new licence Rules 2013

[weejock]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/DG_201202
Was reading this new reg that is due to come in and was stuck between wondering if it meant you could only tow 750kg or will they still be able to have a 1500kg car and 1500kg trailer.

Either way I am assuming it is a drop of 750kg on the current train weight ?

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Jock,

Having read the Govt page you point to, I have to add a note of caution. Whilst the pages are on the Gov't website and they try to reflect regulations, they are not the regulations word for word. and as a consequence some of the finer points of the regulation may not be fully covered or explained on the page.

The first and definitive statement is that existing driving licence categories and entitlements will remain unchanged. So these changes will only affect new drivers passing their test after 19 January 2013.

There are two glaring differences or omissions in the detail:-
There is no reference to 'braked' or 'unbraked' trailers
There is no reference to the maximum towing ratio - (Tow vehicle ULW : Trailer MAM) which forms part of the current B entitlement,

It still implies that trailers of 750Kg MAM are classified as small trailers.

The major difference I see is that drivers with a cat BE licence will be limited to a gross train weight of 7000Kg. This is a reduction from from the BE limits of previous licences.

If the changes are as detailed on the pointed page, they will not affect normal touring caravans and other domestic trailers.

I have to re-stress that the actual regulations may be more detail specific in relation to braked trailers and towing ratio's.

 

[Lutz]

The changes to the category B licence are basically deletion of the requirement that the unladen weight of the towing vehicle must exceed the maximum allowable weight of the trailer. The gross train weight limit of 3500kg remains.
As for the category BE licence, a limit to the maximum allowable weight of the trailer of 3500kg will be introduced, replacing the existing weight ratio requirement..
These changes are effective EU wide as from the 19 January 2013. It will only affect new licences issued after that date.

 

[Surfer]

Whichever way you read it, the direct gov site is very unclear and ambigious. A newbie reading ti will be totally confused with the way it has been written. I am sure a GCSE pupil could do better! As stated it should not effect any of us already towing and having grandfather rights.
Our caravan has a MTPLM of 1800kgs with the truck weighing at about 1840kgs kerbweight and a braked towing capacity of 2250kgs.. It has no gross train weight on the VIN plate.

 

[weejock]

Thanks for the replies guys.
I was having a bit of trouble with the exact wording but thought I was missing something when reading.

Another great piece of helpful advice from Whitehall that has been delivered wrongly

 

[philspot1]

Yes, it's really not clear at all, is it? I read the bit about the trailer not weighing more than 3500 kg (which comes immediately after the combination must not exceed 3500kg) - thereby implying that you could tow a 3000kg trailer with a 500kg car!!. Pity I sold my 2CV, then.

 

[Lutz]

I didn't know there was such a thing as a 2CV with a 3000kg max allowable towload, but otherwise your assumption is correcr, yes.

 

[philspot1]

Yes, I overlooked that bit!!

 

[ProfJohnL]

I know the preceding few posts were a little tongue in cheek, but don't forget this legislation is not about what any tow vehicle can do - that is still limited by the vehicles specification. This thread is about what a driver is entitled to drive.

In these situations which ever applicable 'upper' limit is the smallest must be followed.

 

[Surfer]

I think the new regulations are going to hit those who tow horse boxes the hardest.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Surfer,

You have mentioned horse boxes before, and I am not sure what your concern is?

They are just trailers and as with any trailer, they have a stated MTPLM. Just as previously, you have to choose your tow vehicle accordingly.

Taking the Ifor Williams range, their smallest box has an MTPLM of 1600kg, and their largest 2700Kg. Both fall within the new BE 3500Kg limit.

So nothing has really changed.

 

[Surfer]

Fair enough but in many cases the MTPLM is far higher than the kerbwewight of the towing vehicle so maybe it is looking at restricting these and also people with vehilces for transporting horses. Just a guess.

 

[Lutz]

Fair enough but in many cases the MTPLM is far higher than the kerbwewight of the towing vehicle so maybe it is looking at restricting these and also people with vehilces for transporting horses. Just a guess.

But the change to the licence requirements is actually deleting this restriction that the MTPLM must not be higher than the kerweight.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Surfer,

Lutz has pointed out the new regulation will relax the maximum permitted MTPLM limitation for new Cat B licence holders. so there is no issue there.

The car still retains its maximum towing limits, so there is no change there either.

Don't forget the new changes are not retrospective so they only apply to drivers who take their test after 19th Jan 2013.

I don't think the legislators are specifically targeting horse box trailer owners.