We Can Train You to Pass Your Towing Test

Winter being just around the corner means trailer owners are beginning to park their vehicles for the season or even putting them in storage. Some will start thinking about their towing needs for next spring and summer; others will forget about towing until the temperatures warm up and the flowers start blooming. If you are a trailer owner, we want to encourage you to think about undergoing some training next spring. If you are a new trailer owner in need of a Category B+E or Category C1+E licence, we can train you to pass your towing test.

There are three different licences to be concerned about if you are a trailer owner. These are:

• Category B – This licence allows you to tow a trailer in excess of 750 kg with a tow vehicle no heavier than 3.5 tonnes ONLY if you obtained it prior to 1 January 1997. It pertains primarily to light utility trailers and only the smallest of horseboxes.

• Category B+E – This licence covers the same criteria as the Category B for drivers who obtained their car licence after the 1997 cut off, as well as drivers looking to tow trailers in excess of 750 kg with tow vehicles weighing up to 7.5 tonnes. Most horsebox trailers and caravans are covered by this licence.

• Category C1+E – This licence is intended for tow vehicles in excess of 7.5 tonnes towing trailers heavier than 750 kg. However, the combination of both tow vehicle and trailer with this licence cannot exceed 12 tonnes. Anything heavier requires a Category C+E licence.

If your circumstances dictate a particular licence is necessary for you to legally tow your trailer, we recommend you not ignore the regulations. Doing so could result in serious consequences if you are caught. Instead, we urge you to take either our three- or five-day course in preparation to take and pass the towing test.

The towing test involves two parts, including driving skills and practical demonstration. We prepare our students for both parts by providing classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel practice. We believe our approach is appropriate for most non-professional drivers looking to tow trailers.

Why You Need Training

You could book and take your towing test without ever undergoing formal training. People do it all the time. So, why do we recommend training? Because towing a trailer is fairly challenging even under the best conditions. Trailers add weight, size, and resistance to a tow vehicle; all three make maintaining control difficult. Training makes you familiar with the concepts and skills necessary to be safe while towing.

We believe in the importance of training for both new and experienced drivers. New drivers obviously need to learn the fundamentals of trailer towing before they ever go out for the first time. Experienced drivers benefit from training inasmuch as it refreshes their skills and bring them up to speed on regulations. If you tow a trailer, you really need training.