 | Home > Off Topic > B+E Test, how hard? |
 
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8578  
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DM, that is only part of the story.
Incorrect licence will normally, invalidate insurance, have a fault accident, then insurance company will pay out third party claim but unlikely to pay yours. Get charged with driving without licence AND without insurance, pick up whatever fine and penalty points. Need new motoring insurance and what is the question? Any points, motoring convictions, had insurance refused etc? What happens to your insurance premiums? Dare I say skywards? What about 12 seater 110s? Minibus licence? Barbara who has minibus entitlement on her driving licence had to be assessed by the local education authority before being covered by the schools insurance to drive the school mini bus for school purposes. Brendan |
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6th Feb 2016 10:14am |
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| 22900013A Member Since: 23 Dec 2010 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 3140 
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I saw someone recently (I think on facebook) saying quite openly they drove a Range Rover towing 3500KG down the motorway on cruise control at 75mph... 
The test I think is a good idea, but you still see muppets doing things like speeding and driving in the inside lane of a motorway when towing. They simply do not know the rules. 2011 110 USW 1973 Series III 1-Ton 1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker 1969 IIA 1-Ton 1966 IIA 88" |
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6th Feb 2016 1:02pm |
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| miker Member Since: 13 Sep 2015 Location: Surrey Posts: 1760 
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Those heathens. Driving on the inside lane of the motorway.
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6th Feb 2016 2:10pm |
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| I.AM_a driver Member Since: 11 Jun 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 404  
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MikeR- I passed my B+E over 10 years ago now, & more recently I did my C and C+E. Well worth getting some training for the B+E, or if you have someone with a good standard of driving (eg IAM or ROSPA) you could ask them to sit beside you while you practise.
It might be best to get training with a 'commercial' trainer rather than a car triainer that also does car & trailer, but most of them have a 'fixed' price course for a specific test. You might still be able to book one of their instructors for an hour or two to help you prepare for the test, explain your background & how much towing/practising you can do on your own might help. As already mentioned, the trailer needs ballasted to sufficient weight (within the weight limit) as with all commercial tests, and you need to provide mirrors for the examiner too (worth bearing this in mind of you plan to use your own vehicle). Good luck, & let us know how you get on.  Mark S
CONVOY for HEROES www.facebook.com/convoy4heroes www.lothian4x4response.org ------ Td5 90 Thread in 'My Defender' Forum |
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6th Feb 2016 10:38pm |
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| CDS Member Since: 28 Jun 2010 Location: Oldham Posts: 15 |
It's far easier to just be an old fart like me
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15th Feb 2016 11:40pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16956 
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I'm an 'old fart' with BE (also C1 and C1E) entitlement throught grandfather rights, but I also have C and CE by virtue of what was then the "Class 1 HGV" test (which you could do by going straight to an artic from a car licence, which seems incredible now).
I think that answer to the OP's question "how hard" is that it depends how good a driver you are! I would however strongly recommend getting some time in with a competent instructor, if only for the reason that these guys know exactly what the examiner is looking for and how you should drive to pass the test, which is not necessarily how you drive normally. If you are a competent and confident, driver, with good anticipation of road situations and hazards, you should find it very easy. |
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16th Feb 2016 9:53am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8578
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Another old fart here
So yes have grandfathers rights for towing. BW has made a very good comment about how good a driver you are. One thing about towing is that you need to be more alert about the action of other drivers. Being cut up by a braking car driving moron who is desperate to make that motorway exit at the last possible moment without any consideration of the stopping distance of a Defender towing a big trailer does raise the blood pressure. Or the car driver who thinks the give way line markings are what I consider to be the centre line of the main road. Then there are are another set of laws regarding towing equipment, speed limits, prohibited lanes, tacho regulations, driving hours etc etc. A good competent instructor will not only teach you the actual handling techniques to pass the test but also educate you about the wider aspects of towing. Brendan |
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16th Feb 2016 10:13am |
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| Disco_Mikey Member Since: 16 Nov 2014 Location: Dundee Posts: 531 
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Sat my B+E this afternoon, after a morning course. 8am start, 1pm test
Passed with 4 minors Key points are: Observation, a reversing manoeuvre, and correct hitch/unhitching, and not driving like a knob If you can manage that, it's Easy enough, IMHO |
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4th Apr 2016 6:36pm |
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| Caterham Member Since: 06 Nov 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6266  
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I can't think who it was but someone on here had a really high mileage 2.4 (about 200k) and I'm sure he did trailer instructing - I can't recall who it was but I'm sure someone on here will be able to advise / perhaps make contact?
just done a search - it was kingofthesparks - he did vehicle training - not sure if that was anything to do with trailes (sorry). 
anyone heard from Glynparry - know if he's ok? |
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4th Apr 2016 7:04pm |
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| RobKeay Member Since: 19 Jul 2009 Location: Stafford Posts: 1568 
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Careful with your grandfather rights on c1 you can only tow upto 750kg. It is a pain to take the tests but I really learnt to drive better. It's amazing how much I had forgotten. I also had to do a screen test and hazard perception. I think everyone should do this every 10 years.
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4th Apr 2016 8:11pm |
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| Mash Member Since: 09 Feb 2015 Location: Guernsey Posts: 1674  
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I did my B, C and C+E all with in a 2 month window, all payed for by my employer
90 wolf - Jasmin http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39408.html
90 V8 - Maggie http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic42564.html 110 TD5 - Buggsy http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic59029.html 52HG25 lightweight https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic72342.html D3 Hse - Fiona Capri 2l S - Anna Think I might have a problem............ |
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4th Apr 2016 8:33pm |
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| spudfan Member Since: 10 Sep 2007 Location: Co Donegal Posts: 4512 
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Over here a "B" licence covers you for a vehicle with 8 passengers plus driver, total 9. For a 12 seater you would need a "D1" which covers you for 16 passengers plus driver i.e. 17 in total. But anything that carries more than 8 passengers plus driver brings you into PSV (Public Service Vehicle) category. Therefore the vehicle must comply with PSV rules. This would entail having an externally accessible fuel cut off like a minibus. In fact you would have to have your vehicle comply with minibus type rules and do a test for a PSV type licence.. Anyone driving around in a 10,11 or12 seat configured 110 would need to check their licence. My insurance states that I'm insured to drive the vehicle provided I have the appropriate licence. 1982 88" 2.25 diesel 1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali 2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu 2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai |
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4th Apr 2016 10:42pm |
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| miker Member Since: 13 Sep 2015 Location: Surrey Posts: 1760
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12 Seat defenders seem to fall down the cracks. No one knows what they are. They're not a minibus, but cars can only have 9 seats!
However, anyone over 21 can drive a minibus <3.5T GVW so long as it's for community or social purposes. THis covers things like scout groups and university clubs. I have my test booked up, doing a mornings training then test in the afternoon. All things considered (training, use of vehicle + trailer, test booking) it's pretty good value. |
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4th Apr 2016 10:59pm |
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| dave18 Member Since: 11 Jul 2015 Location: Gorleston, Great Yarmouth Posts: 497 
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Try getting insurance for 8 seater 110!!!!! Struggled like mad so just said 7 seater which was no issues and whipped the middle seat out the day I got it. Even the specialists were struggling to get me a decent quote with 8+ seats
Really need to do my B+E but its finding a local place that I think would be good enough as seeing some of the new drivers it makes me think some companys are paying the examiners!!!! Don't want to pass cause I turned up if you know what I mean |
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5th Apr 2016 10:48am |
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