14-12-2014, 08:02 AM
Hi,
Be careful that a Transit carrying a car, plus passengers, tools, sandwiches, etc does not exceed the 3500kg limit for a Cat.B licence. A Cat.B+E can drive up to 3500kg, and plus a trailer that takes combined weight up to 7500kg. But any trailer over 3500kg MGW requires air brakes (which you can't afford) (OK, to be pedantic, there are options other than air brakes, but I've never seen them). So if you have a Cat.B, you are limited to 3500kg MGW TOTAL. And if you have a Cat.B+E, you are EFFECTIVELY limited to driving 3500kg MGV plus a 3500kg MGW trailer (or even a 3500kg ALW trailer, but do your own research on that).
Any tow car built after 1980ish will have a recomended towing limit shown on the VIN plate. It is an offence to exceed that limit, but that should not affect your Third Party insurance. You insurers may get po-faced if you claim for Own Damage. If a tow limit is not shown on the VIN plate, then it may be that the car is not approved for towing eg - Toyota IQ.
A car being towed is considered to be an UNBRAKED TRAILER, even if somebody is sitting in the driver's seat. Unfortunately, is also considered to be a car, so has to comply with legislation for both cars AND trailers. A braked trailer, unless built a long time ago, must be fitted with auto-reverse brakes, on all wheels ... difficult to do with a car on a dolly or A-frame.
I believe A-frames have been outlawed in main-land Europe, and I would not be surprised if UK follows suite.
If you drive anything heavier than your licence entitlement, you will be driving without a licence. If you don't have a licence ... you ain't insured.
My advice to anybody who has a lot of driving years in front of them, is to spend a few hundred pounds on passing a trailer test. Do it NOW ... it ain't going to get any easier.
To anybody who passed their test prior to 1997 (?) and has Cat.B+E, plus Cat C and D. be aware that when you turn 70, you will be dropped to Cat B+E, but keep your moped entitlement, unless you pass a medical at your own expense. Diabetics need not apply. For a few years, I was in the silly situation of having to wear L-plates and be accompanied by SWMBO if driving anything over 3500kg, even though I taught HER to drive. That ignoble situation changed when she turned 70.
If you are disqualified, I think your new licence will be Cat.B only. But cheque that.
602
602
Be careful that a Transit carrying a car, plus passengers, tools, sandwiches, etc does not exceed the 3500kg limit for a Cat.B licence. A Cat.B+E can drive up to 3500kg, and plus a trailer that takes combined weight up to 7500kg. But any trailer over 3500kg MGW requires air brakes (which you can't afford) (OK, to be pedantic, there are options other than air brakes, but I've never seen them). So if you have a Cat.B, you are limited to 3500kg MGW TOTAL. And if you have a Cat.B+E, you are EFFECTIVELY limited to driving 3500kg MGV plus a 3500kg MGW trailer (or even a 3500kg ALW trailer, but do your own research on that).
Any tow car built after 1980ish will have a recomended towing limit shown on the VIN plate. It is an offence to exceed that limit, but that should not affect your Third Party insurance. You insurers may get po-faced if you claim for Own Damage. If a tow limit is not shown on the VIN plate, then it may be that the car is not approved for towing eg - Toyota IQ.
A car being towed is considered to be an UNBRAKED TRAILER, even if somebody is sitting in the driver's seat. Unfortunately, is also considered to be a car, so has to comply with legislation for both cars AND trailers. A braked trailer, unless built a long time ago, must be fitted with auto-reverse brakes, on all wheels ... difficult to do with a car on a dolly or A-frame.
I believe A-frames have been outlawed in main-land Europe, and I would not be surprised if UK follows suite.
If you drive anything heavier than your licence entitlement, you will be driving without a licence. If you don't have a licence ... you ain't insured.
My advice to anybody who has a lot of driving years in front of them, is to spend a few hundred pounds on passing a trailer test. Do it NOW ... it ain't going to get any easier.
To anybody who passed their test prior to 1997 (?) and has Cat.B+E, plus Cat C and D. be aware that when you turn 70, you will be dropped to Cat B+E, but keep your moped entitlement, unless you pass a medical at your own expense. Diabetics need not apply. For a few years, I was in the silly situation of having to wear L-plates and be accompanied by SWMBO if driving anything over 3500kg, even though I taught HER to drive. That ignoble situation changed when she turned 70.
If you are disqualified, I think your new licence will be Cat.B only. But cheque that.
602
602