Hi can anyone please confirm the train weight ie vehicle and caravan/ trailer that the 2021 change in the towing law allows people who passed their driving test after January 1997 I think ? I am Just checking for my son. I think the train weight vehicle and caravan is a total 3500kg Many thanks for any input .
Towing question please help
- Thread starter JB1
- Start date
You're incorrect - all drivers with a UK car licence get the same* entitlement - a vehicle up to 3500kg and a trailer up to 3500kg, train weight 7000kg.
Note that if towing abroad the BE will need to be on the licence - but for UK only use the BE isn't necessary as it will be added at next licence renewal.
* some older drivers can tow an even heavier trailer but irrelevant for caravans and trailers in practice.
- Mar 12, 2025
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Thank you RogerL for you reply I've looked and looked and never been able to understand the towing regs etc, regarding train waights etc, how simply you put it thank you I passed my test post 1997 so always been confused,
Incidentally I drive a tri axeled 42 foot coach with 55 pax and luggage 18 tonne give or take but not allowed to drive a motorhome over 3500kg.
Another ref that the British government should sort out
Incidentally I drive a tri axeled 42 foot coach with 55 pax and luggage 18 tonne give or take but not allowed to drive a motorhome over 3500kg.
Another ref that the British government should sort out
Have you got C1 on your licence - that's all you need for a motorhome up to 7.5 tonnes.
- Mar 12, 2025
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No I have not, that's my point I can drive a 18 tonne coach but I can't drive a motorhome up to 7.5 tonnes ........
- Jul 15, 2008
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.....yes and you and your son can drive a car + caravan combination weighing up to 7000kgs but are limited 3500kgs for a vehicle without a trailer/ caravan.
e.g.(motorhome )
Your D licence only covers Public Service Vehicles as you know .....lots of ridiculous driving licence rules that don't make much sense out there!
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It seems that passing your car and PSV test after 1997 doesn't give C1 automatically.
Or just look on your licence. The categories you are entitled to drive are listed there.
For some drivers, the BE won't be on the licence until their next renewal - in the mean time they can drive BE (car + trailer) in the UK - but not in EU until it's physically on their licence.
Thank for the replies I thought the info I found was not correct much appreciated.
- Oct 3, 2024
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Literally just had this pop up on my google feed -- “Following a change in law in 2021, anyone holding a full driving licence can now tow a caravan as long as the combined maximum authorised mass (MAM) of both the vehicle and the caravan does not exceed 3,500kg, with no additional qualifications. However, since not all caravans fit within this category, be sure to check the weight of your caravan to confirm you are permitted to tow it with a standard licence.
“If you got your driving licence before January 1, 1997, you can tow a larger caravan with a combined vehicle and caravan weight limit of up to 8.25 tonnes MAM, without needing an extra driving qualification."
“If you got your driving licence before January 1, 1997, you can tow a larger caravan with a combined vehicle and caravan weight limit of up to 8.25 tonnes MAM, without needing an extra driving qualification."
- Jul 18, 2017
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Somehow I think that the above is rather incorrect. LOL!
People in general, not just contributors to this forum, need to start challenging AI responses on the internet - whilst they can be good, too often they are plain wrong
- Jul 18, 2017
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I have noticed that on several occasions. Problem is that when you Google, that is the first thing that is thrown up and many people will think it is correct! I now go past it and I am considering using an alternative search engine as finding the AI answer annoying as if it is imposing being at top of search. I believe Duckgo does not have those issues.
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- Nov 16, 2015
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Unless you are over 70 years old, lost my C1+E at 70 years old. Unless you do the medical.
- Nov 16, 2015
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Fully agree, do NOT trust Google AI, it is American So therefore NOT intelligent.
- Sep 21, 2022
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I also have a coach licence, I was required from the age of 60 to have medicals, from 65 those medicals were yearly.
My point is here, those medicals were for professional driving, IE carrying passengers For Hire or Reward.
Why then do I need a medical to carry my family in a motorhome, It is not for Hire or reward. I am over 70
My point is here, those medicals were for professional driving, IE carrying passengers For Hire or Reward.
Why then do I need a medical to carry my family in a motorhome, It is not for Hire or reward. I am over 70
Why - to ensure you're medically fit to drive a larger vehicle, needing a C1 licence.
Motorhomes under 3500kg MAW can be driven on a B licence with just a medical self-declaration from age 70.
The medical for C1 from age 70 used to be less strict than the medical for vocational C & D licences but was brought into line with those a while back.
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........those passing their car test before January 1st 1997 obtained a driving license that allowed the holder to drive vehicles up to 7500kgs.
They could tow a unbraked trailer weighing up to 750kgs making a maximum train weight of 8250kgs.
They automatically had C1 vehicles and other categories added to the list of vehicles they could drive just by passing a car test.
There must be many drivers aged between their fourties and seventy that hold these licenses allowing them to still drive these vehicles.
Pass your car driving test after January 1st 1997 and you don't have any of these heavier vehicle categories.....you need to pass a seperate test to obtain them.
They could tow a unbraked trailer weighing up to 750kgs making a maximum train weight of 8250kgs.
They automatically had C1 vehicles and other categories added to the list of vehicles they could drive just by passing a car test.
There must be many drivers aged between their fourties and seventy that hold these licenses allowing them to still drive these vehicles.
Pass your car driving test after January 1st 1997 and you don't have any of these heavier vehicle categories.....you need to pass a seperate test to obtain them.
- Nov 16, 2015
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I just received yesterday an amendment, dated 10 June 2025 to INFO 30 Requirements for towing trailers. Gov INFO 30 this is the only difference I can find.
This is for the B category,
Note 7
You may drive a zero emission vehicle up to 4,250kg
MAM. This additional weight allowance applies to
vehicle types you can usually drive using a category B
licence. These vehicles can include (but are not limited
to) cars, SUVs, vans and small trucks. You may also
tow a trailer provided the MAM of the vehicle and trailer
combination does not exceed 7,000kg. The MAM of
the trailer must never exceed 3,500kg.
This is for the B category,
Note 7
You may drive a zero emission vehicle up to 4,250kg
MAM. This additional weight allowance applies to
vehicle types you can usually drive using a category B
licence. These vehicles can include (but are not limited
to) cars, SUVs, vans and small trucks. You may also
tow a trailer provided the MAM of the vehicle and trailer
combination does not exceed 7,000kg. The MAM of
the trailer must never exceed 3,500kg.
- Nov 11, 2009
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I tend to use DuckDuckGoas you get less cookie ads and no AI up front. Alternatively just scroll down past Google AI offering.
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