Limits for new drivers?

Searider · 25 August 2008, 22:41

Was referred to in an earlier thread but I couldn't really decipher what was being said.

Does anyone have a reference for the law on recently qualified drivers and what they can tow.

I had a look on the DVLA website and it was impossible to understand.

Could be a useful sticky if there is a clear answer.

Thanks

Nos4r2 · 26 August 2008, 00:46

Ok, this is it as clear as I can make it.
Terms
Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) is the maximum a loaded vehicle or trailer can weigh including cargo.

Kerb weight is the weight of the vehicle ready to drive (ie has oil and coolant in) with a full tank of fuel, and not loaded with either passengers or cargo.

So, if your car weighs 1000kg when empty (kerb weight) and has a MAM of 1500kg, you can carry 500kg in it including passengers.

What you can/can't tow without category B+E on your licence
The MAM of the trailer cannot exceed the kerb weight of the car.

The MAM of the car PLUS the MAM of the trailer cannot exceed 3500kg.

If the trailer is unbraked,the MAM of the trailer cannot be more than half the kerb weight of the car.

If a trailer has a MAM of over 750kg it HAS to have brakes.

Clear as mud yet?

Searider · 26 August 2008, 11:22

Thanks for that - I can see how to work it out now.

So with a MAM of 2120kg, kerb weight of 1550kg, for my A4 and a max weight of 710kg for the Searider trailer (unbraked) giving only 2930kg my GF can legally drive it.

Markyboyo · 27 August 2008, 12:48

you would also have to check in your cars manual to see if it is rated to pull 710Kgs "unbraked".
This would be the case regardless of what entitlement you have on your licence to make sure you are covering yourself 100% in the legal sense.

9D280 · 29 August 2008, 13:37

With a kerb weight of 1550 you should be OK - just.

I just looked at the Audi UK website - the smallest A4 saloon will take 740Kg unbraked, so you're probably OK, but as Markyboyo says, check your manual!! - Also be careful how much extra stuff you put in the boat - 30 Kg is not a lot of error margin - and not far off a 30L tank of fuel!

Pudd · 30 August 2008, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Searider

Does anyone have a reference for the law on recently qualified drivers and what they can tow.

I passed my test (B) in 2000 and could only pull 750kg braked or un-braked which is not a lot! with my fully loaded boat on back i was well over the limit and i had to do a trailer test to tow more then the 750kg (B+E)

The law come in December 1997 please correct me if i have mixed this date with some thing else.

The test was ok but expensive!

but what gets me is farmers do not have to do it to tow a trailer on a tractor and there is no weight limit on it as long as its within the safe limits of the tractor! but there 4x4's they do

Markyboyo · 30 August 2008, 20:53

You can tow more than 750Kg's with only cat B on your licence. Read what NOS wrote in the Second Post!

The law is an ass tho! I tow my humber destroyer(~1100kgs) with an ageing skoda octavia estate and can do so legally with cat B despite feeling that it is a little ott for the car.
It also bothers me that the trailer is nearly 6 inches wider than the car, especially on the lanes in Cornwall.
I would buy a 4x4 for towing purposes which would be much more capable and safe in all respects....but the small increase in the towcars MAM would make it illegal and I would need to do the trailer test!

How come I can't legally tow my boat with a sensible vehicle despite having been towing boats for 10 years without incidient.
My Mum on the other hand, who feels that her Fiat panda is a little too big, refuses to drive on motorways or into towns on any day other than sunday could always tow it for me...legally.....with a 6 tonne truck.....