Post by Jonathan Smith on Jan 23, 2005 11:17:36 GMT
The great debate about who can drive what.
To drive a motorhome you need the appropriate licence which is based on the weight of the vehicle.
A "Car" licence allows the holder to drive a vehicle upto 3.5t this is category B
Please do not confuse "a normal car licence or full licence" with a category B "car" licence.
To drive a vehicle between 3.5t and 7.5t you need to hold a category C1 licence which is medium size goods vehicle.
In the past {pre 1997} this was issued automatically along with category B to people who passed the driving test in a car.
If passed your test pre 1997 and lose you licence for any reason and are required to sit an extended test to regain your driving entitlement you will be issued with a category B licence which will only allow you to drive a vehicle upto 3.5t, you would then need to sit a further test to gain C1 or C entitlement.
To drive a vehicle over 7.5t you require a rigid truck licence formerly known as HGV2 which is category C
Be aware that most coaches and buses weigh more than 7.5t and normally have a MAM of about 12t
You can deplate the MAM of the vehicle to reduce the payload you carry, but it is difficult to reduce the unladen weight of the vehicle for obvious reasons.
Beware if you derate the vehicle for driving licence purposes and you are caught driving the vehicle "overloaded" you risk being prosecuted firstly for overloading the vehicle and secondly for driving without the correct licence.
"I'm alright I've got a bus licence", NO sorry you cannot actually drive a motorhome based on a bus or coach using your PSV licence as the vehicle is now considered to be a HGV.
There is no common sense in this system but that is the way it stands at the moment.
To drive a motorhome you need the appropriate licence which is based on the weight of the vehicle.
A "Car" licence allows the holder to drive a vehicle upto 3.5t this is category B
Please do not confuse "a normal car licence or full licence" with a category B "car" licence.
To drive a vehicle between 3.5t and 7.5t you need to hold a category C1 licence which is medium size goods vehicle.
In the past {pre 1997} this was issued automatically along with category B to people who passed the driving test in a car.
If passed your test pre 1997 and lose you licence for any reason and are required to sit an extended test to regain your driving entitlement you will be issued with a category B licence which will only allow you to drive a vehicle upto 3.5t, you would then need to sit a further test to gain C1 or C entitlement.
To drive a vehicle over 7.5t you require a rigid truck licence formerly known as HGV2 which is category C
Be aware that most coaches and buses weigh more than 7.5t and normally have a MAM of about 12t
You can deplate the MAM of the vehicle to reduce the payload you carry, but it is difficult to reduce the unladen weight of the vehicle for obvious reasons.
Beware if you derate the vehicle for driving licence purposes and you are caught driving the vehicle "overloaded" you risk being prosecuted firstly for overloading the vehicle and secondly for driving without the correct licence.
"I'm alright I've got a bus licence", NO sorry you cannot actually drive a motorhome based on a bus or coach using your PSV licence as the vehicle is now considered to be a HGV.
There is no common sense in this system but that is the way it stands at the moment.
