4250kg on B licence

[Jofang]

The motorhome federation in France has picked up on the news that the weight limit for a B licence has been agreed by the EU governing body to be increased to 4250kg to allow for emergency vehicles such as battery powered ambulances to be driven on a B licence. Motorhomes are also included irrespective of fuel/energy type. France expects this ruling to take a few years before it becomes law in France and I'm curious to know if it will be adopted by the UK following brexit.

 

[Jev88]

Rumoured for a long time and I expect UK will follow eventually.
As for Wales .......

 

[David and Sally]

Why a few years? Could be done in a few hours. The DVLA seem to be changing their interpretation of the laws every day or so.

 

[tonka]

I dont think there is an reason why the UK needs or has to follow...
If they wanted they could change things tomorrow and re-instate the old C1 (750OKG) catagory. Think it only got changed down to 3500kg to fit in with the European law at the time.

They quicky changed the HGV / BUS age requirement from 21 down to 18.

 

[David and Sally]

What if a French driver arrived in his 4000kg Moho in the UK with only a B licence and the UK hadn’t followed suit?

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[meanders]

Surely the license rules are those pertaining where the licence is issued? I have driven I places all over the world, and have never given it second thought that local rules might differ. I look up the rules of the road for the country being visited, not the licence requirements as long as my licence is accepted.

 

[Guigsy]

Would it just be licensing that would be affected? Or would road tax (VED) also be aligned? Wouldn't that mean some people pay more? And all the LEZs and CAZs would need to change. Won't European tolls change too?

And even then, just because you're allowed to drive 4.25t, and the taxation class allows it, for those of us trying to keep under 3.5t now, we'd still have to get our vehicles up-plated.

 

[Jofang]

This change makes me wonder about the effect it will have on prices of used mhomes. We have a 5 ton Hymer, only because we want the extra space and carrying capacity during longer stays, but this also incurs the upkeep of the C1 licence. I'm sure we'd be happy with 4250kg as opposed to 5000kg, so there may be lots of heavier mhomes like ours on the market as well as a plethora of those 3500kg vehicles that want the extra weight capacity available with the B licence.

 

[Guigsy]

This change makes me wonder about the effect it will have on prices of used mhomes. We have a 5 ton Hymer, only because we want the extra space and carrying capacity during longer stays, but this also incurs the upkeep of the C1 licence. I'm sure we'd be happy with 4250kg as opposed to 5000kg, so there may be lots of heavier mhomes like ours on the market as well as a plethora of those 3500kg vehicles that want the extra weight capacity available with the B licence.

I'd suggest that the regulars on MH Fun only represents a minority of motorhome buyers. Many are clueless about 3.5t weigh limits at the time of purchase... and remain so unless they are unlucky enough to be found out. So I don't think it'd affect prices that much. If you want a big motorhome, you'll still need a C1.

 

[nicholsong]

I'd suggest that the regulars on MH Fun only represents a minority of motorhome buyers. Many are clueless about 3.5t weigh limits at the time of purchase... and remain so unless they are unlucky enough to be found out. So I don't think it'd affect prices that much. If you want a big motorhome, you'll still need a C1.

Later it will affect how MH manufacturers build their future models. They will not be forced to make them under 3.5t out of cardboard.

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[Wh05apk]

Surely the license rules are those pertaining where the licence is issued? I have driven I places all over the world, and have never given it second thought that local rules might differ. I look up the rules of the road for the country being visited, not the licence requirements as long as my licence is accepted.

Suspect the license rules are where the vehicle is used? I believe in the states cars can be driven at 15? But they couldn't drive over here.

 

[Barriesimpson]

The motorhome federation in France has picked up on the news that the weight limit for a B licence has been agreed by the EU governing body to be increased to 4250kg to allow for emergency vehicles such as battery powered ambulances to be driven on a B licence. Motorhomes are also included irrespective of fuel/energy type. France expects this ruling to take a few years before it becomes law in France and I'm curious to know if it will be adopted by the UK following brexit.

In Spain it will enter into law at the beginning of 2025.

 

[Brains]

Suspect the license rules are where the vehicle is used? I believe in the states cars can be driven at 15? But they couldn't drive over here.

Even pre-EEC and now EU it would be legal for a 14 year old to drive a Solex moped from the tip of Spain to the north of Denmark.
However they would not have been allowed onto the ferry to the UK, with the moped, and certainly not at age 14.

So what is legal in one country does not apply in another.

(Hence every August social services are at Heathrow to apprehend the families of the newly married schoolgirls returning with their much older husbands from Pakistan.)

 

[Guigsy]

Later it will affect how MH manufacturers build their future models. They will not be forced to make them under 3.5t out of cardboard.

It might create a problem if European manufacturers make all their vans 4.25t and the UK doesn't follow. It'll put a lot of models out of reach for a lot of the UK market.

 

[busbuddy]

Rumoured for a long time and I expect UK will follow eventually.
As for Wales .......

Wales will be 40 ton on a provisional.....well you are only doing 20mph so no problem

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[Charente16]

Suspect the license rules are where the vehicle is used? I believe in the states cars can be driven at 15? But they couldn't drive over here.

It's a few years since I was 15 and living in the States, 62 years in fact, but at the time in California you could drive at 15 providing you were enrolled in a 'Driver Training Course' at your High School. There were lots of restrictions in place including only being able to drive when accommpanied by a licenced driver and only permitted to drive during daylight hours. There were also restrictions on the distance you could drive from your home, so going to the Beach was out of the question. A 'car load' of youths' was a Red Flag for 'LA's Finest' and ususally resulted in a trip to Juvenile Hall !

 

[nicholsong]

Suspect the license rules are where the vehicle is used? I believe in the states cars can be driven at 15? But they couldn't drive over here.

Vehicle and driving licence validity across borders of signatory countries is governed by the Vienna Convention.

 

[Jev88]

Is it Denmark where 14/15 can drive special cars - essentially only have 2 gears . Others locked out.

 

[Sue and Rick]

Rumoured for a long time and I expect UK will follow eventually.
As for Wales .......

They will but only at 20mph

 

[Minxy]

(Hence every August social services are at Heathrow to apprehend the families of the newly married schoolgirls returning with their much older husbands from Pakistan.)

For info that's because the law was changed in 2022 due to many cases of underage marriages WITH parental (or guardian) permission and the killing of their daughters who defied them:

Legal age of marriage in England and Wales rises to 18

Vulnerable children across England and Wales will be better protected from the damaging impact of forced marriage as the legal age of marriage rises to 18 in England and Wales.

www.gov.uk

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[Charente16]

Is it Denmark where 14/15 can drive special cars - essentially only have 2 gears . Others locked out.

Sweden, cars are limited to 30kph and are 'not supposed' to be used on the road unless for farming purposes but they are and are a pain to be stuck behind. A 'relic' left over from WW2.