Passenger carrying vehicles towing trailers
There are different categories of licence you need to tow trailers and caravans from passenger carrying vehicles and rules around the maximum load you’re allowed to carry. The maximum authorised mass (MAM) of vehicles and trailers means the maximum weight you are allowed, also known as the gross vehicle weight.
Subcategory D1
Subcategory D1 are passenger carrying vehicles with nine to 16 passenger seats.
If you have a subcategory D1, vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM. There is no upper weight limit for subcategory D1 vehicles.
To get the D1 subcategory, you need to have a B category and meet higher medical standards. You also need to pass both theory and practical tests for subcategory D1.
Subcategory D1+E
Subcategory D1+E are passenger carrying vehicles with nine to 16 passenger seats with a trailer above 750kgs MAM.
This is as long as the pairing does not exceed 12 tonnes MAM and the laden weight of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle.
You must not use trailers for the carriage of passengers.
To get this category, you need to have a B category and you have to pass the theory and practical tests for subcategory D1 first and then pass a further D1+E practical test. There is no subcategory D1+E theory test.
Category D
Category D is a passenger carrying vehicle with more than eight seats.
Category D vehicles may be shared with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM. There is no upper weight limit for category D vehicles and national limits apply.
To get this category, you need to have a B licence and you have to pass theory and practical tests for category D (it is not necessary to get a subcategory D1 first).
Category D+E
Category D+E is a passenger carrying vehicle with more than eight seats with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.
Category D vehicles may be shared with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.
To get this category, you need to have a B licence and have to pass the theory and practical tests for category D first and then pass a further D+E practical test.
There is no category D+E theory test (it is not necessary to get a subcategory D1 or D1+E first).