Approaching 70
70 in January and just received my application form to renew my driving licence. I am confused as to what weight I can drive at 70 . Some say 3500kg for combined car and caravan. Or is it 3500 kg for car and 3500kg for caravan combined 7000kg. My licence currently has classes c1 and c1e, d1 and d1e. I loose these after 70 but still keep B and Be. My car is 2600kg and caravan is 1780kg combined 4380 kg . Am I okay to drive this combination when I am 70 years of age. Help
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Why loose them? Do the medical.
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Why go to all that hassle and expense if they're not needed?
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If you renew your licence at 70 you will get a licence with B+E, enabling you to drive any vehicle up to 3,500Kg gross, and any caravan up to another 3,500Kg. Quite adequate for any car and caravan. You will not get C1 renewed so you will not be permitted to drive a vehicle with a maximum laden weight over 3,500 Kg.
It may help you to know that the process is absolutely simple, fast and free on their excellent web site.
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Don't worry because there's not a problem. I have renewed my licence twice since I was 70. We have the large Shogun and a twin axle caravan, and I am legal.
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There's no need to worry about losing your entitlements by error. You send off for your new licence and when it arrives (just a few days) you can have had a good look at the details, and then send your old licence back. That reminds me I still haven't several years later! There is no paper licence any more of coarse. As I said before, the DVLA have really done a great job of setting this system up.
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Are there vast numbers of caravan owners who actual exceed an outfit weight of 3.5 tons or is obbernockle an exception? Having a motorhome heavier than 3.5 tons I have to have a medical every 3 years to continue driving it. I know it is currently the rule but it seems ludicrous that a medical is not required to drive a caravan outfit exceeding 3.5 tons. I just don’t see the logic!
peedee
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I note that almost all motorhomes are quoted at 3500kg max.
How accurate are these figures (remember VW and the emissions fiasco) ?
Many over 70 drivers, myself included, will not have bothered to retain the C class on their licence and so are restricted to 3500kg fully laden.
How many drivers load their motorhome without checking the resulting gross weight and, if it exceeds 3500kg, are therefore effectively driving without a licence and probably without insurance as a consequence ?
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Not almost all MHs are 3500kg by any means, Hywel.
Check out the posts by BoleroBoy in various MH threads explaining the weight issues and the problems encountered. He’s covered it all.
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Thank you Tinwheeler.
Maybe "almost" was the wrong word to use as there a good number of smaller ones these days. However all the fairly big ones I have looked at nearly always quote the very convenient magic figure of 3500kg.
My points raised are still valid.
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MHs built to 3850, 4250, 4500kg are very common.
Of course your points are valid. I was simply pointing you towards the appropriate section where threads regarding weights of MHs have discussed the issue in depth.
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Thank you Tinwheeler
I had not read the threads on MH weights before my input. I am now even more convinced that we have serious problems with MH makers, the dealers who are trusted to sell them and the buyers who are unknowingly driving around with no entitlement
I myself have been a caravaner for almost 50 years and am far too old to change now
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That’s exactly the point BB has been making. Trying to make people aware of the limitations of some vans and the legalities.
Dealers and trusted are not often words we find in the same sentence!
We were caravanners for 43 years before swapping to a MH so never say never.
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How many drivers load their motorhome without checking the resulting gross weight and, if it exceeds 3500kg, are therefore effectively driving without a licence and probably without insurance as a consequence ?
Even if you have a valid licence any vehicle which is overloaded invalidates the insurance. The Government is in the process of reviewing the B licence. Its hands could be tied until Brexit is complete.
peedee
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Thanks checking and clarifying that .... it's a question that I had pondered. I have no current need for a C1, but always good to know the option is still possible.
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I didn't say our outfit didn't exceed 3,500Kg. It certainly does.
The law applies to the vehicle. All vehicles are treated the same.
If the vehicle is over 3500Kg you need a C1 licence.
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I think you meant BE..
You can drive a vehicle (car, motor caravan, van etc) up to 3500Kg with B licence. If the vehicle and trailer exceeds 3500Kg you need BE. If you want to drive a vehicle over 3500Kg you need a C1. What's not clear or fair about that?
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B1 is for light vehicles up to 550Kgms, I think DD just meant B. What you can and cannot do if you only hold a B licence is determined by when you passed your test. So I think you are correct for anyone passing their B lincence tests after January 1997. Given that for the majority of members the test will have been taken prior to January 1997 the law is and I quote:
"Category B - if you passed your test before 1 January 1997
You’re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). View your driving licence information to check."
So why is no medical required to drive a potentially unstable combination of a vehicle and caravan over 3500tons but it is if you want to drive a much more stable solo vehicle over 3500tons? It is just not logical and remains so unless you passed your test after Jan 1997 when outfit weight is sensibly restricted.
For further information go to https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories
peedee
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There is no anomaly here both 70 year old plus caravanners and motorhomers are treated exactly the same, each can drive a vehicle up to 3500kg on their basic licence, plus tow what that vehicle can tow.
What seems to be requested is the gift of an anomaly in the special treatment for motor homers to drive vehicles over that 3500 kgs. Then there will be the question of what additional weight over that concession can be towed to haul a car?
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