L plates on trailer

Good morning all, I passed my car test after 1997 so restricted towing, my wife passed before 1997, can she sit next to me (like when learning to drive a car) whilst I tow a trailer with L plates on it?? Then once ive practised I can book in for the trailer test.

If I understand the rules correctly, then yes.

I wandered this as Im in the same boat, it works that way when learning to drive a car in the first place and you can do it that way learning to drive a truck, so must be right

id already rang the DVLA on this the rules with L plates state that you can pull what the person sat next to you is licensed to if you have L plates front and rear. BUT you cannot travel on motorways just like when learning. thats it. this is how ill be picking up another land rover

you dont need a license to tow a trailer up to 750 kg

however anything over must have a license
get ya l plates on n good look

and freediscoranger you cant tow load when learning so someone else will have to drive and tow the trailer with a load

When I rang they said I could? I was very specific in asking. And even said I was going to put an land rover on it and tow it back with me driving and they said yep thats fine so long as it has l plates and not on motorway?

Hi you can tow on the motorway with L plates on as you are not a learner, you have a full car licence.

I own a HGV driving school and we do it, it is also part of the DSA practical test.

dnorkett said:

Hi you can tow on the motorway with L plates on as you are not a learner, you have a full car licence.

I own a HGV driving school and we do it, it is also part of the DSA practical test.

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Can you clarify the fact that somebody who has the b+e entitlement can supervise a b+e learner? Do they have to of held their entitlement for a certain time ?

yes they do its either 3 or 3.5 years, can't quite remember.

make sure that the car you are using to tow is rated to pull the trailer that you intend to tow...a disco can tow 3.5 tons (the max trailer you can tow is 3.5 tons with a car)

Just make sure your insurance company is aware that you'll be towing a trailer on a MWay on L Plates. cos you can be certain that they'll find some clauss to crawl under, if you're involved in a collision. and get it in writing off them..

Just make sure your insurance company is aware that you'll be towing a trailer on a MWay on L Plates. cos you can be certain that they'll find some clauss to crawl under, if you're involved in a collision. and get it in writing off them..

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True..they are a slippery bunch, worth checking that you can even supervise a learner on the policy. we have driving instructor insurance so i didn't think of that one!

Although its more of a licence upgrade than supervising a learner, as the person driving has a full car licence. which is why they are allowed on motorways.

dnorkett said:

yes they do its either 3 or 3.5 years, can't quite remember.

make sure that the car you are using to tow is rated to pull the trailer that you intend to tow...a disco can tow 3.5 tons (the max trailer you can tow is 3.5 tons with a car)

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For the training etc am I right in saying it needs to be a box trailer or horse box or similar so you can't use the interior rear view mirror? Cheers for the info

Car and trailer or caravan practical driving test : Directgov - Motoring

Cargo comparment of the trailer

The cargo compartment of the trailer must:
•consist of a closed box body
•be at least as wide and as high as the towing vehicle

The trailer may be slightly less wide than the towing vehicle. However, the view to the rear should only be possible by using the external rear-view mirrors of the towing vehicle


hope it helps

as above but must weigh at least 1000kg MAM...can be found on the trailer plate. most braked trailers should be ok.

a bigger trailer is also acceptable.

you will also need some external mirrors for the examiner....we use the towing mirrors from Halfords.

thanks all for your time, one fly in the otherwise rosy ointment is just seen on net that apparently they have done away with "grandfather rights" so looks like being supervised whilst using the trailer is not an option. Does anyone have any info' about changing the law?

dont really believe this, so keep pinching myself. Emailed DVLA (without much hope of a reply) but.....................Dear Mr (name removed by me)



Thank you for your email received on 3/7/12. Your email reference number is 969443.

As the holder of a full category B entitlement you are covered to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes.

Providing the Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of the vehicle and the laden weight of the trailer does not exceed 3.5 tonnes you can drive the combination as a full licence holder.

If the combination in question does exceed 3.5 tonnes you will need to drive on the strength of your provisional category B+E entitlement, display 'L' plates and be supervised. In this instance it will possible for your wife to supervise you.

So you can tow it laden then?

thanks all for your time, one fly in the otherwise rosy ointment is just seen on net that apparently they have done away with "grandfather rights" so looks like being supervised whilst using the trailer is not an option. Does anyone have any info' about changing the law?

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Not sure what you are talking about, either you have the entitlement to tow or you don't.

Those that passed after 1997 no longer have 'grandfather rights'. YOU will need to take a B+E if you want to tow a trailer over 750kgs or if the combination you wish to tow exceeds 3.5ton (so if you are driving a van that is 3.5ton, you can't tow anything)

Someone that passed before 1997 has the entitlement, they will have passed there test more than three years ago and must be over 21, so they CAN supervise you.

The law changed a year or so ago about supervising learners, but it only covered C1 & D1,
(7.5 ton and minibus). You have to have taken the commercial test and held it for 3 years to supervise a learner. To my knowledge this didn't effect B+E.

Thank you for your email received on 3/7/12. Your email reference number is 969443.

As the holder of a full category B entitlement you are covered to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes.

Providing the Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of the vehicle and the laden weight of the trailer does not exceed 3.5 tonnes you can drive the combination as a full licence holder.

If the combination in question does exceed 3.5 tonnes you will need to drive on the strength of your provisional category B+E entitlement, display 'L' plates and be supervised. In this instance it will possible for your wife to supervise you.

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Not to sure about this one...sounds like bollocks to me and if VOSA pulled you over, i wouldn't fancy your chances

dwdw said:

dont really believe this, so keep pinching myself. Emailed DVLA (without much hope of a reply) but.....................Dear Mr (name removed by me)



Thank you for your email received on 3/7/12. Your email reference number is 969443.

As the holder of a full category B entitlement you are covered to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes.

Providing the Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of the vehicle and the laden weight of the trailer does not exceed 3.5 tonnes you can drive the combination as a full licence holder.

If the combination in question does exceed 3.5 tonnes you will need to drive on the strength of your provisional category B+E entitlement, display 'L' plates and be supervised. In this instance it will possible for your wife to supervise you.

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Talk about De ja bl**dy vu! there is an identical thread on the Defender section. Don't people know what a search button is for? So I will post the same info on here. The DVLA are not entirely correct in this instance. What they didn't mention is that unless you have B+E entitlement, or L plates and a supervisor, the weight of the trailer, cannot exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. Which admittedly does not apply in the case of a Defender or Discovery etc as any trailer that is heavier than the Defenders kerb weight would also make the entire combination over the 3.5 ton limit. It could however, be a problem if you are towing with a Freelander 1 or an 88" for example as these both have a kerb weight of just under 1500 kgs. which means that you cannot tow any more than that, even though the combined weight of tow vehicle & trailer is under the 3500 kg train limit. Confusing isn't it

he weight of the trailer, cannot exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle

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Whys that??..a diso is rated to tow 3.5ton an it weighs about 2.5 ton, so it can't be true.

I think the law is any cat B can tow 3.5 tons as long as it is within the gross train weigh of the vehicle/manufactures specification