Driving licence groups

[Bod]

Just had my licence returned after a change of address, its now got an extra group, I can ride a motorbike! Appears that I'm licenced to ride a Harley!
Never taken any bike test, do I tell DVLA or just leave it? There's no instructions what to do.

Bod

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Many people had the opposite - they moved house and lost the motorcycle category. It even happened to a police motorcyclist. The DVLA wouldn't back down and people had to take another test.

 

[Mark A]

The DVLA is a wonderful organisation, isn't it?

I'm currently reading up on the rules regarding towing trailers and the three people I talked to today (two at the DVLA and one at the DVSA) all managed to contradict each other and the info on the .gov website.

I only wanted someone to clarify the size of trailer I can tow with my standard Category B license...

 

[artie]

I only wanted someone to clarify the size of trailer I can tow with my standard Category B license...

I believe it depends on when you got your licence

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Iirc it was 1999 that the law changed - before that you could tow a trailer and drive 7.5 tonner on a car licence. I believe the size of the trailer has more to do with the rating of the car than the actual driving licence. I don't think many saloons will tow more than a 750kg.
I was advised (wrongly) that I had to notify the DVLA of my being diagnosed type 2 diabetic. My mother had died a few years before and I had copies of my licence for ID purposes, so being aware of their propensity for deleting motorcycle categories I sent a copy rather than the original. They duly informed me that the notification was not necessary but I had to apply for a new licence as they couldn't send mine back - because of data protection laws! I couldn't see how - they must send thousands a day through the post? Anyway, I informed them that they weren't holding my licence, only a copy and they said OK, that's fine.

 

[blackrodd]

As Phil mentioned, when the licence's were changed loads of people around here in Sunny Devon, lost driving groups and even got prosecuted for driving without a licence having passed a test years ago!
Truck drivers as well.
It's a good job I can't spell bureaucrat, or I'd be off on one.
Regards Rodders

 

[mailee]

Exactly! My best friend applied to renew his licence and when it returned his motorcycle and HGV entitlement had disappeared! He also had to retake his bike test after riding for over thirty years! :roll: he couldn't afford to re take his HGV again so he has lost that one. As for the motorcycle listing I think you will find it is only for a trike and not a motorbike as there is a code along side the listing that this applies to. I know this as my son also thought the same when he renewed his licence. But as we all know DVLA does stand for Department of Various Lost Articles. :lol:

 

[artie]

There is a bus qualification that they take off now, because you have to have a background check.

They don't tell you unless you ask. If you get the check done they add it back. I didn't bother can't see me wanting to drive a bus in the near future.

 

[RogerS]

I think it depends on the individuals licence that is in their possession and also on the vehicle doing the towing (I can tow 3 and a half tons with mine :-" ). My licence also tells me that the largest vehicle I can drive is C1E (You can drive vehicles weighing 3,500 to 7,500kg MAM with trailers over 750kg; the fully-loaded trailer can’t weigh more than the vehicle and combined weight of vehicle and trailer can’t be over 12,000kg) and a provisional licence to drive any motorbike as well. Oh, and tanks.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Mailee's comment on the bike category being a trike reminded me that my wife's licence came back from an address change with what looked to be an added bike category - but on closer inspection it wasn't. This may be what happened to the OP.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Roger - I believe all those of us of a certain age have the C1E category.

 

[RogerS]

Roger - I believe all those of us of a certain age have the C1E category.

Yes...us baby-boomers!

 

[Distinterior]

I had the mis-fortune of having to do a Driver/Speed Awareness Course a few months ago.

As fascinating & interesting (NOT) as the course was, some of the information that the guy running the course told us all during lunch break, was enlightening.

As Phil.P and Roger S said, some of us have what the course guy told us is a "Grandad Licence". This entitles us to drive up a 7.5 ton lorry even though we have never taken a test to drive one. Apparently, if you passed your test after a certain date (Cant remember what the date is), then you would have to sit a test.

One thing that did come as a shock to me was what he told me about pulling a Trailer. I own and regularly drive 2 Vans (Renault Trafic & VW Transporter) and I also had a small 4 wheel enclosed Box trailer, about the size of a small horse box. He stated that when loaded and being pulled by either van, the GVW was such that either of the 2 vans need to be fitted with a Tachograph........!!!!!!?????? and should I get pulled up by Mr Plod, then I would get nicked if no Tachograph was fitted to the vans.

The next day, I looked into it and, obviously, he was correct.

The cost of having a Tachograph fitted to either or both vans was astronomical, so I had to sell the trailer and make do without it.

 

[IHc1vtr+]

We had a lexus gs300 sport Mk2, and in the door shut was a sticker warning that if a trailer over a certain size was towed, the car would need a tachograph. A tacho in a car crazy.

 

[lurker]

You can imagine the "sir Humphrey " that sneaked all of these changes in feeling rather pleased with himself.