5 replies to this topic

[Rossyboy]

Anyone know? I'm looking to buy a van soon because well, the Mini isn't exactly the roomiest of vehicles Anyway I'll be wanting to be able to drive this van obviously, and am wondering if I need a new licence or anything?

I'm nearly 19, passed my test as a 17 year old so my Drivers Licence is as it was when I was 17, and on the back it says I can drive Cat. B or B1 vehicles, and naff all else!

So how do I go about acquiring a licence that makes me elegible for Van driving? I looked on the transport office and apparently you have to be 18 to drive a vehicle between 3500kg and 7500kg, and beyond that requires further training? So that's why I'm thinking that might be why my licence doesn't permit me to drive Vans?

Please help me, I'm rather confused!

Thanks in advance Rossy

[jt89]

Anyone know? I'm looking to buy a van soon because well, the Mini isn't exactly the roomiest of vehicles Anyway I'll be wanting to be able to drive this van obviously, and am wondering if I need a new licence or anything?

I'm nearly 19, passed my test as a 17 year old so my Drivers Licence is as it was when I was 17, and on the back it says I can drive Cat. B or B1 vehicles, and naff all else!

So how do I go about acquiring a licence that makes me elegible for Van driving? I looked on the transport office and apparently you have to be 18 to drive a vehicle between 3500kg and 7500kg, and beyond that requires further training? So that's why I'm thinking that might be why my licence doesn't permit me to drive Vans?

Please help me, I'm rather confused!

Thanks in advance Rossy

As soon as I turned 18 I got company van, transit connect then long wheel base transit, didn't change anything to do with my license, just got in it and drove.

[Burnard]

There was a topic on this a few days ago.

From what i gatherd you can drive any vehical on a normal liecence upto 3.5tons, (this does not include trailers which is a hole different ball game and it gives me a headache)

Basicly you can drive any van appart from the ones with the twin rear wheels which are obviously designed to carry allot more weight.
most tipper/flat bed vans have this double wheel arrangement, but not all are over 3.5tons

So that leaves most of the common vans you see arround other than the rediculously large ones.

[Rossyboy]

Alright thanks for all the help guys

I'll just go for a nice transit van then i guess, keeping the mini obviously

Thanks again!

Rossy

[Burnard]

My dad did once tell me about a van that the mini will fit in the back of nicly, so you could aim for that size?


Chris

[Jordie]

Basically

B/B1 entitles you to drive a motor vehicle (car or light van) of upto a maximum gross weight of 3500kgs, and no more then 8 passenger seats.

Your next step would be

C1 - This would entitle you to drive a vehicle between 3500kgs and 7500kgs respectively. You can take further training and a test to gain this license from the age of 18years old. You DO NOT gain this automatically.

Then at the grand age of 21 you could further your licnese with (Again YOU DO NOT gain these automatically),

C - Driving large vehicles over 3500kgs.
D1 - Driving a minibus with between 9 and 16 passenger seats
D - Driving a bus with more then eight passenger seats

And ofcourse, you can gain the +E for towing on each of these, by sitting that type of test when you do the (C1, C, D1, D) training or by further training.

The training can vary in course lenegth and cost. It would be best to check locally for the prices. If I remember correctly, C1 Training and test is approx £1500. You will also need to sit a medical, apply for the provisional category on your license, sit a theory examination. From Sept 2009 you will be required to complete a Driver CPC.

Examples

B - Drive a 3500kgs GVW Transit Crewcab Tipper
C1 - 7.5Ton Iveco Eurocargo Box Truck
C - 26Ton Flat Bed Lorry
C+E - Drive an artic lorry (5th wheel coupling or drawbar combo)
D1 - Drive a 17seat (inc driver) Transit LWB Minibus
D - Drive a mercedes welfare coach with 25 seats.