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Trailer Training Print
Changes to the entitlement to tow trailers on a car driving licence came in to effect on 1st January 1997.

Drivers with a car licence held before 1st January 1997

Drivers who passed their car test before 1st January 1997 are unaffected by the new entitlement until their license expires, and will generally be entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM, and a minibus with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.

What is MAM?

MAM stands for Maximum Authorised Mass. This refers to the permissible maximum weight of the vehice and trailer combined, and is also known as the 'gross vehicle weight.'
Trailer Training

Car licences held on or after 1st January 1997

People passing their test on or after 1st January 1997 are now required to pass an additional test in order to gain entitlement categories B+E, and all larger vehicles.
Category B : vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM and with up to 8 passenger seats

Vehicles in this category may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM).
OR
a trailer over 750kgs 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.

By passing a category B test, National Categories F (tractor), K (pedestrian controlled vehicle) and P (moped) continue to be added automatically.

Category B+E : Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM towing trailers over 750kgs MAM

Vehicles in Category B+E allows vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM to be combined with trailers in excess of 750kgs 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.

A-Class SoM Trailer Training Courses

We now offer trailer training courses with qualified instructors and a trailer on a road training area.

See our Courses & Costs page for prices