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Towing Courses

Whether you are towing a trailer or a caravan it is essential you know what is involved. Locke School of Motoring towing courses are based on either a half day or 1 day course of parts B + E, for those who know a little about towing.

Dependent on when you passed your driving test the Towing Course will take you through everything you need to know including hitching, reversing and safety checking. Read the sections below to understand more about the towing courses.

Half day = £180.00 Per person.
1 day = £280.00 Per person.

Can you tow a trailer legally?

Driving licence rules and what you can tow

The rules on what you can tow are different depending on when you passed your driving test

Licences issued from 19 January 2013

From 19 January 2013, drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow

  • small trailers weighing no more than 750kg
  • trailers weighing more than 750kg, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer isn’t more than 3,500kg

If you want to tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg, when the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer is more than 3,500kg, you’ll have to pass a further test and get B+E entitlement on your licence. You’ll then be able to tow trailers up to 3,500kg

Licences held from 1 January 1997

If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997 and have an ordinary category B (car) licence, you can drive either

  • vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or 3,500 kilograms (kg) Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (with a combined weight of up to 4,250kg in total)
  • a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as it is no more than the unladen or ‘kerb’ weight of the towing vehicle (with a combined weight of up to 3,500kg in total)For anything heavier you need to take a category B+E driving test.
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Licences held before 1 January 1997

If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997 you are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. This is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road. You also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM

Towing heavier combinations

If you want to tow heavier combinations, you’ll have to first apply for provisional entitlement to the new C1+E entitlement. You’ll then have to pass the category C theory test and C1+E practical test. Once you’ve done this you can drive vehicles and trailers with a combined weight of up to 12 tonnes MAM.

Gross Trailer Weight

This is the max weight a trailer is permitted to carry , including its own weight. So if you have a trailer that weighs 700kg but has a Gross Max Weight of 2500kg then the latter is classed as its real weight for legal towing purposes. Gross MAM of your Vehicle & Trailer = Max Gross Vehicle Weight + Max Gross Trailer Weight

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The possible Penalties for Towing Without a Valid Licence

  • 9 Penalty Points (3 For the missing Licence entitlement and 6 for no Insurance – owing to fact you are driving without a licence)
  • A Maximum fine of approx £5000
  • Possible impounding of your vehicle and trailer
  • Employer fines of up to £1000 per employee prosecution

Is it worth the risk?

Even if you believe you are entitled to tow legally our advice is to get some “trailer training” if you have little or no experience before you consider towing anything. Our “introduction to towing” courses are informative and enjoyable. It will give you the chance to gain some basic skills that you can demonstrate when using your own trailer without the fear of looking stupid.

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The B+E car and trailer driving test

The car and trailer test lasts for approximately 1 hour 30 mins and is based on a mixture between the standard car driving test and the LGV (Large Goods Vehicle) test.

The test comprises elements at the test centre and on the public road:

  • Ability to undertake safety checks on your vehicle and trailer
  • A reversing exercise
  • A 60 minute road drive, demonstrating advanced observation, use of speed and management of space to a very high standard.
  • An Independent Drive (10 mins as part of the 60 min on-road drive)
  • Unhitching and re-coupling

Course Information

Without proper training, many people fail the B+E test on the standard of their road driving, so all trainers are DSA Approved Driving Instructors.

You will find us friendly and professional, we are also extremely patient and believe that learning should be fun.Irrespective of your previous towing experience, we will prepare you not just for the test (if you need to take it) but to tow with skill, confidence and safety.

Reversing exercise training usually takes place on private ground