Are you towing the line?
Does your work or your leisure interests mean that you are required to tow something behind your vehicle? Be it regularly or just occasionally? A contractor's trailer, a car transporter, a horse trailer, a large caravan, a boat or even your friend's car which has broken down? If you have answered yes - are you sure you are doing so legally?
Because if you passed your L test after January 1997, the chances are that you are not. Before that date, when you obtained your full licence to drive a car (category B), you were also permitted to drive a lorry (up to 7.5 tonnes, category C1) and a minibus (a vehicle with more than 8 passenger seats, category D1). You were also entitled to tow with any of those vehicles (adding an E to each of the categories). Passing your L test after January 1997 only licences you for category B. If you wish to tow anything larger than a small camping trailer (up to 750kg) you will need to pass an additional B+E test.
This test is carried out by DSA examiners at the vocational (lorry and bus) test centres. It comprises: A number of safety check questions, a reversing exercise, a controlled stop exercise, an uncoupling and recoupling exercise and an on road drive of approximately one hour. This will include the motorway, where appropriate. You will also need to comply with the minimum requirements for the vehicle and trailer that you present for the test.
As with any driving test, you will wish to ensure that you are properly prepared by taking some tuition with a professional trainer who has experience of the complete B+E test and also access to an off-road area where the reversing exercises can be practised and perfected. With Green Light Towing Tuition, you will be able to use your own vehicle and either your trailer (with L plates of course!) or Green Light's trailer. Which fully complies with the minimum test vehicle requirements. Contact Larry Girling for further details.