Trailer Tips

Before you hitch up and tow, are you sure you are doing it legally?

Although a number of changes to the towing regulations came into force on the 1st September 1997, many drivers are flouting the law when it comes to hitching up a trailer, horse box, caravan or boat. And as ignorance is not a legal defence in the courts, there is a campaign by Driver Transport Training to raise awareness of the laws.

If you passed your driving test before 1st January 1997 and your driving licence states it includes B+E you are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes.
Drivers who passed their test on or after the 1st January 1997 are required to pass an additional test for them to legally tow a trailer. Although there are a host of weight combinations that alter these licence requirements, the general guide is that the size of a trailer recommended for an average family car comes within the new legislation.
One element that caught out many of the long term licence holders has been where a replacement licence has been issued if the original licence was lost or destroyed. Your new licence will not include the B+E element. Those who have altered their licence due to name or address changes should find that their original entitlements are transferred.
Driver Transport Training Chief Executive, Brian Hewitt has instigated the awareness campaign through his training centres across the UK. "There seems to be a lot confusion over the legal requirements for towing" said Brian " and we are keen to help everyday drivers realise what their new responsibilities are. Our advise is, if you are wanting to tow anything be it a horse box, boat, caravan or trailer and you are not sure if your licence entitles you to do so legally; give us a ring, have your licence in your hand and we can talk you through the legislation. It really is a case of better safe than sorry."
Driver Transport Training has seen an increase in the number of people approaching them who tow horseboxes, boats or caravans infrequently. "Those people who tow regularly tend to be aware of the legislation and have already made the necessary steps to meet the regulations" said Brian "It is the person who only occasionally tows a trailer who is unlikely to know about the changes. It is precisely these people who have had less practise and are in more need of support when reversing, hitching and unhitching their trailer and driving off road" These are all key elements in the new test.
Brian continues "it may seem strange to have driving off road as part of the towing test, but you will often tow a trailer over rough ground; it could be a campsite, a field car park or an uneven road to a slipway. When you consider it in context a lot of towing occurs off road."

The full regulations can be found at www.dvla.gov.uk and the DVLA Fact Sheet INF 30 Towing Trailers in Great Britain is available.
The training and test can be carried out at all Driver Transport Training Centres around the UK. To find your local centre call 0500 52 53 52. The test takes around an hour and is currently costs at £76:00. Training is additional.

Article: R.I.B. International Oct/Nov 2004

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