Car and Trailer Towing Legislation Changes

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has introduced changes which will now allow car drivers to tow a trailer without having to take an extra test. The change came into effect on 25^th April and was part of a larger proposal which sought to:

• Allow drivers to take one test to drive both a rigid and articulated lorry, rather than having to pass a test in a rigid lorry first, and then another in an articulated lorry
• Allow drivers who want to use a bus or coach to tow a trailer, to take one test with a trailer rather than having to pass a test without a trailer first
• Allow the ‘off-road manoeuvres’ part of the test to be assessed by the driver training industry

The DVSA hopes that removing the requirement to take a car and trailer (B+E) test, will allow greater opportunities for those with a car licence for leisure, and offer potential employment and business opportunities for work in the construction, agricultural and delivery industries, amongst others.

The rules for car drivers who wish to tow a trailer, caravan or horsebox are now different depending on when they passed their test.

Drivers who passed their car test before 1st January 1997 can tow a car and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM).

Drivers who passed their car test on or after 1st January 1997 can:

• Drive a car or van up to 3,500kg MAM, towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM
• Tow a trailer over 750kg MAM (as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg MAM)

Drivers who wish to tow anything heavier, must still pass a B+E test.

You can find out more about the changes in legislation here.

You can keep up to date with other legislative changes here.