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Post by Jonathan Smith on Jan 26, 2005 11:38:02 GMT
The hire and reward element is the key issue. But the bottom line is, the UK driving licence categories allow you drive a vehicle based on the maximum weight the vehicle is registered to carry. So if you have a "car" licence, you can only drive a vehicle upto 3.5t If you are lucky enough to have C1 on your licence you can drive any rigid vehicle upto 7.5t If you want to risk driving around in a vehicle registered with a MAM more than 7.5t on the strength of a C1 licence then that is your choice. Many people drive without a "car" licence, insurance, road tax or MOT. Consider this; My brother sits his "car" test next Wednesday, he has learned in a Ford Escort and will sit the test in the same car. Now if you say the MAM of a motorhome has no bearing on the licence requirements he should be able to jump in my bus with a MAM of 12t and legally drive it immediately after passing his test. With no further medical requirements, training or experience?? Unfortunately his licence will state clearly he has sat a test to drive a four wheel vehicle upto 3.5t with no more than 8 passenger seats. If you are stopped by the police you may get away with it as they do not know or are not particularly bothered, but if you a prosecuted for a motoring offence and it goes to court, who knows where it might end? I'm off to buy a 26t american artic to convert to a motorhome
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Post by delboy on Jan 26, 2005 12:31:34 GMT
If they want to see my motorhome for an inspection its going to be fun as my nearest main DVLA office is in the middle of Luton, and theres no parking for cars let alone something 11 metres long. should be fun.
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Post by jimmy193 on Jan 26, 2005 13:07:59 GMT
What do you know, tried that one too Delboy. We have 2 DVLA offices in Edinburgh, one in the city centre and another towards the outskirts. When I asked (at the city centre office) where they would like me to park the coach for inspection the guy just smiled and said there was loads of room outside. Just so happened he would be at the one on the outskirts the following day Basically, if I wanted the V5C (which was now in there possession) it would be in my best interests to be there too Regards, Jim PS...Are you the same Delboy from SBMCC ?
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Post by delboy on Jan 26, 2005 13:26:28 GMT
On the weight issue I know someone with a large American RV who got pulled over by the police for going down a weight resticted road after he took a wrong turn, after a lengthy discussion with the policemen, and them contacting base to get the legal boffins to check wether they could prosecute him as he was arguing that motorhomes are not weight restricted.
After over an hour and a cup of tea in the motorhome, the police got a radio call to just let him go, as the driver was right that his vehicle wasnt weight restricted, and the road restriction refered to commercial vehicles.
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Post by delboy on Jan 26, 2005 13:31:32 GMT
hi jim yes its me, tried to use the same name but this site wouldnt let me use the underscore. only found this site the other day through a link from an american motorhome site.
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Post by delboy on Jan 26, 2005 13:45:50 GMT
just checked the log book for the coach, its got no weights on at all, all it has listed are:
make - Ford body type - Minibus ? ;D taxation class - bus (sort that out once build is completed) type of fuel - heavy oil No seats - 54 (easily sorted) wheelplan - 2-axle ridgid body vin/chassis - BCRSAY403*** colour - Multicoloured
and thats all, ive got two log books as DVLA lost the first one, then sent me two both the same. I wonder if ive got the biggest minibus in the UK?? ;D
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Post by jimmy193 on Jan 26, 2005 15:53:40 GMT
Thought it might be the same Del_Boy, just wasn't sure. Had a look at SBMCC a while back but it seems to be mostly for van conversions though there are some top tips there. You must have the luck of the Irish as well as the biggest mini-bus in the UK - talk about falling in the river and coming out with pockets full of fish you shouldn't have any problems when you are ready for the road with the Plaxton. Anyway, looks like George doesn't need to go on the weighbridge again because this is the latest from DVLA: ............................................................... CUSTOMER REF : V285191 Thank you for your e-mail. As long as it does not affect the rate of duty, then you can simply highlight the changes and send it in with a covering letter we will amend the document for you. Please send it to :- Vehicle Customer Service DVLA Swansea SA99 1BA If however the changes do affect the rate of duty or you need to have the vehicle re-plated or tested, please contact the address below, as they will be able to advise you accordingly:- Vehicle and Operator Services Agency Welcombe House 91-92 The Strand Swansea SA1 2DH Tel: 0870 6060440 Fax: 01792 454273 E-mail: enquiries@vosa.gov.uk I hope this helps. Regards Mrs BL Whitehead Customer Enquiries Vehicles For further information on Driver and Vehicle Licensing, visit our website on www.dvla.gov.uk..................................................................... That's official then, it's still a private HGV but I am okay if I keep under the 7500KG. I wish I had the patience and the inclination to take the DVLA up on the whole issue on Motorhomes / Private HGV / Weight restrictions etc. etc. etc. If we can send folk to Africa to clear minefields, why can't we sort this piddley little one out? Regards, Jm
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Post by Jonathan Smith on Jan 26, 2005 19:32:04 GMT
On the weight issue I know someone with a large American RV who got pulled over by the police for going down a weight resticted road after he took a wrong turn, after a lengthy discussion with the policemen, and them contacting base to get the legal boffins to check wether they could prosecute him as he was arguing that motorhomes are not weight restricted. After over an hour and a cup of tea in the motorhome, the police got a radio call to just let him go, as the driver was right that his vehicle wasnt weight restricted, and the road restriction refered to commercial vehicles. If the sign had a picture of a lorry on it, it is effectively a NO ENTRY sign for lorries and the weight is a red herring the sign is there to stop lorries using certain roads. Applies to "goods vehicles" Applies to all vehicles If there is no lorry on the sign then the restriction relates to ALL vehicles, the sign is there to ensure the road is not overloaded. If the driver of the RV had ignored a weight restriction of this type they would have been prosecuted. Applies to all vehicles
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steve
New Member
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Post by steve on Feb 16, 2005 14:02:07 GMT
No i wouldnt, nor would i have considered it myself at that age but a careful progression and the confidence of ones own ability is somewhat different. Some people having passed the test never drive properly or with confidence and ease that most of us do.
I have a 20 year progression of large & powerful cars, 197mph bikes, 7.5 ton lorries with extended overhang. I drive a minibus instead of a car daily.
Very much different than a new driver going from a mini to 15 ton bus.
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Post by jimmy193 on Feb 16, 2005 16:51:48 GMT
Steve, I have to agree with you there. I passed my test in 1966 - in the days of the little red book driving licence. On joining the army I drove Landies, Bedford RL, Humber and Pig armoured vehicles, and the popular 42str box on wheels bus, all on a normal licence. As the years passed (and the rules changed) I had to start again on the HGV side working up from HGV3 to 1 as well as group H to drive various armoured track vehicles up to 72Tons (still got it). I did not renew my HGV in 1997, just didn't see the point when I would not be using it to earn a living. By law, I can still jump into the driving seat of a challenger tank (fully armed), but the new EU rules state I need 100 different cats on my licence to drive a converted coach and it better not be over 7.5T. Suffice to say that there isn't anything on the road today (wheeled or tracked) that I would not feel confident enough to drive. However - I would not condone anyone driving the likes of George without the necessary confidence and experience but I do think that the boffins are so tied up in their own red tape and trying to please our continental cousins that we are rapidly losing control of our values as a nation. Makes my blood boil, could overheat if the DVLA pizz me about any more over the MAM thing with George!! Regards.
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Post by Jonathan on Feb 16, 2005 19:05:52 GMT
No i wouldnt, nor would i have considered it myself at that age but a careful progression and the confidence of ones own ability is somewhat different. Some people having passed the test never drive properly or with confidence and ease that most of us do. I have a 20 year progression of large & powerful cars, 197mph bikes, 7.5 ton lorries with extended overhang. I drive a minibus instead of a car daily. Very much different than a new driver going from a mini to 15 ton bus. ;D I am confident I can drive an artic, but I don't have a C+E licence.
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Sammy
New Member
Posts: 22
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Post by Sammy on Apr 1, 2005 8:56:13 GMT
I always assumed what you wanted was category D1, buses with less than 16 seats. That cat has no weight limit on it, and mine was certainly a bus, certainly with less than 16 seats (3, in fact!)
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