licence for towing a trailer

F.D

hi, my licence is up for rewnewal i never realised until now that EB was not ticked on my current licence for towing a trailer, even though i do tow cattle trailers and horse boxes from time to time,
my question is am i automatically intitled to have that stamped on my new licence as i passed my car test in 2001, i think the law only changed in recent years in regards to towing ? or will i have to do a test to be legal (i hope not) look forward to your opinions

BrianD3

F.D wrote: »

hi, my licence is up for rewnewal i never realised until now that EB was not ticked on my current licence for towing a trailer, even though i do tow cattle trailers and horse boxes from time to time,
my question is am i automatically intitled to have that stamped on my new licence as i passed my car test in 2001, i think the law only changed in recent years in regards to towing ? or will i have to do a test to be legal (i hope not) look forward to your opinions

You'd need to do the test, they stopped awarding EB automatically well before 2001. I think it was 1990 here and 1997 in the UK.

Del2005

You'll need to do the test. I got my B in 98 without EB. And the best bit is that you'll need to do the theory test and then wait 6 months before doing the test. You'll also need to be accompanied at all times by someone who has an EB licence for over 2 years when towing.

There are certain specifications for the towing vehicle and trailer depending on the vehicles age but I can't find them on the RSA site.

Edit:
The vehicle specs are in Office notice 11/2004, but I can't find it. I'd hope it's available when you apply.

Victor Meldrew

F.D wrote: »

hi, my licence is up for rewnewal i never realised until now that EB was not ticked on my current licence for towing a trailer, even though i do tow cattle trailers and horse boxes from time to time,
my question is am i automatically intitled to have that stamped on my new licence as i passed my car test in 2001, i think the law only changed in recent years in regards to towing ? or will i have to do a test to be legal (i hope not) look forward to your opinions

My understanding is that small (sub 700Kg) trailers are OK on a car licence, but you need the EB licence if the traier is bigger or if the combined weight of car and trailer is above 3,500KG.

This has been the issue in the Diving Club i'm in. Towing RIB Dive boats is an issue, but hauling the compressor is OK. in your case, livestock trailers would be an isssue.

savvygirl

If you got your B driving licence in the last few years and did a theory test to get it - then do you need to do another theory test for the EB licence?

Also is the driving test just like a normal driving test with a trailer attached to your car/jeep/van?

Does anyone know where you would get lessons to prepare you for the test?

waxon-waxoff

If you search in previous threads this has been covered a few times in detail. The EB test would discourage many people including me. For the test you have to have a horse box or box trailer to show you can reverse despite poor rear visability. Doubt lessons are available. Most people pulling big trailers never done the test and learnt from experience.

F.D

Thanks for the replys looks like i'll have to do the test at some stage so, more money and time wasted, its a funny law really considering i have been farming since i was young and driving tractors and trailed implements on a regular basis

Del2005

waxon-waxoff wrote: »

If you search in previous threads this has been covered a few times in detail. The EB test would discourage many people including me. For the test you have to have a horse box or box trailer to show you can reverse despite poor rear visability. Doubt lessons are available. Most people pulling big trailers never done the test and learnt from experience.

There are lessons available, I think Naas has a school that does them. Most people pulling trailers have done a test, the majority of the time it's for EC so a car and trailer is much easier, or acquired the right when they got their licence. But a small minority of people are some pulling illegally like the OP who've never done a test or even thought they need to.

F.D wrote: »

Thanks for the replys looks like i'll have to do the test at some stage so, more money and time wasted, its a funny law really considering i have been farming since i was young and driving tractors and trailed implements on a regular basis

TBH it's the W licence that's a joke not the B, EB etc. Letting a 16 year old out on the roads in a large tractor, with most able to easily exceed 60km/h, and loaded trailer without any test is downright dangerous and should be stopped. But since farmers have a powerful lobby it'll never happen.

BrianD3

Del2005 wrote: »

But a small minority of people are some pulling illegally like the OP who've never done a test or even thought they need to.

I would say it's much more than a small minority. Most people do not have an EC licence, doing an EB test is uncommon and it's around 20 years since EB was awarded automatically with B.

If you see someone under the age of 40 towing a heavyish trailer, chances are they don't have the correct licence.

I have never come across anyone in this country who understood what M.A.M. or D.G.V.W. meant in relation to trailers. The gardai are nearly as clueless as the general population and will come out with crap like "you need a 4wd to tow a twin axle trailer"

Dilbert75

BrianD3 wrote: »

If you see someone under the age of 40 towing a heavyish trailer, chances are they don't have the correct licence.

...and if you see someone over the age of 40 towing a heavyish trailer, chances are they never did a test to get their license to tow it...

CiniO

Just to clarify few things.

On car licence (B category) you can tow a trailer with GVW (gross vehicle weight) up to 750kg, with any car that B licence allows you to drive.
That means you can drive 3.5 tonne transit with 750kg trailer.

