BE licence

Yes you need to do a theory test and yes the theory for the car B license is what you need.

I got a BE learner permit recently by just applying online.

Never did a car theory test but did lorry theory test about 10 years ago. Would that be the reason they issued the BE learner permit?

You can pull anything up to 3,500kg on a B licence but that's the licensing requirements.

The vehicle capabilities also come into it seperate to the license. The vehicle will have a maximum combination weight also.

What you can tow is the lower of your license or the vehicle capabilities.

The jetta might be fully legal to pull the ifor Williams 10x6 empty but fill it with cattle and it would likely be illegal.

The weight of the unladen trailer would be probably under a tonne, if the jetta could pull 2 tonne (probably a bit high) you could put a tonne of livestock in there and still be legal.

There's some of the ifor Williams trailers, a 12×5 comes in at a tonne, depending on the lambs you could put 8-10 lambs in it legally assuming the jetta is not more than 2.1 tonne (wouldn't think it's that heavy).

Wonder would it be as handy to get the rigid lorry license rather than just go for the BE permit, more ticks on license for little extra...

This is correct, its the plated weight of the car and trailer, Car = 2000kgs you can only tow a trailer <1500kgs (plated gross) on a B license so all of the trailers above are a no no.

Equally if your car can tow 2000kgs and you have a trailer capable of 3.5tonnes but you only ever put one animal etc.. in the trailer (trailer 700kg + 500KG = 1.2tonnes) it makes not a blind bit of difference whats in the trailer a guard will go to the plate and your car is not capable of towing 3.5tonnes you are not legal.

As mickdw and eusap have said it’s the plated weight you look at not the actual weight you’re towing so by the letter of the law your Jetta cannot legally pull any of the listed ifor Williams trailers above, even with the trailer empty.

Equally what Wrangler says seems to be the case. If you have the license and the jeep and trailer are in good condition and properly maintained, especially trailer brakes and lights, and you’re not taking the p**s with the load on board there’s a very slim chance of you being weighed.

Basically if it looks right you’ll generally be ok, if it looks wrong you’re asking for trouble.

Yes it's pretty much the same as the car. They even make you reverse around a corner.

Is there not a design weight that the "jetta" is capable of loaded with. As in you can only put so much weight down on the back axle of the car, so the car has to be capable of taking such weight,

or has this nothing to do with it?

As for the guards, they can and do check for the license, and they don't weigh unless it's fairly obvious the trailer is over loaded but what they do do is check the trailer plates and the car plate

Lads - I just got my third BE learner licence online and received in the post today.

I thought you had to show proof of doing or applying for a driving test? Or has that restriction been removed?

Did you have to have a weight in the trailer? If so how much?

As Stonewall said they’ll look for 30 4” blocks evenly distributed which is about 575kgs and they’re very particular about it. They won’t accept 20 6” blocks instead or tractor weights, fert/meal bags etc. It has to be 30 4” blocks.

Did the test years ago after a few lessons. It was grand. Reverse, hill start and blocks in the trailer. Pretty similar to the car test.

Can anyway confirm to do the theory test for trailer its just the same test as car ?.

Went through the booking process and no mention of trailer so assume its just the normal car theory test.

But then I'm thinking you could do that whole 40Q test and would be no Q on towing a trailer. Which would seem strange..cheers

Yes. Same theory test. I just did it a few weeks back. I got my full licence orior to beeding a theory test, so i had to sit it this time.

Be careful what you use to review questions. I used a paid app from the appstore and soon realised some of the questions were wrong!

The online theory test one is better. I reviewed them once an evening for a few weeks prior and passed comfortably. There's 200 or more questions to review, sounds relatively easy but the national pass rate is just 52% I believe