There was some confusion about what could or could not be towed/recovered by a LGV licence driver who was driving a purpose built heavy recovery vehicle so I called DVLA.
DVLA stated that a ‘C’ recovery driver, driving a purpose built heavy recovery vehicle, had a restricted towing weight (750kgs) and cannot tow a broken down truck or bus/coach.
DVLA said the driver MUST have a C+E licence to tow/suspend tow etc a broken down truck or bus/coach and does not need a ‘D’ licence to recover a bus/coach providing that there is no passengers on board (like there would be )
A ‘C’ driver may only drive an empty ‘D’ licence vehicle if they have held the ‘C’ for over 2 years and that ‘D’ vehicle is undergoing road testing or going to/from MOT or to/from repair garage etc.
A ‘C’ driver cannot say, drive a ‘D’ vehicle empty from one depot to another for logistical reasons.
If DVLA has this incorrect, don’t blame me, I’m just the messenger
Well that goes against what the DVLA have written on their website. On the website it says that a full D licence holder can tow a broken down bus/coach without a needing a C/C+E licence…so either the person on the DVLA phone has got it wrong or the literature on the website is wrong.
Adam_Mc:
Well that goes against what the DVLA have written on their website. On the website it says that a full D licence holder can tow a broken down bus/coach without a needing a C/C+E licence…so either the person on the DVLA phone has got it wrong or the literature on the website is wrong.
They might be able to tow a bus with another bus, but not with an HGV?
Adam_Mc:
Well that goes against what the DVLA have written on their website. On the website it says that a full D licence holder can tow a broken down bus/coach without a needing a C/C+E licence…so either the person on the DVLA phone has got it wrong or the literature on the website is wrong.
Got a link to that mate - I fancy some banter with them
Adam_Mc:
Well that goes against what the DVLA have written on their website. On the website it says that a full D licence holder can tow a broken down bus/coach without a needing a C/C+E licence…so either the person on the DVLA phone has got it wrong or the literature on the website is wrong.
It does say
Holders of a full category D (PCV) driving licence can also drive a passenger carrying recovery vehicle. This is defined as a vehicle (not being an articulated goods vehicle combination) which:
has an unladen weight not exceeding 10.2 tonnes
is being operated by the holder of a public service vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence and, is being used for the purpose of:
i. proceeding to, or returning from, a place where assistance is to be, or has been, given to a damaged or disabled passenger-carrying vehicle
ii. giving assistance to or moving a disabled passenger-carrying vehicle or moving a damaged vehicle
A cat d driver can go out and recover a bus/coach with a purpose built recovery vehicle. They wouldn’t be able to tow a broken down truck. That’s my basic understanding of it.
Rusty Nail:
A cat d driver can go out and recover a bus/coach with a purpose built recovery vehicle. They wouldn’t be able to tow a broken down truck. That’s my basic understanding of it.
So basically me, who is a cat D driver who also holds a cat C licence, can drive a recovery truck with a bus on the back
Rusty Nail:
A cat d driver can go out and recover a bus/coach with a purpose built recovery vehicle. They wouldn’t be able to tow a broken down truck. That’s my basic understanding of it.
So basically me, who is a cat D driver who also holds a cat C licence, can drive a recovery truck with a bus on the back
Ah, but have you got D+E entitlement?
What about a 102 restriction as it is more of a drawbar outfit really.
I’m sure current Recovey Guys will give the details, but there are loads of exemptions for recovery.
Basically, though, to tow another vehicle over 7,500, they do need +E entitlement.
If the recovering vehicle is a truck, then it’s C+E. If the recovery vehicle is a bus, then it’s D+E.
But when have you ever seen a recovery bus!!!
So it’s C+E, regardless of what is on the back.
(once off the recovery vehicle, the recovery driver is insured to manoevre a Cat D vehicle around a compound e.g. into workshop, even if s/he has not got Cat D on their licence, if it’s part of the recovery process)
Well actually i’ve been thinking that all the time i was reading the thread. They used to be very popular, but guess they’ve died out now? An old bus with with a 1/3rd of the body cut off & Harvey Frost type lift & tow type contraption fitted. I bet that was something to do with licensing!
From DVLA who I called this morning - 01792 782 341
If the converted bus/coach recovery vehicle (like the ones in the pics in the posts above) has 8 seats or less then it requires the driver to have a C+E (No D or D1) licence to tow a broken down heavy vehicle such as a bus/coach.
If more than 8 seats but less than 16 then it requires the driver to have a C+E LGV & D or D1 PCV licence in order to do the above.
A D+E on it’s own is NOT sufficient in either case as the recovery vehicle is classed as a commercial first and, if necessary (more than 8 seats), a bus second.
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