Trailer (B+E) test cost: scrapped. Training is not.
The DVSA scrapped the B+E trailer test in December 2021. Any UK car-licence holder can now tow a trailer up to 3,500 kg without a separate test. Training is now optional but still strongly recommended, costing £400-£900 for a typical 2-day handling course.
Current trailer rules
- +Tow up to 3,500 kg MAM trailer on Cat B (car) licence
- +No DVSA fee, no test, no extra licence entitlement to apply for
- !Combined car + trailer weight must not exceed vehicle's design limits
- -Trailers over 3,500 kg still need Cat C+E or C1+E
Why the test was scrapped, what it changed.
Before 16 December 2021, anyone wanting to tow a trailer over 750 kg gross with a car had to pass the DVSA B+E (car plus trailer) practical test, which cost £115 weekday or £141 weekend. The test included a reversing manoeuvre with the trailer, uncoupling and recoupling, and a 1-hour on-road drive with the trailer attached. Training before the test typically ran £400-£900 for a 2-day course at most regional schools.
The Department for Transport scrapped the test as part of a broader effort to free up DVSA examiner capacity during the post-COVID car practical test backlog. The Department published a road-safety impact assessment concluding that removing the test would not materially increase trailer-related accidents because trailer design had improved (Anti-Lock Braking requirements on larger new trailers from 2019 reduced jackknife risk), and because the test as designed did not actually predict tow-driving safety very well. The rule change was implemented under Statutory Instrument 2021/1364.
The legal change took effect on 16 December 2021. From that date, any holder of a full Category B (car) licence can tow a trailer with a maximum authorised mass up to 3,500 kg, provided the combined train weight stays within the towing vehicle's manufacturer-specified limits. The vehicle's own MAM plus the trailer's MAM combined must not exceed what the V5C registration document allows the car to tow.
Current rules at gov.uk/towing-with-car. The December 2021 announcement and its legal basis are at gov.uk/government/publications/towing-a-trailer-with-a-car.
What a 2-day trailer course covers and costs.
Most UK trailer-training schools still run the same 2-day course they offered before the test was scrapped. Content covers: trailer coupling and uncoupling, weight distribution and nose-weight checks, reversing with a trailer (the hardest part for most drivers), motorway towing including lane discipline and overtaking, hill starts with a trailer, and emergency braking. Course pricing in May 2026 typically ranges from £400 for a 2-day basic course at a regional school to £900 for a premium course with a national chain.
Most schools offering trailer training in 2026 have moved to issuing their own completion certificates (no longer DVSA-validated) which are accepted by insurance providers, the Caravan and Motorhome Club, and many fleet operators as evidence of trained competency. Some insurance providers offer 10-25% premium discounts on caravan and trailer policies for drivers with a recognised training certificate from the last three years.
Both RoSPA and IAM RoadSmart strongly recommend trailer training before towing in real-world conditions, particularly for novice tow drivers. The road-safety case is well established: trailer-related accidents have a meaningfully higher per-mile rate than solo car accidents, particularly on motorways, and the skill difference between trained and untrained tow drivers is large. Spending £500-£700 on a trailer course is generally cheaper than the insurance deductibles and increased premiums after even a minor trailer accident.
Find approved trainers via the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towing Course directory at caravanclub.co.uk or RoSPA's training listings at rospa.com.
What 3,500 kg actually allows you to tow.
The 3,500 kg trailer Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) limit covers most of the leisure trailer market: typical 4-berth touring caravans run 1,200-1,700 kg unladen and around 1,500-1,900 kg fully loaded; larger 6-berth caravans 1,800-2,200 kg fully loaded; horse trailers carrying one horse 1,300-1,600 kg, two horses 1,800-2,400 kg; small boat trailers 600-1,500 kg with the boat. All these sit comfortably below the 3,500 kg threshold.
The constraint that catches most drivers out is not the trailer MAM but the combined train weight. The towing vehicle's V5C registration document specifies a maximum train weight (vehicle plus trailer combined). A typical family SUV (Hyundai Tucson, Ford Kuga, Nissan Qashqai) has a train weight around 3,500-4,500 kg, which limits what trailer it can pull. Towing a 2,000 kg loaded caravan with a 1,800 kg vehicle is fine for the licence (combined 3,800 kg, within 3,500 kg trailer + vehicle weight); doing the same with a 1,300 kg hatchback may exceed the hatchback's train weight even though the trailer is well under 3,500 kg.
Heavier loads need a Cat C+E or Cat C1+E licence. The Cat C+E test fee is £115 weekday, training £1,500-£2,500 for a 5-day intensive (vs the £400-£900 voluntary B+E course). Most large horse-box owners, livestock trailer users and equipment hauliers with combined train weights over 3,500 kg take the Cat C+E pathway.
Trailer rules at gov.uk/towing-rules. Speed limits with a trailer are 50 mph on single-carriageway roads and 60 mph on dual-carriageways and motorways unless a lower limit applies. Trailers are not allowed in the right-hand lane of motorways with three or more lanes.
Trailer (B+E) FAQ.
Do I still need a B+E test in 2026?+
No. The DVSA scrapped the B+E trailer test in December 2021 as part of the post-COVID test-backlog measures and the change was made permanent in 2022. Anyone holding a full UK car licence (Category B) can now tow a trailer up to a combined maximum authorised mass of 3,500 kg without taking a separate trailer test.
What does B+E training cost without the test?+
Most schools offer a 2-day trailer-handling course for £400-£900. The training is now formally optional but strongly recommended by the DVSA, insurers and trailer manufacturers, since trailer towing accidents involve significant risk to other road users. Many insurers offer reduced premiums for drivers who complete approved trailer-handling training even though the qualification is no longer required by law.
Are there still rules for what I can tow?+
Yes. The current rule is that holders of a full Category B (car) licence can tow a trailer with a maximum authorised mass up to 3,500 kg, provided the combined weight of car plus trailer does not exceed the vehicle's design limits. Larger trailers (over 3,500 kg MAM) still require a Cat C+E or C1+E licence with full DVSA practical testing.
Can I still book a B+E test for the record?+
No. The B+E test category was closed for new bookings in December 2021 and the DVSA does not run the test anymore. Any older qualification on your driving record remains valid but there is no current testing pathway.
Why did the DVSA scrap the test?+
Two reasons. First, removing the B+E test freed up DVSA examiner capacity to address the post-COVID car practical test backlog. Second, the Department for Transport's road-safety analysis concluded that the marginal safety benefit of a separate trailer test was small compared to the cost and time, and that better trailer-design standards (such as the Anti-Lock Braking System requirement on larger new trailers) had reduced the safety case for compulsory testing.
Should I still take training?+
Yes. Almost every road-safety organisation (RoSPA, IAM RoadSmart, the Caravan and Motorhome Club) recommends formal trailer-handling training even though it is no longer legally required. Trailer accidents account for a meaningfully higher rate of motorway incidents per mile driven than solo cars, and skill differences are large between trained and untrained tow drivers. Training also reduces insurance premiums at most providers.