Can I Tow A Trailer?
Trailer Towing Licence Requirements
Summary
First and foremost, you must hold a full driving licence to tow anything in the UK.
Most drivers who passed their full UK Driving Licence test before 1st January 1997 have licence categories allowing them to drive vehicle and trailer combinations weighing up to 8.25 tonnes.
With effect from 1st January 1997, the second EC Directive on Driving Licences (91/439/EEC) came into effect. This affects new drivers passing their test after that date and HGV drivers who obtained their licence after 31 December 1991.
The net result is that new drivers will only be allowed to drive and tow the following combinations:
- Vehicles weighing up to 3500KG (category B) combined with a 750KG Gross rated trailer (4250KG total MAM).
- Category B vehicles with larger trailers (greater than 750KG Gross) provided that the combined MAM does not exceed 3500KG and the gross MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. To be able to tow combinations outside this ruling requires the passing of an additional test.
- New HGV drivers and those who have passed their HGV tests since 1 January 1992 will be restricted to towing trailers up to 750KG until they pass an additional test.
At Coventry Trailer Hire we have Box Trailers available for use on your Trailer Towing Licence test.
But don’t think you can’t tow on your licence! We have a great range of Lightweight Trailers and 750KG Gross Trailers for those without Trailer Towing Licences, as well as Car Transporters for those who do not exceed a MAM of 3500KG.
Call Coventry Trailer Hire today on 02476 666 304 to book a trailer today. We offer great service and pricing for customers across the Midlands; from Leicester to Birmingham, Northampton to Stratford-upon-Avon. We are the premier destination for Trailer Sales, Rental, Servicing & Repairs.
Detail of the Regulation
The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 SI 1990 No 842 classifies vehicles according to either:
“Maximum authorised mass” (permitted maximum weight). Vehicles over 3,500kg MAM are classified as LARGE GOODS VEHICLES (LGV’s) ? Number of seats. Vehicles having more than 8 seats (not including the drivers) are classified as PASSENGER CARRYING VEHICLES (PCV’s)
Requires Additional qualifications for people to drive LGV’s & PCV’s