Classic lorry on car licence, can I?

[Guest rimotu66]

Does anyone know if I can drive a HGV tractor unit using my car licence? I was sure you could if you removed or disabled the 5th wheel but I have been told the law has changed. A mate of mine has bought a 1977 ERF (the one that was painted up in Ferrari colours for the Rush film) and I was thinking of getting similar to take to shows etc.

 

 

[longspoon]

I know all about this.

Since 1997 (possibly before) the licencing laws follow the rules set down by the EU

The current licence rules are based on weight (MAM) or can be superceded by the number of seats

Up to 3500kgs MAM = B licence
From 3500 to 7500 = C1 licence
over 7500 = C licence
If any of the above have 10 or more seats then they come under PCV D1 or D licences

An artic unit may physically weight less than 7500 but if not plated at less than 7500 then it comes under the rules for a C licence

It would have to be plated and weigh less than 3500 to be allowed for a B licence

It is possible to have a unit downplated to under 7500 which Chris Eubank might have done if he does not have a C licence

The fifth wheel being on or off has no bearing like it did under the old HGV rules which is now why when referring to anything above 3.5 tonnes they are LGVs and not HGVs

 

This was taken from pistonheads forum...hope it helps

[Guest rimotu66]

Thanks Longspoon, that's a big no then dammit!

[fieldwanderer]

As said; you may have c1 on your license (7.5t)

 

Next up is C which basic means lorry (it's the old class 2)

 

And a class 1 is C+e (the e means you're entitled to tow a trailer with it).

 

A tractor unit is plated for the vehicle's weight (max gross, including trailer), the unit I drive is plated at 36t I irrc, so over what your 7.5t covers.

 

However, IF the unit weighs less than 7.5t there's a way of getting it replated at 7.5t and you'll be legal to drive it. I don't know how it's done though, I'd ask vosa.

Edited August 28, 2014 by fieldwanderer

[shoot and be safe]

As longspoon said. Tractor unit is C+E (class 1). If the 5th wheel is removed or locked then it was possible to drive on a C (class 2) licence as long as you had a valid reason for doing so. Regardless of vehicle weight, it is based on the gross weight.

 

This is what I was told when I did my licences 15 years ago. The law may have changed since then, but I would have thought it would not be in your favour.

[apache]

TBH if you have the funds to buy a lorry as a toy do a few days training and get your class C. Then no issues.

[armsid]

usually only lorries made prior to 1960 can be driven on car licence check licence website hope this helps

[fieldwanderer]

As longspoon said. Tractor unit is C+E (class 1). If the 5th wheel is removed or locked then it was possible to drive on a C (class 2) licence as long as you had a valid reason for doing so. Regardless of vehicle weight, it is based on the gross weight.This is what I was told when I did my licences 15 years ago. The law may have changed since then, but I would have thought it would not be in your favour.

I did class 2 in 2008 and 1 in 2010, 5th wheel has nothing to do with it now; class 2 (cat C) is a lorry over 7.5t and class 1 (C+e) is the same with a trailer.

 

B is a car, B+e car and trailer

C1 is a lorry under 7.5t and c1+e is 7.5tonner with trailer and so on.

 

I've seen the same question asked a few times and, like I said, the way round it is to have the unit plated at 7.5t or less. Trouble being, a lot of units weigh more than 7.5t on their own.

[Paul223]

It'll down rate to 7.5 t no worries as long as.....there was a firm a few years back who were specialising in down rating trucks, they devised a nice easy method of packing the bump stops to a precise height so it was an easy job to do, a bit on the pricey side but heyho

 

Or go for your test

 

Or phone Vosa technical they may be able to advise differently (depending on who you speak to).

[shoot and be safe]

You will of needed to have passed your test before 1996/7 (can't remember the exact date) to have "grandfather rights" on the C1 licence enabling you to drive up to 7.5t.

If you passed your test after 96/7 you have to sit a test for each category.

[fieldwanderer]

yes, sorry - 1997, that goes for trailers on car license too

 

You don't need to take 7.5t test first, straight to class 2 but you need to do class 2 before you can do class 1

[littlerob]

i got a HGV well that's what the tax class was its a iveco 4250kg i got it down plated to 3500kg to allow me to drive it it cost me 200 pounds to do and a tiny bit of paper work as when through a company to give advice and sort paper work out had to get a weight bridge ticket of the showing the weight of the truck empty i needed this to show 2750kg or less as you must have at least a 750kg pay load my iveco tiped the scales at 2738kg so i was then allowed to apply for the down rate inspection which is done at a vosa hgv mot center they have a look around the motor bit like a mot take your chaiis number and reg then print of a new plate certificate wich must be displayed where the old one was then you have to have a fresh mot do to now going from hgv to lgv and also change your tax over to the new class i had to do this as i spent most of my savings to buy the truck then got it home to find its was hgv