b6x Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 Evening all. A quick question regarding driving licenses if you dont mind. My license (the plastic card type thing) has a long list on the back of all the vehicles I can drive, up to and including what I can make out as a: B a car BE a car and trailer C1 a luton van looking thing C1E a luton van and trailer D1 a minibus D1E a minibus and trailer plus "f k l n p" in italics - but no pictures. The wifes only has: B, BE, f k l n p. Does this mean she is not able to drive our 3300kgs van conversion? Any ideas why her's has less and how she goes about getting anything added? At a guess she passed her test around '96. Many thanks in advance, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 . Listed below are vehicle category descriptions for driving tests passed after 1 January 1997 and the minimum ages for driving them. All weights refer to maximum authorised mass (MAM) unless stated otherwise. This is the total weight of the vehicle plus the maximum load it can carry. Vehicles with a MAM not exceeding 3500kg having not more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg. Combinations of towing vehicles in category B and a trailer, where the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3500kg and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle B 17* As cars, but with automatic transmission B 17* Combinations of vehicles consisting of a vehicle in category B and a trailer, where the combination does not come within category B B+E 17 *Age 16 if you are currently getting Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate (mobility component) Medium sized vehicles with or without trailers Description Category Minimum age Vehicles between 3500kg and 7500kg with a trailer up to 750kg C1 18* Combinations of vehicles where the towing vehicle is in subcategory C1 and its trailer has a MAM of over 750kg provided that the MAM of the combination thus formed does not exceed 12000kg and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. (If you passed your category B test prior to 1.1.1997 you will be restricted to a total weight not more than 8250kg) C1+E 21* *Age 18 if combination weight is under 7500kg Large vehicles with or without trailers Description Category Minimum age Vehicles over 3500kg with a trailer up to 750kg C 21* Vehicles over 3500kg with a trailer over 750kg C+E 21* *Age 17 if member of armed forces *Age 18 if member of the young drivers scheme Minibuses with or without trailers Description Category Minimum age Vehicles with between 9 and 16 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg D1 21* Combinations of vehicles where the towing vehicle is in subcategory D1 and its trailer has a MAM of over 750kg, provided that the MAM of the combination thus formed does not exceed 12000kg, and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle D1+E 21* Buses with or without trailers Description Category Minimum age Any bus with more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg D 21* Any bus with more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer over 750kg D+E 21 *Age 17 if member of armed forces *Age 18 a) while learning to drive or taking a passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) test b) after passing a PCV test when: driving on a regular service where the route does not exceed 50km driving a PCV constructed to carry no more than 16 passengers the vehicle is operated under a public service vehicle (PSV) operator's licence or permit c) not engaged in the carriage of passengers Other categories Description Category Minimum age Agricultural tractors F 17* Road rollers G 21** Tracked vehicles H 21 Mowing machine or vehicle controlled by a pedestrian K 16 Mopeds P 16 *Age 16 for tractors less than 2.45m wide, it must only pull trailers less than 2.45m wide with two wheels, or four close-coupled **Age 17 for small road-rollers with metal or hard rollers, they must not be steam powered, weigh more than 11.69 tonnes or be made for carrying loads Driving licence information codes Your licence may include information codes which indicate what (if any) restrictions your driving entitlement is subject to. A list of the full descriptions of the information codes which appear on your driving licence can be found on the link below. Information codes on your driving licence In this section... Driving a minibus Driving larger goods vehicles (LGV) on a car driving licence Driving passenger carrying vehicles (PCV) on a car driving licence How to add higher categories to your driving licence (staging and upgrading) Vehicle weights explained Your driving conduct for larger vehicles, minibuses or buses Minibus and community bus permits Additional linksSee also... How to tell DVLA about a medical condition The driving licence you need to tow a caravan or trailer Do it online Take an official practice theory test (opens new window) Book a theory or practical test online (opens new window) Order a driving licence application form (opens new window) Motoring services available online... Useful contacts Driving Standards Agency (DSA) - Customer Services Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) contacts Global linksAbout us Linking to Directgov Terms and conditions Your privacy © Crown copyright ContactsSite indexHelpAccessibilityCymraegSearch this site Access keys Home Newsroom Site index Help Complaints procedure Terms and conditions Feedback form Access key details Back to top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel E Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 Steve, 1. If she passed her test after 1.1.97, that partly explains it: everyone who did so has only B. However, that does not explain how she came by B+E which you do not get with the normal driving test. My guess is, therefore, that when she transferred from the old licence to that nice new card (and large A4 sheet of paper) the DVLA left off some of her entitlements. This is a not uncommon mistake. Do you have a photocopy of the original licence? Rule 1: NEVER send anything to the DVLA (or anywhere else, for that matter) without keeping a photocopy. 2. Go to your local Post Office and ask for the DVLA Booklet about Driving Licences which will explain, in detail, much more than can sensibly be put on this forum. 3. B and B+E allow you to drive: - any vehicle up to 3500Kgs plated weight - i.e., Maximum Authorised Mass, or what it defines on the vehicle plate as the maximum the fully loaded vehicle is allowed to weigh. So you are fine with 3300 Kgs, as is your wife. - with B+E you can tow a trailer of unlimited weight subject only to the requirement that the actual weights of tow vehicle and trailer must not exceed the Train Weight defined on the tow vehicle's plate. In practice, for safety, the trailer should not exceed 85% of the tow vehicle's unladen weight. 4. C1 allows you to drive vehicles with a MAM up to 7500Kgs and C1+E to tow large trailers (the trailer MAM must not exceed the tow vehicle's unladen weight, though this restriction will disappear in 2012. 5. D1 and D1+E are about minibuses and not relevant to motorhomes. Hope that helps Mel E ==== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b6x Posted June 24, 2007 Author Share Posted June 24, 2007 Thanks to you both. Looks like she'll be ok. I've taken a look at the website: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022547 ...and found this: Description Category Minimum age Motorvehicles with a MAM not exceeding 3500kg having not more than 8passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg. Combinations of towingvehicles in category B and a trailer, where the MAM of the combinationdoes not exceed 3500kg and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed theunladen mass of the towing vehicle B 17* ...so, this looks like she gets away with driving it on her "B" entitlement. Regards, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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