BE licence

Jimmydonnn

Hi guys,

I have a full category B driving licence and I am looking to get the towing licence added so I can tow heavier loads.

Do I need to get a new learner permit for BE or do I just do the test?

Thanks,
Jim

granturismo

I did the same and had to apply for a learner BE permit. I kept my full license but I think that was a mistake, I think they were supposed to cancel the full B license.

Jimmydonnn

Thanks for the response.
How long does the full BE take to get?
Was the test difficult?

granturismo

Jimmydonnn wrote: »

Thanks for the response.
How long does the full BE take to get?
Was the test difficult?

You have to have your learner license to pass the theory test. I think I got a date about 4 weeks later for the driving test. I did my driving test the same week NDLS took over so some details may have changed.

I lost one point at the start of the driving test, they ask some theory questions and I didnt recognise one of the obscure road signs. The driving test is the same as the car test without the multipoint turn. You can choose to do a left or right reverse around a corner.

I'd recommend some lessons beforehand to get rid of any bad driving habits for the test. I also used the instructors trailer for the test, the trailer has to be empty but may need cement blocks or similar to weigh at least 800Kg - there's a good thread on it here;
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057334605

and link to the weight here;
http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/ADI/finalchecks.pdf

Jimmydonnn

Wow that's a lot of time, expense and effort just to tow a 3.5t trailer. I might just wait and go for a C licence.
I assumed that adding "E" was just a small test and didn't know you needed a new theory.

Thanks for your help anyway,
Jim

redline2015

Jimmydonnn wrote: »

Wow that's a lot of time, expense and effort just to tow a 3.5t trailer. I might just wait and go for a C licence.
I assumed that adding "E" was just a small test and didn't know you needed a new theory.

Thanks for your help anyway,
Jim

Getting your c licence will still only allow you to tow a trailer up to 750kg

cantdecide

granturismo wrote: »

I did the same and had to apply for a learner BE permit. I kept my full license but I think that was a mistake, I think they were supposed to cancel the full B license.

You mean cancel the full licence in order for you to apply for the BE permit? If so, no, that's not the case. Every driver is entitled to hold a full licence and learner permit simultaneously. In terms of your learner permit, if you are adding different learner categories and passing tests, those categories will simply move from the permit to the full.

Silvera

redline2015 wrote: »

Getting your c licence will still only allow you to tow a trailer up to 750kg

This is correct. Some years ago I was mulling-over going for the BE test. In the end I went for the C test and then the CE test in 2014. However, it will cost a lot more to go down this route than simply doing the BE lessons / test ...i.e. c.€3000 to get C and CE versus a few hundred euros to get BE (i.e. theory / permit / lessons / test / new full licence).

darrylmalone1

Hi iv a full B licence and Lerner permit for C and C1. Do I have to another theory test to add a BE licence?

neris

darrylmalone1 wrote: »

Hi iv a full B licence and Lerner permit for C and C1. Do I have to another theory test to add a BE licence?

If you dpd a theory test for your B license you need to get a BE learner permit otherwise you need to do a car theory test and get the BE learner permit

darrylmalone1

neris wrote: »

If you dpd a theory test for your B license you need to get a BE learner permit otherwise you need to do a car theory test and get the BE learner permit

I did the theory test 10 years ago and have my full B I also have a learner permit for C and C1 so can I just get the BE added to the learner permit I already have or do I need to do the theory again

cantdecide

Your theory test will be still valid today as passing the B test gives a kind of perpetuity to the theory test validity. It would not be true if we were talking about learner permit categories, eg if you had passed the C theory test years ago but never passed the full test - in this case you would have to take the C theory test again if your permit had expired for more than 5 years.

In a nutshell - you don't need to retake to theory test for the BE learner category. You have a valid theory test on file that you may use.

BlueFord

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but does anyone know if I go and get a CE licence, will you be covered for BE too then? I assume so

Del2005

BlueFord wrote: »

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but does anyone know if I go and get a CE licence, will you be covered for BE too then? I assume so

Yes and if you do bus you get DE.