The UK Driving License Requirements for Towing a Horse Trailer, or Driving a Horsebox
The legal requirements from the DVLA rules determining who can tow a horse trailer or drive a horsebox, are pretty complicated! They are mainly dependant on when you passed your driving license, with people passing in 1996 or earlier being legally able to do a lot more. This means, for us youngsters, that we have to take additional tests.
In order to simplify these rules, I'll split the horseboxes/trailers into 3 groups:
1. Can I tow a Horse Trailer? -
Did you get your driving license before 1st January 1997?
If the answer is 'Yes', then you're fine to drive any vehicle/trailer combo up to 8.25 tonnes. This will cover almost every horse trailer/vehicle!
If the answer is 'No', then you may need to pass an additional test to upgrade from a category B license to a category B+E license. To find out if you need to take the extra test, you need to know:
The unladen weight of your towing vehicle (A)The MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) of your towing vehicle (B)The MAM of your trailer (C)
You can find out these specifications from either your vehicle/trailer's guidebook or from the manufacturer.
Rules:
Towing vehicle's MAM must be less than 3500kgs (B < 3500kg)The trailer's MAM must be less than the vehicle's unladen weight (C < A)The trailer's MAM + the vehicle's MAM must be less than 3500kgs (B + C < 3500kg)
If you break any of these rules, then you will need to upgrade your license to gain category B+E. Go to the DVLA website for more information on this test and how to book it. At the time of writing, this test costs ?115 (?141 on an evening or weekend).
2. Can I drive a 3.5 tonne Horsebox? -
If the MAM of the horsebox is 3500kg (3.5 tonnes) or less, then you can drive it with a regular car license (category B).
3. Can I drive a 7.5 tonne Horsebox? -
Did you get your driving license before 1st January 1997?
If the answer is 'Yes', then you should have category C1 on your license and you are able to drive a horsebox with a MAM of 7500kgs (7.5 tonnes) or less.
If the answer is 'No', then you will need to pass a LGV (light goods vehicle) test to get a category C1 on your license. Category C1 enables you to drive vehicles from 3.5 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes.
NB. To drive vehicles larger than 7.5 tonnes, you need a HGV (category C) license.
To get a category C1 provisional license, you need to have a doctor complete a Medical Examination Form (D4). The cost of this assessment varies depending on the doctor, but will be approx ?100. You can download this form from the DVLA website. You need to send this completed medical form, plus an application form (D2) to the DVLA, along with your license (both the paper and photocard parts). You will then need to take a theory and a practical test. Again, refer to the DVLA website for the test fees. You can access the relevant DVLA pages via the TipsandBits website, click here.
Hope this helps to explain the rules!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment