B+E licence: who can tow a trailer without a separate test

Published 10 October 2026. Every figure was checked at its source that day.

The short version

There is no separate car and trailer test to take in England, Wales or Scotland. Passing the car test is enough.
A car licence gained on or after 1 January 1997 covers a trailer of up to 3,500kg when loaded.
A car towing a trailer is called category BE, often written B+E.
If BE is not printed on your licence, DVLA adds it the next time you renew.

You do not need a separate B+E test to tow a trailer with a car in England, Wales or Scotland. Since 16 December 2021, anyone who has passed the car test is entitled to drive a car and trailer.

What does B+E mean?

Category B is the car licence. GOV.UK calls a car towing a trailer a "category BE" vehicle, and most people write it B+E. Your driving licence information shows which categories you are allowed to drive.

Do I still have to take a trailer test?

No. The regulations that came into force on 16 December 2021 say a person who passes, or has passed, the car test is automatically entitled to drive a car and trailer without taking a separate B+E test.

Those regulations extend to England, Wales and Scotland. They do not extend to Northern Ireland.

BE is not printed on my licence

GOV.UK says that if category BE is not on your physical driving licence, DVLA will add it the next time you renew the licence.

How heavy a trailer does the licence cover?

Licence gained on or after 1 January 1997: a trailer of up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass, which is the most it can weigh when loaded.
Licence gained before 1 January 1997: usually a vehicle and trailer of up to 8,250kg combined.
After passing the C1+E test: a vehicle and trailer of up to 12,000kg combined.

The licence is one limit. Your car has its own, and it is usually the lower of the two. Check your own car and trailer, or read what each weight on the plate means.

Is there training for towing?

GOV.UK says you can get training on how to tow a trailer safely, including caravans and horse boxes, and to check with the provider what it offers and what it costs.

Towing for payment is a separate question

A driving licence covers who may drive. Carrying other people's goods for payment can also need a goods vehicle operator's licence. Who needs an operator's licence for towing.