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Car licences obtained before 1 January 1997

If you passed a car test before 1 January 1997 you keep your existing entitlement to tow trailers until your licence expires. This means you're generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes maximum authorised mass (MAM). You also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750 kgs MAM.

Car licences obtained on or after 1 January 1997

If you passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 you're limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750 kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle.  You'll need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight limits.

The car and trailer practical driving test

The car and trailer test (B+E) is based on the lorry driving test and lasts for approximately one hour. Please note that B+E tests are conducted at vocational (bus and lorry) driving test centres.

The towing test (B+E) includes vehicle safety questions, an off-road reverse manoeuvre, a controlled stop, uncoupling and coupling of the trailer and driving on the road.

You won't be expected to carry out the following exercises:

Vehicle safety questions

These are basic safety checks that you should carry out to ensure the vehicle is safe for use. Although some checks may involve opening the bonnet to identify where fluid levels would be checked, you won't be asked to touch a hot engine or physically check fluid levels.

As vehicle technology advances, more and more vehicles are being equipped with electronic diagnostic systems, which inform the driver of the state of the engine fluid levels and tyre pressures. It'll be acceptable for you to refer to the vehicle information system (if fitted) when answering questions on fluid levels or tyre pressures.

You'll be asked five questions, that'll be a combination of 'show me' and 'tell me'. A driving fault will be recorded for each incorrect answer to a maximum of four driving faults. If you answer all five questions incorrectly, a serious fault will be recorded.

For a list of the questions you can be asked on your driving test, please click on the vehicle safety questions link below.

• Download vehicle safety questions for car and trailer tests (PDF, 27K)

Booking a practical test

You can book a car and trailer test online, over the phone or by post. You'll need a credit or debit card and your driving licence number to book a test online or over the phone. To book online, please click on the link called 'book a practical test online' below. To book over the phone, please use the national booking line - 0870 01 01 372.

If you want to pay for your practical test by cheque or postal order, you'll need to complete the practical test application form which you can download from the link 'download the practical test application form for cars and trailers'.

• Book a practical test online (opens new window)

Car licences obtained on or after 1 January 1997

If you passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 you're limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750 kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle.  You'll need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight limits.

As far as the Law is concerned, a caravan is a trailer, so passing the B + E Test covers you for towing larger caravans with larger cars.

This should be adequate for what you need unless you are thinking of a showman's caravan, in which case you'd probably need an LGV licence, because it would need a lorry to tow it.