Otherwise you can tow heavier trailer, but trailer's GVW must be not grater than car's unladen weight, and the sum of GVW of car and trailer must not exceed 3.5 tonne.
In example.
1. Your car weights 1500kg, but it's GVW is 2000kg (you can load 500kg into the car). Trailer's GVW is 1500kg. You can tow that trailer with that car on B licence, as trailer GVW does not exceed car's unladen weitht, and the whole set's GVW is not greater then 3500.

Whenever you want to tow something heavier you need EB licence.

Anan1

Just for clarity - am I still entitled to every category I had on my first full license, even the ones that got lost along the way?

Crasp

Anan1 wrote: »

Just for clarity - am I still entitled to every category I had on my first full license, even the ones that got lost along the way?

Not necessarily. I don't know the cut off point, but I think it's 10 years.



That's why auld fellas who had bikes in the 60s/70s and only ever renewed their B licence need to go back to do the theory test again.

Anthonyk2010

CiniO wrote: »

Just to clarify few things.

On car licence (B category) you can tow a trailer with GVW (gross vehicle weight) up to 750kg, with any car that B licence allows you to drive.
That means you can drive 3.5 tonne transit with 750kg trailer.

Otherwise you can tow heavier trailer, but trailer's GVW must be not grater than car's unladen weight, and the sum of GVW of car and trailer must not exceed 3.5 tonne.
In example.
1. Your car weights 1500kg, but it's GVW is 2000kg (you can load 500kg into the car). Trailer's GVW is 1500kg. You can tow that trailer with that car on B licence, as trailer GVW does not exceed car's unladen weitht, and the whole set's GVW is not greater then 3500.

Whenever you want to tow something heavier you need EB licence.

So it makes no differance if you have double axel or single axel trailer or weather your car is petrol of diesel?

I have a petrol hatchback toyota and an 8' x4' double axel car trailer and was laid to believe I was wrong and should not have a double axel trailer.

Once my weight is in order I'm ok?

CiniO

Anthonyk2010 wrote: »

So it makes no differance if you have double axel or single axel trailer or weather your car is petrol of diesel?

I have a petrol hatchback toyota and an 8' x4' double axel car trailer and was laid to believe I was wrong and should not have a double axel trailer.

Once my weight is in order I'm ok?

Number of axles, whether it's diesel or petrol, jeep, varn or car is completely irrelevant.
Only weights really matter.

BostonB

Is there anyway of finding out the weight of a trailer? Weight Bridge or such. We've an old trailer single axle that we use from time to time, I assume its covered under normal car licence, have no idea what it weighs though. Its not that big though. About 12' long, width not wider than normal sized car.

BrianD3

BostonB wrote: »

Is there anyway of finding out the weight of a trailer? Weight Bridge or such. We've an old trailer single axle that we use from time to time, I assume its covered under normal car licence, have no idea what it weighs though. Its not that big though. About 12' long, width not wider than normal sized car.

As a member of the public, I recently got a commerical vehicle weighed at a quarry weighbridge. IIRC it cost 5 quid and I got a printout of the weight. I presume they would also weigh a trailer.

This will just tell you the unladen weight though. If it's a homemade trailer the DGVW will be a guess.

BostonB

Ok good tip thanks.

Does anyone actually get an EB licence and more importantly does it really matter?

Literally everyone I know, be they neighbors, relations etc including myself pull fairly big trailers, be they cattle trailers, horse boxes, plant trailers with mini diggers etc and I would say most dont even know EB exists never mind have got it and Ive never heard of anyone getting hassle over it.

BostonB

Is there a medical requirement for a EB? I had it and at one point they took if off as I didn't have a medical when they changed the requirement. Or am I thinking of something else?

Anthonyk2010

CiniO wrote: »

Anthonyk2010 wrote: »

So it makes no differance if you have double axel or single axel trailer or weather your car is petrol of diesel?

I have a petrol hatchback toyota and an 8' x4' double axel car trailer and was laid to believe I was wrong and should not have a double axel trailer.

Once my weight is in order I'm ok?

Number of axles, whether it's diesel or petrol, jeep, varn or car is completely irrelevant.
Only weights really matter.

Cheers.

GERMAN ROCKS

what do you need to do for the eb test. i presume you wont have to back the trailer around the corner or do a hill start or do a three point turn etc?

TrailerBob

Hi all, I have done the EB test, and have been stopped on 3 occasions and asked to produce it. It's pretty straight forward.
As Del2005 said, Naas driving school does trailer lessons. Tbh, the test is not rigorous enough if you ask me. Like others here I'm from an agri background but that doesnt exempt you from licensing laws! It appalls me to see the number of people towing big trailers with little or no lighting, or poorly secured loads. Take the theory test, wait the 6 months and do the rather simple exam. Yeah you have to reverse around a corner.

BTW, your insurance is invalid if you are towing big without a licence...