Dramatic change to towing laws means test will no longer be needed

The government has announced an end to all trailer tests from 20 September 2021 to free up time for more HGV tests – what do you think?

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency has announced that drivers who passed their car test after 1 January 1997 will no longer have to sit a test in order to tow a trailer or caravan weighing up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). Up until now, drivers who passed their car test before that date were able to tow a car and trailer without taking an extra test, while those who passed their test after the cut-off were required to take a B+E trailer test in order to tow a trailer over 750kg.

However, with a shortage of lorry drivers affecting transport and shipping across the UK, the government’s decided to end the requirement for drivers to take a trailer test to tow a trailer over 750kg. It’s hoped that this will free up time to create an extra 50,000 HGV tests and get more lorry drivers on the road.

This means all drivers will be able to tow a trailer weighing up to 3.5 tonnes without the need for an extra test. This will come into effect from 20 September, so until then drivers who gained their license after 1 January 1997 will still only be able to tow a trailer weighing over 750kg if they display L plates and are supervised by a driver over the age of 21 who’s had a trailer license for more than three years or passed their car test before 1 January 1997.

In a statement, the Driving & Vehicle Licensing Agency added: “Professional training is still important for car drivers who want to tow a trailer, so we will continue to encourage those wanting to tow to seek training before towing a trailer.”

For further guidance on safe towing, click here