Full Licence - VW transporter

Fiona

Possibly a stupid questions but can somebody tell me if my full licence covers me to drive a VW Transporter

I don't know anything about catergories of cars / vans etc on licences. I know my insurance will cover it but not sure if my licence will.

Reason being I am going to be learning how to tow a trailer so I need to apply for one of them licences and that is the van I will be using to learn how to do it in more than likely.

Hope that makes sense!

Jimdagym

Your licence is fine. Just be sure your insurance actually does cover it. It being a commercial and all.

R.O.R

A standard "B" licence for cars also covers vans up to 3.5Ton and I'm pretty sure there are no Transporters over 3.5Ton, so you'll be fine for the van when not towing.

Fiona

Jimdagym wrote: »

Just be sure your insurance actually does cover it. It being a commercial and all.

I will be changing over to a motor trade policy soon so don't think any issues there?

R.O.R wrote: »

so you'll be fine for the van when not towing.

Will I be ok though when driving the Transporter with a trailer that has a car on it

R.O.R

Fiona wrote: »

I will be changing over to a motor trade policy soon so don't think any issues there?

Will I be ok though when driving the Transporter with a trailer that has a car on it

I'd be double checking to make sure the trade policy covers commercials and towing. I know ours covers commercials, but wouldn't have a clue about towing.

I'm not really sure what licence you'll need for towing that, there have been a few threads on that fairly recently. I don't think towing a car behind a van would be covered under the standard B licence.

Fiona

I think I could be:

For O2 Trailers

If you have an ordinary Category B licence, you may:

Tow an O2 trailer, provided that the DGVW of the trailer does not exceed the un-laden weight of the towing vehicle, and the total design gross vehicle weight of the combination does not exceed a total of 3.5 tonnes..
How the hell though do you know what 3.5 tonnes weighs


Or maybe not:

What trailers does my category B licence cover?
You can tow a trailer with a

MAM no greater than 750kg, and/or
Where the MAM of the trailer is less than the unladen weight of the vehicle, then the MAM of the trailer can be greater than 750kg provided that the combined MAM of the vehicle and trailer is not greater than 3500kg.
As a general rule your category B licence would not allow you to tow a horsebox or a livestock trailer for bringing animals to the local mart.

What trailers does my category EB licence cover?
You can tow a trailer

In all cases where the MAM of the vehicle and trailer combination is greater than 4250kg.
In cases where the MAM of the trailer is greater than 750kg. However, note previous question where in certain cases a category B licence will allow you to tow a trailer over 750kg.

Atlantic Dawn

If you have standard private insurance it's unlikely to cover you for driving a commercial vehicle, even a carvan, check with your insurer.

R.O.R

Fiona wrote: »

I think I could be:

For O2 Trailers

If you have an ordinary Category B licence, you may:

Tow an O2 trailer, provided that the DGVW of the trailer does not exceed the un-laden weight of the towing vehicle, and the total design gross vehicle weight of the combination does not exceed a total of 3.5 tonnes..
How the hell though do you know what 3.5 tonnes weighs


Or maybe not:

What trailers does my category B licence cover?
You can tow a trailer with a

MAM no greater than 750kg, and/or
Where the MAM of the trailer is less than the unladen weight of the vehicle, then the MAM of the trailer can be greater than 750kg provided that the combined MAM of the vehicle and trailer is not greater than 3500kg.
As a general rule your category B licence would not allow you to tow a horsebox or a livestock trailer for bringing animals to the local mart.

What trailers does my category EB licence cover?
You can tow a trailer

In all cases where the MAM of the vehicle and trailer combination is greater than 4250kg.
In cases where the MAM of the trailer is greater than 750kg. However, note previous question where in certain cases a category B licence will allow you to tow a trailer over 750kg.

Yep - that's just confused the hell out of me.

Unleaden weight of a Transporter is around 1,700 - 1,800kg. Car that you would be towing would be around 1,500kg? Might just sneak in under the total 3,500kg, but I wouldn't fancy chancing it.

Fiona

R.O.R wrote: »

Yep - that's just confused the hell out of me.

Unleaden weight of a Transporter is around 1,700 - 1,800kg. Car that you would be towing would be around 1,500kg? Might just sneak in under the total 3,500kg, but I wouldn't fancy chancing it.

Car being towed would be a a track e36 which would be lighter than a standard car? God they never make it easy!