B+E Car and Trailer Towing Lessons

Car and Trailer Entitlement

Did you know that drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to tow large trailers and gain entitlement to category B+E. Category B Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM and with up to 8 passenger seats 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.

All drivers who passed a car test before 1 January 1997 retain their existing entitlement to tow trailers until their licence expires. This means they are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM.

We can provide you with training courses of between 10 to 30 hours (2 to 5 days) duration depending on your previous driving experience to fully prepare you for the DSA driving test. All our B&E trainers are fully quailified driving instructors with years of experience training both categories B and B&E.

There are 6 parts to the driving test:

You’ll drive for around 50 minutes.

The B+E test is conducted at a DSA large goods vehicle driving test centre with an off road manoeuvring area.

These are currently available in Poole Dorset, Bristol Kingswood, Swindon Wiltshire and Exeter Devon.

The entire test lasts about 90 minutes. A VERY HIGH standard of driving is required to pass this type of test.

At the start of the test you are required to carry out an eye sight test. A few questions relating to the safety and loading of the outfit will then be asked.. You then drive the outfit onto the manoeuvring area and complete the reversing exercise accurately and safely.

You will drive in varying roads and traffic conditions including motorways where possible, complete uphill, downhill and angled starts and demonstrate a high standard of driving throughout.

Back at the test centre you will then un-couple the vehicle from the trailer, you are then required to re-couple the trailer safely.

We are able to provide you with car and trailer lessons in North Dorset inc Shaftesbury, Gillingham, Blandford Forum etc and also in BANES, inc Radstock, Midsomer Norton, Bath and parts of Bristol.

To book your car and trailer course, please call 0333 7729642