Driving licence 3.5t limit - gov't petition for increase of cat B to 4.2t
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"Or are you one of those people who just enjoys challenging everything people post?"Oooh, that’s a bit personal. 😱
What happened to debating the topic rather than the person?
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So overheard in a showroom becomes a real life problem? Oh well.
Again you saying something is unhelpful and it being true are two different things I would say?
I think I should be able to post my views on whatever with it being labelled a rooted objection to this proposal or being labelled as one of those people who just enjoys challenging everything people post. Sometime I agree with posts sometimes I do not. This is one I do not agree with and should be free to do without being labelling as such or my comments being called unhelpful or unfounded?
You appear to brush aside safety considerations just because they do not agree with your views on this and wish to increase the weight restriction on your license and others without any safety regard for others simply based on your say so.
My objections have been made very clear. Would you like me to post them again?
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Also as PD says, a very low take up, only 6499!
I see it is now over 6700, still quite low, but growing steadily. While I support the view, I have still not signed it for the reasons I have already stated and that is the driving licence was already under review and while some of the results were known and implemented, more was likely to come. This now looks like the case with more being published today. I will review my stance in the light of this, because, as some are arguing, the case for increasing the weight of all vehicles that can be driven on a B licence may still need to be kept in the spotlight.
peedee
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It is also not very friendly towards those with disabilities who, apart from having a need to carry heavy equipment (wheelchairs/scooters), may need a more robust version with weighty modifications impossible to achieve with a limitation of 3.5 tons.
peedee
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Hi everyone, whilst we welcome debate on Club Together please note that we will moderate posts to keep conversation friendly and Club Together a welcoming place to be. Please be mindful of what you post and keep debate friendly abiding by the Community Guidelines at all times.
With regards to the petition thank you for sharing this @Innocent_Bystander. I have forwarded this on to the Club's Technical Manager so he is aware that there is a discussion here about it.
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@Cornersteady said "My objections have been made very clear. Would you like me to post them again? "
As far as I can see your only objection was you believe extra skill is required for the increased weight to 4.25 tons. As pointed out by myself and others this is not true. Even the Government, who sets the rules, does not agree with you in that last June it abolished any need for further training to holders of B licences to drive zero emission goods vehicles of 4.25 tons. It was just an unnecessary burdon on the transport industry.
The government has now >published< its latest proposal regarding licences, it is just a document opening the way to consultations on a number of safety issues. Nothing will change yet and there is no mention of weight changes to category B licences.
peedee
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@peedee All I can say with giving offense is that you have not read my post well enough at all, so you believe incorrectly, there's more than that one, I have mentioned medical considerations, as well safety and risk to others, that makes four one just the one as you believe.
In fact I made the point that when I moved to driving a 3.5t vehicle I needed new skills for myself.
And just because you say no new skills are needed does not make it true or a fact of course, otherwise why would, as you stated, for professional driving a certificate of competence (and some form of testing I assume) be needed to be issued if no new skills are needed?
Adding on an extra 3500+Kg of possible weight will affect braking, handling so how you can say no new skills is beyond me but let's leave that one there as being subjective rather than you keep coming back to it?
You are focusing too much in my view (pun intended) on weight alone, weight is generally directly proportional to length. So if this law was changed, as thankfully in my view it isn't as you appear to be saying as there is no mention of it in the latest proposals, then a 17 year old with a new new licence, or if that in some way sounds ageist (I apologise) someone who has just passed their test at any age can hop in to a long large MH like yours the very next day (I assume your is under 4.2t) and off they go. Yes it's unlikely but possible.
Now I know they can do that if it's under 3.5t (just like I did within a year and bit at 18) but somehow that is a little bit more manageable, and probably it's going to be a campervan they buy anyway.
Btw did the government change the rules to make more money for itself and/or lessen the money that various interested businesses had to pay and make more profits? Or to get more electric delivery vehicles out there?
And while I think about it actually you answered that for yourself with: It was just an unnecessary burden on the transport industry.
Burdon as it was costing them money! And of course there's that pesky certificate of competence you mentioned for non zero emission vehicles, yes definitely a special case there for some reason and not for reasons about not needing new skills in my view. But let's keep skills out of this as I said. It's subjective
And then why isn't the government doing the same thing, that is removing this burden for the rest of us in the leisure industry with this latest proposal that you've mentioned? They don't seem to be removing this burden for MHers?
So you said you were waiting to read the proposal before deciding if you were going to sign the petition, so…
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I have mentioned medical considerations, as well safety and risk to others, that makes four one just the one as you believe.
I thought it had been accepted that medical conditions are a different issue but in any case we are talking about someone who is already entitled to drive a 3.5 ton vehicle who is just moving up to drive a 4.25 ton vehicle and who should be fit to drive in the first place.
