What is a B+E drivers’ licence?
A category B+E licence relates to a car (B) + a trailer (E).
A trailer (E) can include a number of vehicles:
- Utility trailers
- Caravans
- Horse boxes
- A boat on a trailer
- Camper trailers
- Catering trailers
And more…
A standard car licence (cat B) allows drivers to tow a trailer up to a certain weight (see below). For towing heavier trailers, drivers must pass their B+E driving test.
Do I need a B+E licence to tow my trailer or can I use my standard car (B) licence?
This depends on when you passed your driving test (B) and the type of trailer you want to tow.
For reference: Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) is the limit a vehicle can weigh when loaded.
Licences issued before 1st January 1997
If you passed your car (B) driving test before 1st January 1997:
- “You are usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg MAM.” gov.uk
It is important to check your driving licence information online.
Licences issued after 1st January 1997
If you passed your car (B) driving test on or after 1st January 1997 you can:
- Drive a car up to 3,500kg MAM with a trailer up to 750kg MAM.
- Tow a trailer over 750kg MAM if the combined MAM of the car (B) and trailer (E) does not exceed 3,500kg.
If you want to drive a vehicle and trailer heavier than the above combinations, by law you must gain your B+E driving licence. Driving without the correct licence can lead to a penalty of £1000 and points on your licence.
We recommend contacting us to discuss the type of trailer you want to tow. We will happily give you FREE advice and explain if you require a B+E driving licence.
How much does it cost to get my B+E licence?
We’ve split the costs between our B+E training prices and the driving test fees. One FREE test is included in all of our BE training packages.
LDT Training Prices
| TRAINING (HOURS) | PRICE (INCLUDING FREE TEST) |
|---|---|
| 8 Hours | £425 |
| 12 Hours | £575 |
| 16 Hours | £725 |
Car and Trailer (B+E) Driving Test Prices
| DAY | PRICE |
|---|---|
| Weekday | £115 |
| Weekends | £141 |
What will I learn in the B+E training course?
Our B+E training course is conducted by our head coach, Carl Browett. Carl has over 12 years experience as a car and trailer & HGV driving instructor.
The training course will teach you how to correctly:
- Inspect your trailer is road legal
- Couple (attach) and uncouple (detach) the trailer to your vehicle
- Pull off and over at the side of the road
- Reverse the vehicle and trailer
- Maneuver your vehicle in a number of road conditions including motorways
The course is 1 to 1 meaning you’ll receive the maximum amount of training time. Carl will help prepare you for the test to ensure you have the highest opportunity to pass first time.
What vehicle will I be training in?
We have just purchased a new state of the art vehicle and trailer for all of our drivers to learn in.
There are strict rules and regulations for the types of vehicles and trailers allowed for the B+E driving test. Our vehicle has been specifically designed to meet these regulations.
All of our students can use our vehicle for their driving test, completely FREE of charge.
What does the B+E driving test involve?
The test lasts for approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.
There are 6 parts to the B+E driving test:
- Eyesight check
- Vehicle safety check questions (Show me, tell me)
- Reversing your vehicle
- General driving ability
- Independent driving
- Coupling (attach) and Uncoupling (detach) the trailer
What can I tow when I receive my B+E driving licence?
For reference: Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) is the limit a vehicle can weigh when loaded.
After passing your B+E driving test, you can drive a towing vehicle with a (MAM) of 3,500kg with a trailer of the following sizes:
- BE licences ‘valid from’ before 19 January 2013; you can tow any size trailer
- BE licences ‘valid from’ after 19 January 2013; you can tow a trailer up to 3,500kg MAM
Contact us today for a friendly chat about your towing needs
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