Medium-sized vehicles towing trailers

Find out more about the rules of towing trailers with medium sized vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes. Maximum authorised mass (MAM) of vehicles and trailers means the permissible maximum weight, also known as the gross vehicle weight.

Category C1

A subcategory of category C which includes medium-sized goods vehicles 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes MAM (see below for explanation), which may be coupled with a trailers up to 750kg MAM allowing a combination of up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. In order to gain C1 you must hold category B, meet higher medical standards and pass both theory and practical tests.

Category C1+E

A subcategory of C+E which  includes medium-sized goods vehicles 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes MAM and allows trailers over 750kg MAM to be towed. The combination of vehicle and trailer must not exceed 12 tonnes MAM, and the laden weight of the trailer must not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. The minimum age required to drive these vehicles is 21.

Drivers of 18 years of age may also drive C1+E vehicles but the vehicle trailer combination is limited to 7.5 tonnes MAM. When the holder of category C1+E reaches 21 the weight limit is automatically increased to 12 tonnes. In order to gain C1+E you must hold category C1 or C and then pass a C1+E practical test. There is no subcategory C1+E theory test.

MAM

References made on this page to the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of vehicles and trailers mean the weight of a vehicle or trailer and its maximum recommended load, also known as the gross vehicle weight.

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