Over 70 - towing - DVLA C1/D1 Lorry, bus licence
My husband will be 70 shortly and has received the dreaded DVLA letter requesting that he reapply for his Licence.
As we tow a large caravan he wants to hold onto his ability to tow 3500 to 7500kg. This appears to mean that he has to apply as if he wants a bus/ lorry licence.
He is about to start the form filling and medical certificate request.
Does anyone out there have any advice for us . Did your GP charge etc.
Apologies if this has been discussd elsewhere but I couldn't find any info.
Comments
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Your husband's existing B+E. driving licence will need to be be renewed every 3 years from now on allowing him to drive a vehicle up 3.5 tonnes in weight and to tow a trailer where the combined weight of car and trailer is up to 8.25 tonnes. I doubt if you car and caravan are above that figure. Renewals are free of charge and medical exams will not be needed unless he has a medical problem. Panic over?
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If your husband has a passport and does the over 70 licence on line they can use that picture so no need to send another as they do it all and it is quite quick as is any subsequant renewals if he is not needing to upgrade
Ps been there done it now needing my third
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Euro has explained it well. Most of us don’t need the C/D licences. It’s the vehicle you drive that needs to be less than 3500kg.
The club has info on this which can be found in a tab at the head of the page sorry, I can’t link at the moment.
A photo on a driving licence has a 10 year life so, if he already has a photocard licence, they will use the same photo subject to the 10 yr rule. Renewal on line is very simple.
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My licence was still the paper version when i reached 70 but as said above it was quite painless ,as i did it all online ,and the new photo card licence was received within a few days with the photo taken off my passport with no costs involved ,i am now soon to renew for the third time,and am expecting a much better photo
as i renewed my passport this year
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Not wishing to set the cat amongst the pigeons. The DVLA website states that " you can also tow a heavier trailer with a car as long as the total weight of the vehicle and trailer is not more than 3,500 kg!
there is no mention of 8,500 kg.
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As I understand it, that is for those who passed their test after 1990 something. They are limited on what they can tow. To tow a heavier rig they need to take a towing test.
Our outfit is a total of about 4.75 tonnes when fully loaded, I am coming up on 77 and have no licence problems.
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See here......
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/advice-for-beginners/driving-licences/
Scroll down to the over 70s bit
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Grandmalyn, Car + trailer maximum weight limit of 8.25 tonnes is here on official Gov.uk website
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I am in my 80's and hold a B+E driving licence. Checking the details on my licence, this permits me to drive a vehicle with any weight of trailer. Obviously within the permitted maximum for the towing vehicle.
The size of the trailer depends on the BE 'valid from' date on the licence.If the date is:
Before 19 Jan 2013, you can tow any size of trailer.
On or after 19 Jan 2013, you can tow a trailer with a MAM of up to 3,500 kg.
These figures are from the gov.uk website, and agree with the CASMC information referenced above.
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Always take colour copies or a photo of any documents you send to DVLA.
I know of cases where people have got their new documents only to find a group or entitlement has disappeared. Then when questioned they claim you never had it.
They don't make mistakes
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Very good advice, Milothedog. I would also extend that advice to any situation where a mistake later denied could place one in an awkward position.
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I think you’ll find that is incorrect for someone who passed their test prior to 1997, JV.
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Look at the restrictions on the back of your licence (column 12) JV.
If there were any restrictions on Cat B+E for over 70's, it would appear in this column. Since there are none, then the rules are as given in general regardless of age.
For example, I have an entitlement in category A but, as I never took a test for a motorcycle, my restriction shows 79(3) which covers motor-tricycles only. Likewise, the 01 restriction - the most common - is for the need to wear spectacles/contact lenses.
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Yep, 3500 plus trailer.
Whether 7000 or 8250 is likely to be immaterial for most of us.
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If you are towing with a caravan with a car, the only requirement is a B+E licence to provide you with legal cover.
My outfit is a 7-seater VW Caravelle and I can pull a caravan up to about 2,500 kg. - far in excess of what I would ever tow. The V5 recognises my vehicle as a "diesel car".
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so 7000kg all up