Several caterers have been stopped in the last few months driving 7.5 tonne lorries with an attached trailer and have been surprised to find out that they were illegal.

They thought that category C1+ E meant that they could drive a vehicle and trailer combined maximum weight of 12 tonnes ( 7.5 lorry and 4.5 tonne trailer), which at first glance they could.

Looking however at the section on the back of the licence the police were quick to point out that there was a code next to the C1+E classification that read Code 107.

Code 107 means that this classification is restricted to 8.25 tonnes maximum combined weight of lorry and trailer.

This means that if you have a well stocked 7.5 tonne lorry and even a moderate sized trailer you are most likely to be driving illegally and will if you get stopped receive a fine and points on your licence.

Lets try to clear up the confusion

If you passed you test since 1.1.97 you are likely to have a driving entitlement of category B

Category B,

Unless you have taken additional test you are only entitled to drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or a vehicle with a trailer (max trailer weight 0.75 tonnes), where the combined weight does not exceed 3.5 tonnes.

Note - Anyone under the age of 21 is restricted to 3.5 tonnes combined vehicle and trailed weights regardless of license categories obtained

Category B1.+ E

This category entitles the holder to drive a towing vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes plus a trailer of any weight but still restricts the combined weight of vehicle and trailer to 3.5 tonnes.

Category C1 , C1+E

If you want to drive larger vehicles you will need to take an additional test to upgrade to C1 (theory) and if you want to tow larger trailers you will need to upgrade to C1+E (practical)

This entitles the holder to drive a towing vehicle up to 7.5 tonnes and a trailer (not exceeding the unladen weight of the towing vehicle) up to a maximum combined weight of 12 tonnes Provided there are no restriction codes next to the classification

Most persons who took their test before 1.1.1997 will have code 107 against this category which will restrict them to a towing vehicle of 7.5 tonnes and a trailer not exceeding the unladen weight of the towing vehicle and a maximum of 8.25 tonnes

There is a leaflet which can be downloaded from the internet which explains all this, I have to say it takes a bit of understanding its no wonder a few of us have been labouring under a misapprehension

www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/leaflets/inf30.pdf