Towing Licences

If you need to tow a trailer or horsebox you are required by law to hold a ‘BE’ licence, your Car Licence (B category) only covers you to drive a vehicle up to 3,500kg and trailer up to 750kg. Gardai are actively pursuing drivers towing trailers to confirm they are holders of the correct BE licence as without it you are not insured and could be prosecuted.
 

At Naas Driving Academy we are committed to giving our pupils exceptional driving instruction in our jeep and box trailer, which are available to hire for lessons and test. Our jeep and trailer comes laden to increase the weight so it is compliant with the requirements set out by the RSA for real total mass for the driving test.
 

The BE licence covers a vehicle up to 3,500kg G.V.W. towing a trailer and load with a total combined weight which must not exceed 3,500kg.

This licence will allow a driver to drive a vehicle from 3,500kg to 7,500kg with a trailer and load attached.  The total combined weight of the towing vehicle, the trailer and the load must not exceed 12,000kg. Each vehicle has a recommend towing weight from the manufacturer, so it advisable to check theses weights.
 

This licence is a full towing licence and has no weight restriction as long as the vehicle can tow the weight of the trailer and load combined.  The BE and EC1 licences will automatically come with this full licence.

The candidate must first have a full licence in the category of vehicle with which they wish to tow, ie BE will require a full car licence (B) and will then need to obtain a learner permit for the BE.  Each licence category will require a learner permit for the category of vehicle the driver wants to obtain before they can start training.

• Step 1: Is to pass a driver theory test for the required category.  If a theory test for the car has been completed in the last few years then this will cover the BE licence also otherwise a theory test for car and work vehicles is required.  For categories C1 to CE there is one theory test to cover all categories and if this has been completed for a truck category in the past 2 years then this will cover any upgrade through the truck licences. Theory tests can be booked on www.theorytest.ie
• Step 2:  For all BE licences an eyesight report is required unless you have had one completed for a driving licence in the last five years. For all truck categories a medical report is required.  
• Step 3: Application form for a learner permit along with the theory test certificate and eyesight or medical report form if required is to be submitted to an NDLS office and they will issue the driver with the learner permit.
• Step 4: An application to the RSA can be made at this stage to complete the full driving test for each category.

Theory test: €45.00
Medical report: Doctor’s fee
Learner permit: €35.00
Driving test application for BE: €85.00
Driving test application for truck: €120.00

Naas Driving Academy has been teaching the BE licence which was previously known as an EB licence for over 15 years.  The only difference with the new BE licence is the weight restriction of 3,500kg which was introduced in January 2013.  You can be assured that our team of highly skilled instructors can guide you through your driving test.
On average each driver would need 5 hours to pass their driving test for the BE licence.  The driving test is a full test including Road position; Observation; Reaction to hazards; mirror work; progress; vehicle controls; speed; traffic controls; reversing left or right.  While most of our customers are very experienced at towing and reversing trailers, they all have bad habits, which is natural for all drivers and this is the only thing that will let them down on the day of the driving test.  Naas Driving Academy can currently boast a 98.7% pass rate for the category BE licence where the customer takes 5 hours training.

 A combination, made up of a category B test vehicle which should be either (a) a length of at least 4.25 metres or (b) a four wheel drive vehicle.  It must have a capable speed of at least 100km/h
The trailer must have D.G.W of at least 1,400k.g but not exceeding 3,500k.g, must be an enclosed boxed body trailer which is at least as wide and as high as the towing vehicle and have a length of at least 2.4 metres.  The closed boxed body trailer may also be slightly less wide than the towing vehicle provided that the view to the rear is only possible by use of the external mirrors.  The trailer must be presented with a real total mass weight and this is achieved with 30 x 4 inch cement blocks securely loaded into the trailer
Naas Driving Academy can supply the full jeep and loaded trailer for the driving test or you can have the option to use your own towing vehicle and our trailer.  Otherwise if you can supply the loaded trailer you can then use your own vehicle.
You can contact our highly expert staff for any further information or to book a training session.