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The Smart Way Driving School offer Driving Lessons in West Lothian and Fife. 
					  We can offer you a choice of Manual or Automatic cars. 
					  We also offer Advanced Driving Lessons and Fleet Driver training 
					  services throughout the Central Belt of Scotland

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Do you need to take the B+E Trailer Towing Test - The Smart Way

 

Do I need to take a B+E Test? 

Obviously the price of the B+E test is quite significant, so it makes perfect sense not to take it unless you are actually going to need it and whether you need it or not depends on a number of factors.

 

Let's start with the most straightforward question - Did you take your driving test before January 1st 1997?

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Yes

No

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Good news! You do not have to sit a B+E test, you are entitled to tow any trailer so long as the Maximum Authorised Mass of the towing car and the Maximum Authorized Mass of the Trailer added together do not exceed 8,250 kg. However it may be that you feel you will benefit from some advice about towing a trailer, especially if you have never towed before. If that's the case we will be very happy to help you.  If the combined MAM of the towing vehicle and MAM of the trailer DO exceed 8,250 kg you will need to take a category C1+E which is a commercial vehicle category.
OK, it looks as if you might have to take a B+ E test.

However before we jump in with both feet, let's examine the trailer you plan to tow. We need to know its Maximum Authorized Mass, otherwise known as its MAM (see the Jargon Buster section below). Is the MAM of the trailer 750 kg or less?

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Yes

No

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Good news!! You are planning to tow what is known as a "Light Trailer" and you do NOT need to sit a B+E test, so long as the MAM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 3,500kg.  If you are driving a vehicle designed to carry MORE than 3,500kg it is considered a small lorry or Light Goods Vehicle (LGV) and is covered by licence category C1.

Bear in mind if you ever tow anything with a MAM above 750kg you should revisit this page to check your entitlement.
OK, the trailer you are planning to tow is considered a "Heavy Trailer" and its beginning to look like you might need to do the B+E Test.

So now things get a little bit more involved.  You now need to find out the kerb weight (see the Jargon Buster section below) of the towing vehicle.

Is the Maximum Authorized Mass of the Trailer greater than or equal to the Kerb weight of the towing car?

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Yes

No

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You WILL need to sit a B+E Test to tow this trailer.

Please feel free to call us at any time and we will do what we can to give you an assessment of your driving and prepare you for the B+E test as soon as possible. 
The final question then......

Is the combination of the MAM of the trailer and the Maximum Authorised Mass of the towing car more added together more than 3,500 kg?

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Yes

No

f

You WILL need to sit a B+E Test to tow this trailer.

Please feel free to call us at any time and we will do what we can to give you an assessment of your driving and prepare you for the B+E test as soon as possible. 
You do not need to take a B+E test to tow this trailer.

However, remember that this is THIS particular trailer towed by THIS particular towing car. If you change either it is extremely possible that you will need to reconsider. For that reason we at The Smart Way recommend that if you are planning to tow ANY trailer with a MAM of over 750 kg you give very serious consideration to taking a B+E test and be sure you stay within the law.


Please be aware that these are EU rules and apply in all EU countries

B + E Jargon Buster

Maximum Authorised Mass of the Trailer

This is the maximum weight the trailer is DESIGNED to be able to carry, irrelevant as to what it is ACTUALLY carrying.  This information will be found on a plate on the trailer frame

Kerb Weight of the car

This is the maximum weight the trailer is DESIGNED to be able to carry, irrelevant as to what it is ACTUALLY carrying.  This information will be found on a plate on the trailer frame

Vehicle Gross Train Weight

This applies to the towing car. It is the maximum load that the car is designed to pull, including the load of any trailer attached. This relates to the ACTUAL load and not the design weights.  It means: the weight of the car + the weight of the load in the car + the weight of the trailer + the weight of the load in the trailer.  Don't forget this includes any passengers.

This page was last updated on 30 October 2012

Contact information for The Smart Way Driving School

Contact us on Mobile 07711 336452

Email Enquiries@The-Smart-Way.CO.UK

Post - 5 Rosehill Place, Eliburn, Livingston.

Trailer towing lessons Livingston, Trailer towing lessons West Lothian, Learn to tow a trailer, Linthithgow, West Calder, East Calder, Mid Calder, Blackburn, Whitburn, Polbeth, Seafield, Stoneyburn, Kirknewton, Kirkliston, Longridge, Blackridge, Fauldhouse, Harthill, Dechmont, Bridgend, Broxburn, Aberdour, Anstruther, Auchtermuchty, Ballingry, Ballmullo, Bowhill, Buckhaven, Burnt Island, Cupar, Kincardine, Methyl, Rosyth, Cardenden,

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Accreditations for The Smart Way Driving School
Please visit us on facebook and LIKE us Our Chief Instructor is an ROSPA Gold standard advanced driver Our instructors are members of the Instutute of Advanced Motorists, our Chief Instructor is an IAM Recommended Instructor 
                    and a local group observer/instructor We offer the DSA recommended Pass Plus couses in West Lothian and Fife All our instructors are members of the Motor Schools Association of Great Britain All our instructors are members of the industry leading professonal body, the Driving Instructors Association We are members of the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) so our integrity is assured All our instructors are DSA approved