Main Notice Board
New Driving Licence Rules for Towing Trailers 2021 - and changes to towing in the EU
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There are New rules for towing a trailer or caravan with a car from autumn 2021 Find out how the changes affect you @ - Click Here -
That page tells you about changes to the rules for towing trailers and caravans with a car, It will be updated if anything changes, this post will not so sign up on the page linked to for any updates.
Basically What you?re currently allowed to tow Licences issued before 1 January 1997
You will not be affected by the changes if you passed your car driving test before 1 January 1997. You?re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). You can check your entitlement online: - Click Here -
Licences issued from 1 January 1997 to 18 January 2013
If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997 to 18 January 2013, you can currently drive either of the following::
a car or van up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (up to 4,250kg in total)
a trailer over 750kg MAM, as long as it is no more than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (up to 3,500kg in total)
You?ve had to pass a car and trailer driving test if you want to tow anything heavier.
Licences issued from 19 January 2013
If you passed your car driving test from 19 January 2013, you can currently drive either of the following:
a car or van up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (up to 4,250kg in total)
a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg
You?ve had to pass a car and trailer driving test if you want to tow anything heavier.
What will change later in 2021
If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you?ll be allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM when the law changes.
DVLA will update your driving licence record to show that you?re allowed to tow trailers. You?ll get category BE added to your driving licence when you get a new photocard driving licence.
You do not need to contact DVLA for this to happen. It will be done automatically.
The date the law will change has not yet been confirmed.However you can sign up for e mail alerts @ - Click Here -
Car and trailer driving tests stopping from 20 September 2021
Car and trailer driving tests are stopping before the law changes. You can no longer book or take a car and trailer driving test from 20 September 2021. However, the law will not change until later in 2021.
What you can do until the law changes
Until the law changes later in autumn 2021, you must continue to follow the current rules about what you?re allowed to tow based on when you passed your car driving test.
You can be fined up to ?1,000, be banned from driving and get up to 6 penalty points on your driving licence if you tow anything heavier before the law changes.
You?re only allowed to tow anything heavier if you?re being supervised. When you?re being supervised, you must: display L plates to the front of the car and the rear of the trailer and be accompanied by a person who?s at least 21 years old and has had category BE on their driving licence for at least 3 years.
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Weekly update from GOV.UK
There will be new rules about towing a trailer or caravan with a car from 15 November 2021. Find out how the changes affect you. - Click Here -
Change made:
What will change from 15 November 2021
If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you?ll be allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM from 15 November 2021.
DVLA will update your driving licence record to show that you?re allowed to tow trailers. You?ll get category BE added to your driving licence when you get a new photocard driving licence.
Category BE
You can drive a vehicle with a MAM of 3,500kg with a trailer.
The size of the trailer depends on the BE ?valid from? date shown on your licence. If the date is:
before 19 January 2013, you can tow any size trailer
on or after 19 January 2013, you can tow a trailer with a MAM of up to 3,500kg
You do not need to contact DVLA for this to happen. It will be done automatically.
MAM = Maximum authorised mass
Maximum authorised mass (MAM) means the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it?s being used on the road.
This is also known as gross vehicle weight (GVW) or permissible maximum weight.
It will be listed in the owner?s manual and is normally shown on a plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle.
The plate or sticker may also show a gross train weight (GTW), also sometimes called gross combination weight (GCW). This is the total weight of the tractor unit plus trailer plus load. -
Update:
The statutory instrument was not approved in time for the No. 2 Regulations to come into force on 15 November 2021. Since such affirmative statutory instruments cannot be amended once laid in draft, we have taken action to lay the regulations afresh as the draft Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2021 (the ?No. 5 Regulations?).
To make rapid progress on this, we are seeking to make use of the urgency procedure under paragraph 14(6) of schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. I am of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, the requirements for this affirmative statutory instrument (by virtue of paragraph 13(1) of schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) to be made after being published in draft for 28 days, together with a scrutiny statement, should not apply.
Forgoing the 28-day publication period will allow earlier laying of the No. 5 Regulations than would have otherwise been possible and strengthen the steps we have already taken to increase HGV testing capacity and ease supply chain issues as quickly as possible. Arrangements will be in place to ensure that the changes made by the No. 5 Regulations are operationally effective as soon as they come into force. -
Update from GOV.UK
New rules for towing a trailer with a car from 16 December 2021
The rules about towing a trailer or caravan with a car changed on 16 December 2021.
If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you?re now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM.
Check your car?s handbook to find out its gross train weight (GTW). This is the total allowable weight of the car plus the trailer plus the load.
Transporting horses in horseboxes and trailers
The licences and qualifications you need to transport horses and how to keep your horses and vehicles safe.
When you transport a horse with a horsebox or trailer you need to make sure you:
* have the right driving licence for the weight of your vehicle or trailer
* have an operator licence (if you need one)
* are qualified to transport horses if you?re travelling for over 8 hours
*do not overload your vehicle or trailer
*carry out regular safety checks
*have a valid MOT for your vehicle or trailer
*follow rules on animal welfare
Find out how the changes affect you: - Click Here -
From February 2022 you may also need an 'Operators Licence' if travelling outside the UK More details: - Click Here -
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Update from GOV.UK
The rules are getting more complex as you will need to: Register road haulage journeys within Europe from 2 February 2022
Rather than repeat everyting here ANYONE likely to be affected should read the update on the gov.uk website> - Click Here -
Updated link to Towing In Europe: - Click Here -
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Update from Gov.UK
Latest update following the consultation on proposed changes is online:: - Click Here -