B&E Trailer Licence

We can offer you 1-2-1
B&E Trailer Licence Training.

New rules for towing a trailer with a car from 16 December 2021

What you could tow before 16 December 2021

Licences issued before 1 January 1997

You are not affected by the changes if you passed your car driving test before 1 January 1997.

You’re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). View your driving licence information to check.

You’re also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.

Licences issued from 19 January 2013

If you passed your car driving test from 19 January 2013, you were allowed to drive either of the following:

a car or van up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (up to 4,250kg in total)
a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg

You’ve had to pass a car and trailer driving test if you want to tow anything heavier.

What changed on 16 December 2021

If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you’re now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM.

Check your car’s handbook to find out its gross train weight (GTW). This is the total allowable weight of the car plus the trailer plus the load.

DVLA will update your driving licence record to show that you’re allowed to tow trailers. You do not need to contact DVLA for this to happen. It will be done automatically. You’ll get category BE added to your driving licence when you next apply to get a new driving licence.

If you passed your car driving test before 1 January 1997, you are not affected by the change.

Driving a car and trailer for the first time

It’s best to take training from a driving instructor if you want to start driving a car and trailer.

The ‘National standard for driving cars and light vans’ tells you about the skills, knowledge and understanding you need to tow a trailer or caravan.

You can also read about:

If you’d booked a car and trailer driving test

Car and trailer driving tests have now stopped. You can no longer book one.

If you had booked a test yourself, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has automatically cancelled and refunded it for you.

If your driving instructor booked your test for you, talk to them about what happens next.

You cannot get a refund or compensation for any training that you’ve taken to help you prepare to take the test.

BDS Offer Training on Trailer Towing

All training takes place on a 1:1 basis, with a qualified driving instructor. All fees included the use of our vehicle and trailer

Assessment lesson £80

Within the session you will:

Gain a better understanding of what’s involved in taking the B+E driving test.
Be assessed on your road driving ability, and given guidance where needed.
Have been shown and practiced how to safely couple up the trailer to the car.
Practice reversing with a trailer, starting in a straight line and then reversing on an angle into the coned area.

On completion of the assessment of your driving, reversing and your ability to learn new things, we will discuss the most suitable course for you.

No matter whether you are a total beginner that has never towed a trailer, or you have had previous experience or trailer towing lessons, we can ensure you reach the right standard to pass your trailer towing test.

B+E Novice – 16 hours £640

This course is best for people who have no experience whatsoever reversing a trailer, have recently passed the learner driving test or they have very little driving experience.
For those who need some time to get their general driving standard to the high DVSA test standards.

B + E Experienced – 12 hours £480

This course is best for people who are reasonably competent at reversing a trailer,uncoupling/coupling and driving with a trailer.
As we don’t have a lot time this course can be quite pressure intensive and if you do not have the experience then it can be a quite stressful
Due to time constraints we will only be able to spend a maximum of 3 HOURS on practicing for the reversing exercise.

B + E Very Experienced – 9 hours £360

This course is for people who are highly competent at reversing a trailer, uncoupling/coupling and driving with a trailer
Due to time constraints we will only be able to spend approximately AN HOUR on practicing for the reversing exercise.

Re-test session – 6 hours £240

For those who have towed in the past but feel a refresher would be useful – or maybe you failed a trailer test
This course is for people who are highly competent at reversing a trailer, uncoupling/coupling and driving with a trailer

Please get in touch

Few Customer reviews

Flawless experience with Emma Bird whilst preparing for my trailer test. Emma was super accommodating with some last minute training before my test. She is knowledgeable, friendly, and most importantly is excellent at her job! She ensures at all times you are comfortable and understand the reasoning behind things. Couldn’t recommend more, if you want someone to help coach you to passing you trailer test, or normal driving test. My brother will be learning with Emma later this year. Thanks again Emma 🙂

Nicole Woods

Great service ! Emma was a great help in passing my trailer test highly recommended