D

dwdw

Member
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.
 
DiscoPol said:
More off topic, but what the feck are you doing out of the bedroom?????
Click to expand...

Im not at home just yet mate, another day. flight leaves Nice in 32hours, not that im counting. lol.

How was your drive, you all settled in upt norf? :D

R0G said:
C+E covers you for virtually all trailer towing
Click to expand...

ah ok, cheers for that.
 
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
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

300bhp/ton
Legal towing with a Series III 88 - Sankey related
2
Replies
34
Views
7K
Turboman
Turboman
Nodge68
Freelander 2 (LR2) LR trouble codes.
Replies
6
Views
30K
Keith Kernow Kernewick
Keith Kernow Kernewick
19_Hue_95
Cynthia - 300tdi Project
Replies
8
Views
2K
19_Hue_95
19_Hue_95
D
trailer L plates
Replies
9
Views
2K
dwdw
D
D
L plates on trailer
2
Replies
29
Views
4K
R0G
R