Minumum vehicle requirements for the B+E test
The information below is taken from direct.gov.uk the governing body.
Category B + E - car and trailer test vehicles must be
· fitted with externally mounted, nearside and offside mirrors for use by the examiner or any person supervising the test.
· an unladen category B vehicle towing a suitably braked, unladen trailer of at least one tonne MAM. The examiner may ask for evidence of the trailer MAM, for example the manufacturer's plate.
All vehicle combinations must operate on appropriate brakes and utilise a coupling arrangement suitable for the weight.
The cargo compartment of the trailer must consist of a closed box body which is at least as wide and as high as the towing vehicle; the view to the rear should only be possible by use of the external rear-view mirrors of the towing vehicle.
WARNING if you are using you vehicle and trailer it is your responsibility to ensure that the vehicle and the trailer meet the above regulations it always best to check the lights the day before the test.
The car and trailer practical driving test.
The car and trailer test (B+E) is based on the lorry (C+E) driving test and lasts for approximately one and half hours. Of which one hour will be driving on the road and half an hour to do the uncoupling and re-coupling, show me tell me questions, reverse excerise and the controlled stop. You will also be asked to do an eye sight check.
The towing test (B+E) includes vehicle safety questions, an off-road reverse manoeuvre, a controlled stop, uncoupling and re-coupling of the trailer and driving on the road. Your training would ensure that these exercises can be carried out.
You won't be expected to carry out the following exercises:
· emergency stop on the public road
· reversing round a corner
· reverse parking
· turning in the road
Vehicle safety questions.
These are basic safety checks that you should carry out to ensure the vehicle is safe for use. Although some checks may involve opening the bonnet to identify where fluid levels would be checked, you won't be asked to touch a hot engine or physically check fluid levels.
As vehicle technology advances, more and more vehicles are being equipped with electronic diagnostic systems, which inform the driver of the state of the engine fluid levels and tyre pressures. It'll be acceptable for you to refer to the vehicle information system (if fitted) when answering questions on fluid levels or tyre pressures.
You'll be asked five questions, that'll be a combination of 'show me' and 'tell me'. A driving fault will be recorded for each incorrect answer to a maximum of four driving faults. If you answer all five questions incorrectly, a serious fault will be recorded.
Category B – DVLA Licencing Regulations
Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM* and with up to 8 passenger seats.
*MAM (Maximum Authorized Mass) means what the vehicle, trailer or combinatoin of both is allowed to weigh when fully laden. Please beawre of this as your unladen weight may be below 3500kg but your combination MAM could be over 3500kgs so making it illegal to tow without B+E
Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kg MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) OR a trailer over 750kg MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM.
For example:
(i) a vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement. This is because the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and also the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle.
Whereas
(ii) the same vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes when coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.5 tonnes would fall within category B+E. This is because although the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is within the 3.5 tonnes MAM limit, the MAM of the trailer is more than the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle.
Vehicle manufacturers normally recommend a maximum weight of trailer appropriate to their vehicle. Details can usually be found in the vehicle’s handbook or obtained from car dealerships. The size of trailer recommended for an average family car with an unladen weight of around 1 tonne would be well within the new category B threshold.
As for towing caravans, existing general guidance recommends that the laden weight of the caravan does not exceed 85% of the unladen weight of the car. In the majority of cases, caravans and small trailers towed by cars should be within the new category B threshold.
Note – An exemption exists that allows a full category B licence holder (other than category B1 or B1 invalid carriages) to drive a vehicle of a class included in category B + E where –
a) the trailer consists of a vehicle which is damaged or defective and is likely to represent a road safety hazard or obstruction to other road users,
b) the vehicle is driven only so far as is reasonably necessary in the circumstances to remove the hazard or obstruction, and
c) he receives no consideration for driving the vehicle.
By passing a category B test National Categories F (agricultural tractor), K (pedestrian controlled vehicle or mowing machine) and P (moped) continue to be added automatically.
Category B+E – Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM towing trailers over 750kg MAM
Category B+E allows vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM to be combined with trailers in excess of 750kg MAM. In order to gain this entitlement new category B licence holders have to pass a further practical test
For category B+E. There is no category B+E theory test. For driver licensing purposes there are no vehicle/trailer weight ratio limits for category B+E.
These details and all information on this site were correct at time of publication. We can not be held responsible for any changes since the publication. It is everyones responsibility who reads the articles on this web site to ensure they are up-to date with the regulations set on the DVLA or DSA websites.
