Hello all, I am not positive but I think it the gross vehicle weight that matters not the unladen weight, I think you should check on the DVLA website.

FF

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/vehicle_cat_desc.htm#Medium%20Sized%20Vehicles

as I passed my test in 99 i'm not insured to drive it

I am a bit bewildered by your letter, are you restricted by

• Your insurance company? 
• Your driving licence?
• Gossip and rumour (the DVLA site seems to suggest that you can drive 3.5 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes at 18, ie, when you licence is a year old.)

Age 18 if combination weight is under 7500kg.

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I bought a dodge 50 last year which weighs 3800 kg unladen , I've only just realised that as I passed my test in 99 i'm not insured to drive it as it has to be under 3500 kg unladen , how can i make it weigh less /get round this as ive spent somuch time , cash and worry over her and it would take the fun out of driving if i knew that were i to get a producer i may lose points as i'm not strictly insured to drive her ...although CIS never informed me of that when i took out their insurance policy ...is their a number to phone the manufactorers and ask what the unladen weight is and get it changed or any blag to get round this ... damm the stupid driving laws

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Evening all,

   Another way round this might be to take an LGV(might be hgv) class 2 driving test.  This obviously costs a few quid but will entitle you to drive any rigid vehicle.  I  think the test costs about ?200 .  If you are on benefits you might even be able to get the dss (or whatever they call themselves these days) to pay for this .  I think you might have to find an employer who is willing to state he/she will give you a driving job if you had the required licence to follow this route.

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http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/vehicle_cat_desc.htm#Medium%20Sized%20VehiclesMedium Sized VehiclesDescription

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As i remember this conundrum,  since about 1997 categories C1, C1+E are not included on the standard driving licence and now require an hgv/lgv class2 test to be taken. 

Yup Heercutt, and as you rightly say, she could take the test for the vehicle.

However, Ellie said that insurance stopped her rather than her licence, at 3500kg.

Then there is the muddle between laden and unladen - as Frankie pointed out.

So I wonder if she has has been given a lot of misinformation, or the insurance co is the fly in the ointment

I rang a number of training companies about getting a C1 category. -  they said that I could get one without the promise of a job - maybe they need the work.

The bit that I found that might give her problems is that she has to get her motor to the school for the lessons - or pay a long way over the odds for the guy to come to her.

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As i remember this conundrum, since about 1997 categories C1, C1+E are not included on the standard driving licence and now require an hgv/lgv class2 test to be taken.Yup Heercutt,and as you rightly say,she could takethe test for the vehicle.However, Ellie saidthat insurance stoppedher rather than her licence, at 3500kg.Then there is the muddle between laden and unladen - as Frankie pointed out.So I wonder if she has has been given a lot of misinformation, or the insurance co is the fly in the ointmentI ranga number of training companiesabout getting a C1 category. - they said that I could get one without the promise of a job - maybe they need th

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Re: training, most driving training companys have their own vehicles so there should not be a problem I think you would find the reason for their own vehicles is the dreaded public liability insurance.

FF

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As i remember this conundrum, since about 1997 categories C1, C1+E are not included on the standard driving licence and now require an hgv/lgv class2 test to be taken.Yup Heercutt,and as you rightly say,she could takethe test for the vehicle.However, Ellie saidthat insurance stoppedher rather than her licence, at 3500kg.Then there is the muddle between laden and unladen - as Frankie pointed out.So I wonder if she has has been given a lot of misinformation, or the insurance co is the fly in the ointmentI ranga number of training companiesabout getting a C1 category. - they said that I could get one without the promise of a job - maybe they need th

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sorry for the confusion but basically I knew there was some weight restriction if i passed after 97 , i phoned DvLA and they said it was 3.5 ton but it is confusing cos when i went on their site as another person commented above it seemed it was fine to drive a lorry if you are over 18 ... and i'm not sure about the laden unladen thing .

the test is out of the question , its a full HGV test apparently and costs around ?2000 with lessons , don't think i can afford it so need to downrate to a B1 or whatever the restriction is think its a B1...will get my van details tonight and post them up later to see if you guys can help some more , whatever the cost of downrating it's gotta be cheaper than doing another test !!! I failed my first 4 times

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http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/vehicle_cat_desc.htm#Medium%20Sized%20VehiclesMedium Sized VehiclesDescription

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Im not restricted by my insurance company as i'm fully covered .

however my driving licence says i can drive up to a B1 and a DVLA lady said 3.5 tonnes and under but it's sooo confusing cos the dvla thing you posted about having your licence for a year and being able to drive up to 7.5 tonnes argh ...rumour misinformation all very confusing . I think i'll have to downrate though to a B1 or b category if possible ...