Skills encompass safety and risk to others, its road sense which is acquired through practical experience. I agree it would be fool hardy to allow new drivers to drive certain vehicles without at least a period of practical experience. The Government has recognised this and that is why it is currently consulting on this. I beleive, in the future, there will be restrictions placed on new drivers while they gain their road sense. There is a strong lobby for this, e.g. restrictions on types of vehicles that can be driven and passengers carried for two years. If this happens then that would be the ideal time to consider Cat B weight increases for all vehicles.
I have now signed the petition and I hope many more motorhome and campervan owners with do the same if only to keep the issue in the spotlight.
peedee
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Indeed @peedee but I've been plotting the rate and daily moving average since this thread started and the rate of increase has been fairly stable and a linear (straight line) increase at an average of only about 44 per day, with some days the actual daily increase was as low as 30s, with highs approaching 48s (these are from memory so don't quote me). The average increase today over the period is 46.5.
There are 83 days left till the petition runs out so unless something dramatic happens 100,000 for the government to even consider a debate looks doubtful? It should make 10,000 when it will get a 'response' but that won't do much will it?
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@peedee why not post some links to some of this lobbying?
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The rate of increase of petitioners seemed to have slowed, following the sharp jump that coincided with this thread being created. That may be because regular forum visitors may be only a small proportion of club members, others dipping in only occasionally if at all, so if the topic is not among the first few in the recent posts list it is unlikely to be seen, which is a pity if there are members who would like this to go forward, as I expect there to be.
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It has reached 10,000 Dept for Transport has made an initial response, the essence of which is:
“The Department for Transport published its Road Safety Strategy in January 2026. It was not possible to consider alignment with the new EU Directive before the Strategy was published.
The UK is already committed to introducing a digital driving licence. However, other changes in the Directive require careful consideration before decisions are made on whether to adopt them. The Government has not yet assessed the potential merits of changing Category B licence rules for motorhomes.
Any future changes to driving licence law would be subject to public consultation and a full assessment of their impacts.”
The full response id here:
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The Government has now reviewed this petition and those that signed will have received their responce. For those that did not take part in the petition but may be interested in what they said I have copied their reply below.
The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “Allow license holders todrive motorhomes up to 4250kg on UK Category B License ”.
Government responded:
The DfT keeps driving licence rules under review. The Government has not yetassessed the potential benefits of allowing Category B licence holders to drivemotorhomes weighing up to 4,250kg.
On 5 November 2025, the European Union published the final text of theFourth Driving Licence Directive (2025/2205/EU). This replaced the ThirdDriving Licence Directive and updates driving licence rules across EU and EEAcountries.
The new Directive includes a range of changes, such as introducing digitaldriving licences, extending photocard validity from 10 to 15 years, updatingdriving instruction rules, and making changes to licence categories. Oneproposed change would increase the maximum weight of vehicles that can bedriven on a Category B licence.
In 2015, when the UK was still an EU Member State, countries began negotiatinga temporary exemption to support the uptake of low and zero emission vehicles.This allowed Category B licence holders to drive vans weighing up to 4,250kg(instead of 3,500kg), without needing a medical, a Driver Certificate ofProfessional Competence (CPC), or to follow drivers’ hours rules. Drivers wererequired to complete five hours of training.
In June 2025, the UK Government extended these rules through the Motor Vehicles(Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025. This change allowedall zero emission vehicles to be driven on a Category B licence, removed thetraining requirement, and permitted these vehicles to tow a trailer.
Under the Fourth Driving Licence Directive, EU countries will be able to allowCategory B licence holders to drive motorhomes (referred to as “motor caravans”in the Directive) weighing up to 4,250kg. This would apply to petrol, diesel,and zero emission vehicles. This reflects the fact that many motorhomes exceed3,500kg but weigh less than 4,250kg, and that some countries already allowheavier vans to be driven on a Category B licence.
This change would not be automatic. EU Member States must require either atleast seven hours of training, a test (which does not have to be a full drivingtest), or both. Any training or test must cover key safety topics set out inthe Directive. There is no requirement for drivers to have held their licencefor a minimum number of years before driving a motorhome.
The Department for Transport published its Road Safety Strategy in January2026. It was not possible to consider alignment with the new EU Directivebefore the Strategy was published.
The UK is already committed to introducing a digital driving licence. However,other changes in the Directive require careful consideration before decisionsare made on whether to adopt them. The Government has not yet assessed thepotential merits of changing Category B licence rules for motorhomes.
Any future changes to driving licence law would be subject to publicconsultation and a full assessment of their impacts.Department for Transport
Click this link to view the response online:
The Petitions Committee will take a look at this petition and its response.They can press the government for action and gather evidence. If this petitionreaches 100,000 signatures, the Committee will consider it for a debate.
The Committee is made up of 11 MPs, from political parties in government andin opposition. It is entirely independent of the Government. Find out moreabout the Committee:
Thanks,
The Petitions Team
House of CommonsIt seems to me that when the EU put it into place that the UK will follow suit? Given that they have already decided that the likes of electric vehicles up to 4250kgs will be include in the C1 lincence without further testing I think it pretty certain that we will follow as there is no logic if they don't?
David
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