towing trailer on motorway with "L" plates

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dwdw

Member
Posts
47
further to my post of a few weeks back, having contacted DVLA & DSA this is what they say.

Well it took a long time for the two agencies to agree, one said it is legal to tow trailer whilst being "supervised" on motorway & displaying "L" plates the other said its illegal. Having pointed this out to them & the need to have the correct information on this legal point they now agree..............

Dear Sir (my name removed to avoid spam)

Thank you for your email received on 1/8/12. Your email reference number is 95455746.

I can confirm that legislation was passed to enable drivers holding a provisional B + E, to drive on the motorway.

This is permissible as you will have already passed a test in category B.

The amending legislation was the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 1996. (SI1996 No.3053).
You will need to display L plates whilst driving as a provisional driver.

I apologise for the confusion in our previous replies.

Regards

L Hodgetts
Customer Enquiries Group
DVLA

[FONT=&quot]And from DSA[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Dear Sir (name reomved to avoid spam) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Thank you for your email dated 6 July[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Regarding your query over driving B+E whilst under instruction on a motorway please see below for the answer.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Yes, same as all other learner/accompanying Regulations i.e. you must display L plates and be accompanied by a driver who is over the age of 21 and has held a full B+E for at least 3 years. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Yours sincerely Peter Ancrum[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Customer Service Representative [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Driving Standards Agency[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Asking about wife who has pre 1997 license is she able to "supervise" me whilst I tow the trailer[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Dear DW[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Thank you for your email dated 5 July[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I can confirm that anyone is eligible to provide tuition in Category B+E as long as the person providing tuition is over the age of 21 and has held a full Category B+E licence for more than 3 years. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Whilst learning you must have forward and rearward facing L-Plates attached to the vehicle and trailer while you are practicing. These must be clearly visible, and must not obstruct the vision of the driver, trainer or the examiner.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I can also confirm a learner can drive on a motorway the same as all other learner/accompanying regulations.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Andrew Pringle[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Customer Service Representative [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Driving Standards Agency[/FONT]
 
That is interesting. I read somewhere recently, possibly directgov, that you could only supervise a b+e learner if you'd passed the separate trailer test yourself.
 
mundungus said:
That is interesting. I read somewhere recently, possibly directgov, that you could only supervise a b+e learner if you'd passed the separate trailer test yourself.
Click to expand...

SUPERVISING A B+E LEARNER
In April 2010 new rules were introduced for those supervising certain learner drivers but they only affected those supervising VOCATIONAL categories such as C1 C1+E D1 & D1+E where the supervising driver had those categories given to them for free when they passed a pre 1997 car test.
They do not affect those with a pre 1997 B+E licence who wish to supervise a B+E learner.
All B licence holders have B+E provisional on the paper part of their licence and can tow an empty or loaded trailer on all roads including motorways.
The usual rules apply when a learner is driving -
The supervising driver must be aged over 21
The supervising driver must have held a B+E licence for at least 3 years
L plates must be fitted to the front of the vehicle and the rear of the trailer
Correct insurance for a B+E learner
 
Slightly off topic here but slightly relevant.

I hold a class one HGV licence. Can i tow a trailer? Im confused!
 
BIG_GINGA_BEARD said:
Slightly off topic here but slightly relevant.

I hold a class one HGV licence. Can i tow a trailer? Im confused!
Click to expand...

I've also got a class 1 and I've just dragged a wagon+drag behind a 6 wheeler from Cambridgeshire to purfleet...can I do this on a class 1 or should I have had a class 1+E??
 
R0G said:
SUPERVISING A B+E LEARNER
In April 2010 new rules were introduced for those supervising certain learner drivers but they only affected those supervising VOCATIONAL categories such as C1 C1+E D1 & D1+E where the supervising driver had those categories given to them for free when they passed a pre 1997 car test.
They do not affect those with a pre 1997 B+E licence who wish to supervise a B+E learner.
All B licence holders have B+E provisional on the paper part of their licence and can tow an empty or loaded trailer on all roads including motorways.
The usual rules apply when a learner is driving -
The supervising driver must be aged over 21
The supervising driver must have held a B+E licence for at least 3 years
L plates must be fitted to the front of the vehicle and the rear of the trailer
Correct insurance for a B+E learner
Click to expand...

Good stuff. Where are you quoting from though. I cant find any government website that spells it out as you have.

Seems strange that the supervisor would need to have B+E for 3 years though. I can understand having B for 3 years, but having E as well doesn't necessarily mean you have 3 years actual experience of towing. Many people i know who have the grandad rights have never towed anything.

Im currently doing trailer lessons because I want to tow a car transporter trailer. I passed my test in march 1997 two months after the cut off for needing the separate test. Seems odd that if I pass it, i wont be able to supervise anyone else with a trailer for 3 years even though I've been driving for 15 years. I'd have thought that everything I'm learning from these lessons would be much fresher just after passing the trailer test. 3 years down the line I'll be back to all the old bad habits I'm sure.
 
mundungus said:
Good stuff. Where are you quoting from though. I cant find any government website that spells it out as you have.
.
Click to expand...


No idea, but I would believe Rog, he runs the towing clinic on HHO and he's not been wrong yet.
 
suew said:
No idea, but I would believe Rog, he runs the towing clinic on HHO and he's not been wrong yet.
Click to expand...

Oh i don't dispute it, it looks like a quote from somewhere. I see he has posted the same thing on a few sites. Id just like to see an official site that confirms it.

The government sites seem sketchy at best on that level of detail. If i ever found myself pulled by plod having accidentally done the wrong thing, it would be nice to have a source of information to refer to that's a bit more official than Rog from the internet.
 
Last edited:
mundungus said:
Oh i don't dispute it, it looks like a quote from somewhere. I see he has posted the same thing on a few sites. Id just like to see an official site that confirms it.

The government sites seem sketchy at best on that level of detail. If i ever found myself pulled by plod having accidentally done the wrong thing, it would be nice to have a source of information to refer to that's a bit more official than Rog from the internet.
Click to expand...



Have a look on here, I think most questions have been asked and answered at least once, souces are usually quoted

Welcome to HHO Towing Clinic - Horse and Hound Forums
 
the thing that seems strange to me is that i can have a B+E allowing me to tow a large van (not exceeding 3.5t) and a long car trailer (not exceeding 3.5t) which can be as long and as high as a 6 wheeler. But if i took my C1 test and i drove a 5T transit for example, I then have to take a separate trailer test again to get my C1+E even though there may not be any size difference in the vehicles only plated weight. This is the same for C and C+E aswell.

The best thing to do is get yer C+E and then you are covered for all vehicle, trailer combinations
 
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