 = a maximum load of 600

The listed maximum towing capacity for a vehicle must not be exceeded - that is actual weight not plated MAM weight
Although there is not a specific law which states this there are other laws which can be used if the combination (vehicle & trailer) is deemed unsafe.

Caravan weights work on a slightly different system as they take into account the recommended (not legal) 85% towing advice

SUPERVISING A B+E LEARNER
In April 2010 new rules were introduced for those supervising certain learner drivers but they only affected those supervising VOCATIONAL categories such as C1 C1+E D1 & D1+E where the supervising driver had those categories given to them for free when they passed a pre 1997 car test.
They do not affect those with a pre 1997 B+E licence who wish to supervise a B+E learner.
All B licence holders have B+E provisional on the paper part of their licence and can tow an empty or loaded trailer on all roads including motorways.
The usual rules apply when a learner is driving -
The supervising driver must be aged over 21
The supervising driver must have held a B+E licence for at least 3 years
L plates must be fitted to the front of the vehicle and the rear of the trailer
Correct insurance for a B+E learner

Many will find that passing the once in a lifetime B+E test is their best option so here is some info on that test:-

The B+E test
No medical or theory test required
Read a number plate from a certain distance
VIDEO - Show Me Tell Me Questions - usually 5
The next three can be in any order:-
VIDEO - Reversing Exercise (old measurements) - done in test centre grounds if test conducted from practical test centre - some tests are now being done from training school grounds
VIDEO - Uncouple/couple up - done in test centre grounds if test conducted from practical test centre - some tests are now being done from training school grounds
One hour road drive - includes the independent drive and is done virtually the same as the basic car test

DISCLAIMER - I have no connection to any companies which may be featured in those videos

I hope this helps those who are unsure of the rules


Please post with this info if you want me to answer a specific query - weights in kgs please
(might be made easier if the info below is copied and pasted with the weights etc put after the '=' bits)

LICENCE
B or B+E =

VEHICLE
Unladen/kerb =
GVW =
GTW =
Towing capacity =

TRAILER
Unladen =
MAM =

[Moo.]

Considering this is a motorbike forum, the main questions were about towing with an A category... trailers for motorbikes, or could a motorbike tow a motorbike that has broken down.
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[ROG.]

I have done an internet search and it seems many motorbike transporter trailers are unbraked so perhaps this legal info will be useful:-

Any unbraked trailer must not be more than 750 kgs MAM and must not have a MAM greater than half of the towing vehicle kerb weight

That means if the kerb weight of the towing vehicle is 1300 kgs then the maximum unbraked trailer MAM (not actual weight) cannot be more than 650 kgs

If anyone has an unbraked trailer that has too high a MAM then it can be downplated by contacting the manufacturer of that trailer
The cost is usually free or for a minor admin cost
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Trailer towing:- B and B+E licence rules explained

[ROG.]

[J4mes]

The information is relevant - plenty of people ask about towing motorcross/track/new bikes on trailers behind cars.

But, it's in the wrong forum and this is the third or possibly 4th forum that I use there this bloke has randomly posted the exact same thing. Like he's a on a one-man mission to provide everyone with the correct towing information. When in fact, the information is plain to see on the DSA website.

But Meh, the moto GP is on.

[ROG.]

Motorcycle Single Wheel Trailer Law in the UK

[ROG.]

[st3v3]

Technically, the 'freebie' trailer licence was revoked after '97, so nobody that passed after can tow anything, at all, without doing the trailer test.

I'm booking it shortly.
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[Quornholio]

[ROG.]

[DrDonnyBrago]

Who asked?

[Quornholio]

I for one think it is a good post, but I am unsure as to which section of the forum it would be best suited to.

[J4mes]

[st3v3]

Well show some offcial fucking proof then, im not risking my licence based on what some clown on the internet said.

May as well take legal advice from warped!
I took my view from inspection of the Direct.Gov site.

No proof has been provided to counter it.
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[st3v3]

[MG]

[groovylee]

sorry st3v3, but he is right. i have just gone through all of this as i am looking at getting a caravan soon for family hols.

cheers for the informative post ROG.
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Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[Ste]

Spam?

[Quornholio]

[J4mes]

[ROG.]

I can understand some sceptisism as I am not an 'official' and if those who do not wish to believe what I am saying is correct then they have the choice to do that - no problem

My intention is to simply inform in a simple way what the Govt DVLA site says but that site does not make things as clear as it could be for many and does not have real life examples for comparison

For many it has been very useful in saving them loads of money they would have spent passing the B+E test which they did not actually need.

I would imagine that most on this site would be using cars to tow trailers with M/Cs on where, in many cases, the total MAM/GVW would be under 3500 kgs so therefore not needing the B+E?

The one rule that catches many out is the one for UNbraked trailers (750 kgs MAM or less) where it states the MAM of the trailer must not be more than half of the vehicle kerb weight
That is very easy for a roadside official to check on if stopped
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Trailer towing:- B and B+E licence rules explained

[ROG.]

[MG]

I'd say that the direct gov website explains the trailer laws as simply as you do, but with less text. So this is redundant.
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'03 Honda Cityfly 125 > '02 Honda CB500S > '98 Honda CBR600F

[ROG.]

[MG]