Caravan towing?

Hi, I have type 1 diabetes (since 2004) and therefore have to reapply for my driving licence every 3 years. I have had no problems with my driving and they always issue my licence for the firther 3 years. Can anyone tell me if my licence will allow me to tow a caravan? I have temporarily misplaced it so i can't have a look at the moment and i am unable to find out from the DVLA website. I am planning to buy a caravan to take my family away next year. Thanks, Widster

Hi there, my 3 year licence was issued in March 2007. The categories are B, BE, f, k, l, n, p. I checked the DVLA website but it wasn't much help only that the BE category concerns towing. I googled towing a caravan and come up with www.practicalcaravan .com on the home page scroll down to Driving Licences and you will see we are entitled to pull a caravan as long as the caravan doesn't weigh more that the car.

Hi Polly,

Thanks for the advice. I have now found my licence and i have the same categories as you but also A (i took my motorbike test a few years ago) and B1 (not sure what this means but there is a picture of a van i think).

It's a relief that we are able to tow a caravan though. We have a 4 month old and a 2 year old and looking forward to lots of family holidays in the future!

Thanks
Widster

I've now found a useful link that explains it:-

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_10013073

Yes you can tow a caravan. Providing you have a car licence you can tow a trailer regardless of medical restrictions.

The restriction you have now with your licence is you cannot drive over 3.5Tonnes like you probably could before. This is not because of Type-1, but because you have a new licence.
Remember if your car and caravan are over 3.5T combined this is not allowed - but this is unlikely with most outfits including 4x4s.

Thanks for the reply. I think my car is about 1500kg so 3.5 tonnes should allow me to tow a caravan no problem. I was a bit worried at first that i would be restricted.

I suppose before i did have the older type of licence (i passed in 198 but now that it has to be renewed every 3 years they have given me the newer one.

There is full information on driving license catagories and types of caravans and trailors that can be towed on the caravan club website. The main point being that a change came into force in 1997, I believe. I have copied the article and will try and paste it here:

DRIVERS' LICENCES IN A NUTSHELL!
This leaflet is prepared as a Club service. The contents are believed correct at the date of publication but please raise any queries with the Club’s Information office.
April 2008
TOWED OUTFITS AND RIGID MOTOR CARAVAN OUTFITS
CATEGORY B LICENCE OBTAINED PRIOR TO 1 JANUARY 1997 MAY DRIVE:
a. Towed Outfits any outfit where the combined MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) does not exceed 8,250kg. (over which weight would have required an additional test pre-1997) However Club recommendations on weight ratio between trailer and towing vehicle remain at 85%.
b. Rigid Motor Caravans without trailer any rigid motor caravan without a trailer where the MAM does not exceed 7,500kg.
c. Rigid Motor Caravan with trailer provided the total MAM of trailer and motor caravan does not exceed 8,250kg no further test is required, but Club recommendations on weight ratio between trailer and towing vehicle remain at 85%.
CATEGORY B LICENCE FIRST OBTAINED ON OR AFTER 1 JANUARY 1997
MAY DRIVE:
a. Towed Outfits driver restricted to a combined MAM of 3,500kg and the trailer MAM must not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (85% ratio remains strongly recommended). If this MAM is to be exceeded an E Test pass is required. A list of B+E test driving instructors’ can be found in the Practical Advice section of The Caravan Club Website. The Driving Instructors’ Association also has a list of qualified driving instructors that can tutor those wishing to take the B+E driving test - visit the Driving Standards Website on www.dsa.gov.uk, or telephone 0845 345 5151.
b. Rigid Motor Caravans without trailer driver restricted to a MAM of 3,500kg until obtaining a pass of the LGV test, after which the driver is qualified to 7,500kg MAM.
c. Rigid Motor Caravan towing trailer provided the trailer does not exceed 750kg and the combined MAM does not exceed 4,250kg no further test is required for this type of outfit. However if the trailer MAM exceeds 750kg then a. applies for a vehicle less than 3,500kg. Otherwise an LGV test plus an E Test is needed.
YOUR DRIVING ENTITLEMENT ON RENEWING AT THE AGE OF 70
On reaching the age of 70, drivers will retain their driving entitlement for Category B and Category B+E (provided Category B+E was held prior to the expiry date of their driving licence). Category B+E entitles drivers to drive a motor vehicle (ie car, van or 4x4) not exceeding 3.5 tonnes Maximum Authorised Mass* (MAM), drawing/towing any weight trailer/caravan within the prescribed maximum towing weight. The maximum towing weight will be specified in the technical data section of the vehicle manufacturer’s handbook. However, Club recommendations on weight ratio between trailer and towing vehicle remain at 85%.
*The terms ‘Maximum Authorised Mass’, ‘Gross Weight’ and ‘Permissible Maximum Weight’ all have the same meaning, ie the weight of the vehicle plus the maximum load the vehicle may safely carry.
When drivers of any vehicle over a MAM of 3,500kg reach 70 years of age and their driving licence expires they must pass the D4 Medical Test and pass the required standard eyesight test at 20.5 metres/67 feet with glasses used when driving. This legislation became effective from 1 January 1998.
COURSES/TESTS/EGC/JP/SJS/LICENCE © The Caravan Club 2008

Thanks for all that info, very helpful

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