Towing legality
Good afternoon
I'm so sorry to ask a question I am sure has been asked many times before....but I am a complete newbie and very nervous of getting things wrong!
We pick up our first ever caravan next week!! My husband is ok as he passed his test pre 1997, but I didn't so I want to check I understand the 3500kg rule.
On the plate in my car I have a gross train mass of 2935kg and a maximum allowed mass of 1735kg. We have bought a caravan with a laden mass of 1050kg. (For info kerb mass of car is 1275kg)
If I am right, the total mass of caravan and car fully laden is therefore 1050 + 1735 = 2785kg. This value is under the 3500kg my license permits.....so I'm legally ok to tow it?? Right?? With lots if practise of course!
Sorry. The language is confusing as there seems to be several expressions for the same thing.
Many thanks in advance!
Comments
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MM, it is the maximum weight that applies for tow vehicle and trailer not the minimum /kerb weight as you imply.
Licences issued from 1 January 1997
If you passed your car driving test on or after 1 January 1997 you can:drive a car or van up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM
tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg1 -
You've worked it out correctly. The maximum mass of the caravan added to the maximum mass of the car should not exceed the the maximum TRAIN ( like a choo choo that's what you are weighing when pulling) weight of the car in your case 2935kgs.
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Thank you so much!
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Just to complete the picture, it's not the plated gross train weight that counts, but the sum of the car's plated gross vehicle weight and that of the caravan, and that must not exceed 3500kg.
I say that because it is theoretically possible for the gross train weight to be less than 3500kg, but the sum of the two GVW's (or gross combination weight as it is also called) to be over that figure.
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This is something that everyone should check especially those like me with the larger tow vehicles. I've been driving my outfit for years never giving it a thought but when it came to renewing my licence for the second time, I'm73 soon, I was just idly reading through all the blurb and it struck me that I might actually be driving illegally. I looked at all the advice I could find and eventually phoned the DVLA to confirm. My caravan is just short of 1500Kg. My car, a Landrover Discovery, is just short of 2500Kg. Total train weight around 4000Kg. To drive that outfit I need C1E on my licence. I'm entitled to it, I passed my test in 1963 but when I first renewed my licence age 70 I never gave it a thought. Over 70's should be made aware of this issue, especially as it is probably the wrinklies like me who like their home comforts and can afford the bigger tugs to drag the larger vans around.
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Peter, the original post refers to the combination weight which is applicable to someone who passed their test after 1997, it does not apply as you suggest to drivers aged over 70 who previously had a B+E licence which most had.
At age 70, provided Category B+E was held prior to the expiry date of their driving licence). Category B+E entitles drivers to drive a motor vehicle (ie car, van or 4x4) not exceeding 3.5 tonnes Maximum Authorised Mass* (MAM), drawing/towing any weight trailer/caravan within the prescribed maximum towing weight.
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