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hi there, you are not the first or the last i guess, you can downrate all but the s75 to under 3.5 tonne as the standard s75 van weighs in at 3650 empty the others range from 2140 and up, what model do you have S35 S46 S56 S66 S75? look on the document V5 or the vehicle vin plate it will have a number like SDGB56KOCED211321 the B56 means its 5.6 tonne but most weigh less than 3.5 tonne depending on wheather its a van , bus or chassis cab, let me know its age, type and body type and i can help you sort it out, i have a friend who downrated his s56 van to under 3.5 tonne, it does cost money but it can be done.karrier

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As i remember this conundrum, since about 1997 categories C1, C1+E are not included on the standard driving licence and now require an hgv/lgv class2 test to be taken.Yup Heercutt,and as you rightly say,she could takethe test for the vehicle.However, Ellie saidthat insurance stoppedher rather than her licence, at 3500kg.Then there is the muddle between laden and unladen - as Frankie pointed out.So I wonder if she has has been given a lot of misinformation, or the insurance co is the fly in the ointmentI ranga number of training companiesabout getting a C1 category. - they said that I could get one without the promise of a job - maybe they need th

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Insurance company stopped her - probably a typo induced by fighting confusing red tape.

Laden/unladen - wouldnt matter if she passed the test (i guess)

Insurance company - i'm pretty sure you can insure a vehicle without being entitled to drive it. 

C1 category - yes anyone (18+ i guess) can take the test,  but getting the dss to pay for it is a little more complicated and goes something along the lines that i mentioned earlier in the thread. 

Lessons - like frankie says training companies have their own vehicles.  In my experience truckers are pretty amicable and pik up drop off could be arranged cheaply, probably time off your lesson or get a lift to the depot.  She could even have lessons in her own vehicle with a suitably qualified freind/family as per learning to drive a car (but knowing how the system likes to spread red tape this may not be the case with trucks)

The examiner would probably feel safer and more inclined to pass a candidate in a tip-top training vehicle than an old dodge (i guess its oldish, i've never seen a new one). A couple of lessons would probably be to the advantage of someone interested in taking this test as examiners can be finicky  little b..... I'm no expert but thats how i see it.

Ellie - hope i havn't complicated the issue.  This is merely the route itook a few years ago when i wanted a big phat bedford mk/j (probably a rude word round here). goodluck H.

training, most driving training companys have their own vehicles so there should not be a problem I think you would find the reason for their own vehicles is the dreaded public liability insurance.

Probably, I only know what I what the companies in YP chose to tell me.

its a full HGV test apparently and costs around ?2000 with lessons ,

I think that if you troll around ellie, you will get much cheaper than that with your own vehicle.

There are several HGV test's

so need to downrate to a B1 or whatever the restriction is think its a B1

If your unladen weight is over 3.5 tonnes, I think that you will find it impossible to downrate your truck to 3.5 tonnes laden.

it's gotta be cheaper than doing another test !!! I failed my first 4 times

There's a saying that runs, there's no such thing as a bad student, only a bad teacher, if you failed, it was your teacher's fault.

You've got a licence, you've got confidence, you've got experience, and you've got a truck you love - HGV driving schools have a different type of teacher - a different system - the ones I reckoned that they'd get anyone through the level that you want, or tell you that you were wasting your money.

Howzabout phoning round a few schools in you YP (Yellow whatsits) and getting the low down?

a different system - the ones I LISTENED TO reckoned that they'd get anyone through the level that you want, or tell you that you were wasting your money.

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hi there, you are not the first or the last i guess, you can downrate all but the s75 to under 3.5 tonne as the standard s75 van weighs in at 3650 empty the others range from 2140 and up, what model do you have S35 S46 S56 S66 S75? look on the document V5 or the vehicle vin plate it will have a number like SDGB56KOCED211321 the B56 means its 5.6 tonne but most weigh less than 3.5 tonne depending on wheather its a van , bus or chassis cab, let me know its age, type and body type and i can help you sort it out, i have a friend who downrated his s56 van to under 3.5 tonne, it does cost money but it can be done.karrier

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