Westend School of Motoring

At WESTEND TRAILER TRAINING we strive to achieve a high level of service for all our drivers and students from Dumfries, Lockerbie and surrounding areas.

Our Training area is based at Heathall Industrial Estate. Where you will have use of our private training area. There is parking for your own vehicle whilst on training, with CCTV coverage for security.

What is the B+E car and trailer test?

B+E Test is the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) practical driving test for car and trailer. No medical examination or additional theory test is required. The test is regarded by the DSA as the first step to driving Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) and is examined accordingly. The duration of the test is approx 90 mins.
The driving test takes the candidate through a number of different exercises including a reversing exercise, coupling, uncoupling the trailer.
In addition to the trailer manoeuvring exercises the candidate must show the examiner skill and competency on the highway including junctions, roundabouts, lane control, mirror routines, hill starts and angled starts, etc. During the test you will be asked a number of preset questions called 'show me, tell me' which must be answered either verbally or practically demonstrated.

What Can you Tow on passing the B+E test

Successfully passing this test allows a driver to tow a trailer up to a gross weight (trailer plus load) of 3500kg.(3.5 tons). This means a vehicle and trailer with a gross train weight of 7,000kg (7 tons).

WARNING

Did you know that it is Illegal to TOW a Trailer without the proper Driving Licence?

The possible Penalties for Towing Without a Valid Licence are
9 Penalty Points (3 for the missing Licence entitlement and 6 for no InCategory B: Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) and with up to eight passenger seats
Category B vehicles 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.

For example:
A vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.25 tonnes could be driven by the holder of a category B entitlement. This is because the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and also the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle.

Whereas:
The same vehicle with an unladen weight of 1.25 tonnes and a MAM of 2 tonnes when coupled with a trailer with a MAM of 1.5 tonnes would fall within category B+E. This is because although the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is within the 3.5 tonnes MAM limit, the MAM of the trailer is more than the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle
Vehicle manufacturers normally recommend a maximum weight of trailer appropriate to their vehicle. Details can usually be found in the vehicle's handbook or obtained from car dealerships. The size of the trailer recommended for an average family car with an unladen weight of around 1 tonne would be well within the new category B threshold.

Towing caravans

As for towing caravans, existing general guidance recommends that the laden weight of the caravan does not exceed 85% of the unladen weight of the car. In the majority of cases, caravans and small trailers towed by cars should be within the new category B threshold.
An exemption from the driver licensing trailer limit allows a category B licence holder to tow a broken down vehicle from a position where it would otherwise cause danger or obstruction to other road users.
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

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.