Do You Need a Special Driving Licence to Tow a Trailer in the UK?
Do You Need a Special Driving Licence to Tow a Trailer in the UK?
If you're thinking about buying a Brian James trailer to shift a car, a digger, livestock, or a load of building materials, the first question most people ask isn't about the trailer at all — it's "can I actually tow this on my current licence?" It's a fair question, because the rules changed significantly a few years ago, and a lot of information still floating around online is out of date. Here's exactly where things stand.
The Big Change: What Happened in December 2021
For years, anyone who passed their car driving test on or after 1 January 1997 was restricted to towing trailers up to 750kg, or a combination (car plus trailer) up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) — provided the trailer wasn't heavier than the towing car's unladen weight. Anything bigger meant sitting a separate practical test to add category B+E to your licence.
That changed on 16 December 2021. The separate car-and-trailer test was scrapped, and the extra B+E entitlement is now added automatically to a standard category B licence. In practice, this means most car drivers today can tow a trailer with a MAM of up to 3,500kg, with a combined train weight of up to 7,000kg, without ever having sat a trailer test.
The change was introduced to free up DVSA testing capacity, but it also means many more drivers can legally tow a decent-sized trailer than could a few years ago — good news if you're considering a Brian James car transporter, tipper, or plant trailer for the first time.
So What Can You Tow on a Standard Category B Licence?
If you hold a full category B (car) licence, whenever you passed your test, you can generally tow:
- A trailer up to 750kg MAM, regardless of the towing vehicle's weight, or
- A heavier trailer, provided the combined weight of your car and trailer doesn't exceed 3,500kg MAM
For most everyday trailers — a general-purpose plant trailer, a small car transporter, or a box van trailer — this covers the vast majority of what's on offer. It's only once you start looking at heavier tri-axle car transporters or larger tipper trailers that the combined weight becomes something to check carefully.
What About Drivers Who Passed Before 1997?
If you passed your test before 1 January 1997, you're in a stronger position. Your licence carries "grandfather rights," which typically allow you to tow combinations up to 8.25 tonnes — car and trailer combined — without any further test. This is one of the more useful, if lesser-known, perks of an older licence.
When You Might Still Need to Think Twice
The licence rules removed the testing requirement, but they didn't remove the physical limits. Three figures matter every time you hitch up:
- The trailer's MAM — the maximum it's allowed to weigh when loaded, shown on the manufacturer's plate.
- Your car's towing capacity — the maximum weight it's designed to pull, found in the handbook or on the VIN plate.
- The combined train weight — car plus trailer, loaded — which must stay within your licence entitlement and your vehicle's limits.
It's entirely possible to hold a licence that legally allows you to tow a heavier combination than your car is actually capable of towing safely — so always check the vehicle handbook alongside the licence rules. Overloading a tow vehicle is both dangerous and an offence in its own right, separate from any licensing issue.
A Note for Northern Ireland Drivers
If your licence was issued in Northern Ireland, it's administered by the DVA rather than the DVLA, and while the core towing rules mirror those in Great Britain, it's always worth double-checking your specific entitlement on your licence summary — particularly if you passed your test around one of the rule-change dates, or if you're unsure whether your licence already carries B+E. The DVA and gov.uk websites both keep this information current, and it only takes a few minutes to confirm before you commit to a trailer purchase.
Buying the Right Trailer for Your Licence
Once you know what you're legally entitled to tow, choosing the right Brian James trailer becomes a lot simpler. Our range covers everything from compact general-purpose and plant trailers well within standard B-licence limits, right up to heavier-duty car transporters and tippers for those with higher towing entitlements or plated commercial vehicles.
If you're unsure what your current licence allows, or which Brian James model best matches your car's towing capacity, our team at Eakin Bros can talk you through the options, check the specifications against your vehicle, and make sure you drive away with a trailer that's both road-legal and right for the job. Pop into our Maydown or Claudy branch, or get in touch to discuss your requirements before you buy.