Do you need towing lessons? Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. If you do, the HGV Training Centre offers UK-wide, fast-track training that will teach you to tow safely in as little as five days. That’s right, five days. You can go from being completely inexperienced to being prepared to take and pass the trailer test in less than a week. Our towing lessons are effective in teaching drivers what they need to learn in a short amount of time.

As for the question of whether or not you need towing lessons, we asked it rhetorically. We believe towing lessons are imperative for all trailer owners, regardless of experience level. This is why we have developed three different courses that our students can choose from:

• No Experience – Drivers with absolutely no trailer towing experience are best served through our comprehensive five-day course. This course includes both classroom learning and practical towing lessons, along with opportunities to practice what has been learned in anticipation of taking the trailer test.
• Some Experience – Drivers who may have some experience towing trailers on private property can utilise our three-day course in order to get the licence they need to tow on public roads. This course focuses less on driving skills and more on practical knowledge.
• Extensive Experience – Even the most experienced drivers can benefit from towing lessons from time to time. That is why we offer a one-day course for licenced drivers. This is an excellent course to refresh your skills on an annual basis, especially if you are a caravan owner preparing for the start of a new season.

We understand that drivers with experience are not necessarily keen on spending the money for training. We get that. But we still believe training is a good idea in almost every case. As for completely inexperienced drivers, you will most certainly need an additional entitlement to your car driving licence before you can tow on public roads. And there is no better way to prepare for the trailer test than taking towing lessons with the HGV Training Centre.

Consider Your Licence Requirements

We began this guide by asking if you need towing lessons. But more importantly, do you need a towing licence? Every year, countless numbers of trailer owners are pulled over by the authorities only to discover they do not possess the right kind of licence for their tow vehicle and trailer combination. Some have no additional entitlement at all. While we understand much of this is due to ignorance, the law does not take ignorance into account.

Here’s what you need to know about licences for trailers:

• Cat B Licence – You can legally tow most trailers in the UK on a Category B licence if you passed your driving test prior to 1 January 1997. Your acquired rights entitle you to operate vehicles in the B, B+E, and C1 categories without any additional entitlement. You may be an exception if you have ever been subject to licence restrictions.
• Cat B+E – If you earned your car licence on or after 1 January 1997, you would need at least a Category B+E licence to tow a trailer. This licence is for tow vehicles up to 3500 kg and trailers between 750 kg and 3500 kg, depending on when you earn your trailer licence.
• Cat C1 – Anyone wishing to tow trailers in excess of 3500 kg with tow vehicles up to 7500 kg will need the Category C1 licence. This is the licence most drivers pursue if they want to tow the heaviest caravans using large pickup trucks or SUVs.

Now that you know the different licence categories for trailers, the next question is whether or not you actually need a trailer licence. If you do, taking towing lessons with the HGV Training Centre is the best way to prepare yourself for the eventual trailer test you will be taking. And make no mistake, the test is not an easy one to pass.

What You’ll Get from Towing Lessons

You might be wondering what you can get from towing lessons that you cannot learn by yourself. It is a legitimate question that deserves a truthful answer. So let us start with test preparation.

It is entirely possible for you to go online and learn the basics of how the trailer test is conducted. Doing so will reveal that the trailer test involves driving on public roads, demonstrating certain skills on a closed course, and answering a number of vehicle safety questions posed by the examiner. We have given you that knowledge; what will you do with it? Do you know how to prepare for the test by yourself?

Towing lessons offered by the HGV Training Centre include classroom training as well as practice. For example, we will impart to you the information you need to know to successfully pass the vehicle safety question portion of your test. Then we will teach you the skills you will need to successfully drive on the road and in the closed course session. We teach you exactly what you need to know because we already know what will be required of you.

In addition to test preparation, our towing lessons also teach you important driving skills like:

• reverse manoeuvres
• proper acceleration
• controlled and emergency stops
• proper cornering techniques
• proper use of safety equipment
• how to couple and uncouple a trailer.

We do not teach our students these things simply by handing them a book or asking them to watch a video. We explain the techniques and then give students an opportunity to apply what they have learned using a real tow vehicle and trailer. In other words, we combine both knowledge and application for a complete training experience.

Lastly, towing lessons give you the opportunity to learn and understand the mechanics of towing. This knowledge will be invaluable to you throughout your entire towing career. Test preparation serves you in the short term while teaching you the mechanics of towing will make you safer and more efficient for years to come.

What are the mechanics of towing? These are the theoretical principles that govern how trailers and tow vehicles interact while in motion. When we teach the mechanics of towing we are addressing things like physics, how weather affects trailers, the important role speed plays in safety, and other similar theoretical principles. Suffice to say that many of our students are amazed at just how much goes into towing a trailer.

Sign up for Your Fast Track Training

The HGV Training Centre invites you to sign up for your fast track training today. Our fast-paced and intense training approach makes it possible for you to complete your training in five days or less. And we do it all without compromising quality or integrity. By the time you complete towing lessons in our training facility, you will be more than ready to take the test AND to be a safe driver for the rest of your life. And, of course, you can always return to the HGV Training Centre for annual one-day lessons as well.

The HGV Training Centre operates dozens of facilities in and around every major metropolitan area in the UK. As we continue to expand our operations, we plan on offering even more facilities in the future. You can find the one nearest you by following the appropriate link on this website or by contacting us on our freephone number.