Driving License Forums

loddy

Hello you big rig drivers

How many of you have taken the class C test to be able to drive your RVs,
The reason I ask is I have been given conflicting information by sellers of Large RVs, some say it's a grey area and you will be alright but when you talk to the DVLA they are very clear what you can and can't drive,

I replied to an advent in the magazine that said car license drive-able and talked to the seller about MGVW and he didn't have a clue, but was driving a large motor home on a car license, (what he did say was that his Rv had the weights in KG) who's been tampering with that ?

This is not a survey but any input would be appreciated

Loddy

bandaid

Ok, so ,if your driving licence says you got C1E, then you can drive up to 7500 kgs.

Over 7500kgs, you need to do what used to be the class 2 hgv, but is now an HGV ( rigid) and even more deep joy, if you're rv is over 7500 kgs, and you want to tow a trailer over, I think 350 kgs, you got to get the C+E licence which was, the Articulated licence.

You need a medical £ 103.00 application for a provisional hgv licence, ( more money) then the course and tests which is around £900.00

Oh, and the plated weight can be altered, by officialdom, to be in pounds or kilos.

Anyway, theres NO GREY AREA, its der lorr.

ksebruce

aultymer

From the DVLA pages (it's really easy to find !!)

Copied and pasted.

The entitlement needed on your driving licence

You will need to check that your driving licence gives you entitlement to drive a motorhome. The categories shown on your licence allow you to drive vehicles up to certain weights, known as the maximum authorised mass (MAM).
Category B (car) entitlement

You can drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes MAM, together with a trailer not exceeding 750 kilograms. To tow a heavier trailer you will need category B+E entitlement.
Category C1 entitlement

You can drive vehicles over 3.5 tonnes MAM but less than 7.5 tonnes (with or without a trailer up to 750 kilograms). To tow a heavier trailer you will need category C1+E entitlement.

If you passed the category C1+E test:

* before 1 January 1997 (shown as C1+E (107) on the licence) you are limited to driving such combinations up to a combined weight of 8.25 tonnes eg motorhome 6 tonnes, trailer 2.25 tonnes
* after 1 January 1997 you are entitled to drive combinations up to 12 tonnes in weight where the MAM of the trailer exceeds 750 kilograms but does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle

Category C entitlement

You can drive vehicles over 7.5 tonnes MAM. To draw a trailer over 750 kilograms you will need category C+E entitlement. Motorhomes of this weight cannot be driven on a standard category B (car) licence, irrespective of when that category B entitlement was obtained.
The size of the motorhome

The maximum size of a motorhome allowed in Great Britain is 12m in length and 2.55m in width. There is no maximum limit on the height, but if the vehicle is more than 3m tall, then the height must be measured and displayed (in imperial units and preferably metric as well) on a notice clearly visible to you as the driver.

End of pasted section.

There is NO grey area.

Please do a simple check on say Google (other search engines are available) before posting replies to legal questions.

olley · Campsite DB Admin

Hi its all down to FACTS and OPINIONS, the DVLA give an OPINION based on what they believe are the FACTS.

I believe GT's OPINION backed up by a lot of research was that according to the C&U, its not an HGV or a Coach which leaves only "Heavy Motor car" which means you can drive it on a car licence irrespective of weight.

Whether its sensible to do so is an entirly different matter. And I took my "C" because like the DVLA, GT's is only an OPINION.

Olley

RVNUT

Hi,
I still have the old paper license, I took my motorcycle test in 1960 and car test in 1964. My license says Class A, B, C1, D1, B+E, C1E, D1E, FKL, NP.
But I didn't take any tests other than the two above. I know I'm OK to drive an RV up to 7,500 kg on the C1 cat, and up to 8,250kg (inc trailer) with the C1+E.
I may just be 'grandfathered' in.

bandaid

I got the info on what weights you can and cant drive from the nice welsh lady on the phone from the local DLVA office.

I believed she'd given me the facts, which is why
a I am currently taking me HGV test,
b I wasnt over worried about referencing it on a search engine.

Apparently I stand corrected.

I'l ring the lady and tell her she's obviously given me duff information. Confused

olley · Campsite DB Admin

Hi Bandaid, its not duff info its just an opinion, the DVLA's opinion. Laughing

until it goes to court that's what it will remain, up to now know-body has every reported an instance of this happening. So maybe the DVLA ain't to sure of their opinion. Wink

From all the info that GT posted, in my opinion he was right, but I still did the test, because in my opinion you should have to take some sort of test to drive one. And he could be wrong. Laughing

Olley

Rapide561

This is my view.

If I was to buy an RV tomorrow, weighing over 7500kg, I would drive it using HGV qualifications.

You cannot take the HGV test using your RV as the test vehicle.

I personally would base all the whys and wherefores on the weight of the vehicle - ie over 7500kg, HGV licence needed.

Whether that is right or wrong, remains to be seen.

Russell