The government has ended further driving tests for caravan owners from 20 September to free up instructors and examiners to concentrate on plans to train new lorry drivers.
The decision spells the end of what’s widely known as the B+E test, which came into force 24 years ago. Drivers who have passed their standard car driving test will now automatically benefit from the E entitlement category, potentially to be added to licences as early as mid November, meaning they can tow a caravan with any suitable car.
The move comes after a government consultation following pressure to deal with the current shortfall in Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers in the UK. The proposed changes included removing the requirement for those who passed their driving test after 1996 to have to take an additional driving test to tow heavier trailers and caravans and gain their E licence entitlement. Drivers without this category entitlement on their driving licence were previously restricted to towing a trailer up to 750kg or a plated car and caravan or trailer with a combined mass of no more than 3,500kg. This means tens of millions of people who passed their test after 1996 will now be allowed to tow larger caravans with larger cars.
All those who receive this new entitlement are limited to a trailer weight of 3,500kg – this should not affect the majority looking to tow a single or twin axle caravan, but may impact those wanting to tow large imported fifth wheel caravans.
However, the change does not currently apply to Northern Ireland – it is up to the NI government and DVA (Driver and Vehicle Agency) to decide on the route they wish to take.
The Club contributed to the government consultation, and while we broadly support the move, we believe proper training is still important to ensure drivers know how to tow safely. Sabina Voysey, the Club’s Director General, said: “While this is positive news for the caravan industry as a whole, and means more people keen to start caravanning will have a greater choice of tow cars and caravans available to them, we encourage everyone to do some training where they will learn the rules around towing as well as how to hitch up securely and load the caravan in a safe manner.”
The Club already operates towing courses, which are a great way for drivers to learn the skills to tow safely. Completing the courses may entitle the driver to an insurance discount too.
Ian Hewlett, the Club’s Technical Manager, said: “Towing isn’t just about what your car and driving licence will allow you to tow – it’s also about understanding the capability of the tow car. A car has a towing limit that relates to its ability to pull a trailer repeatedly up a hill, but it’s not a limit for towing a caravan at speed on the motorway.”
The Club recommends the 85 per cent guideline to caravanners – that is, the maximum technically permissible laden mass (MTPLM) of the caravan should be no more than 85 per cent of the tow car’s kerbweight. We operate a state-of-the-art matching tool, free for members to use online, that compares car and caravan combinations and provides a report of the results to ensure they are safe and legal. It’s also capable of helping you make good choices for your next car and caravan by producing a list of suitably matched options.
We will continue to update members on changes to towing law. For car and caravan matching, visit myccc.co.uk/towingmatch. See also the Club's How To videos on matching, loading and more. For Club towing courses, visit myccc.co.uk/clubcourses. Also, see #40: Your driving licence entitlement at myccc.co.uk/datasheets.