B+E test could be scrapped

I don’t have B+E and our outfit comes in over 3500 kg so at the moment I’m the navigator never the driver. Needless to say as soon as it’s scrapped I will be towing ASAP. In the mean time I’ll be practicing driving our tow vehicle and studying my partners towing.
Some questions that came up in the thread. 

Why was the B+E test introduced? For the same reason the drivers theory test was. When towers were questioned or out fits were checked many were unsafe. According to one article one out of 6 caravans stoped for random tests is found to be unsafe usually the distribution of load is unsafe. Obviously a 3500kg limit does little to help this. Personally I think a cheap theory test to check people know about nose weights etc would have been more effective than the B + E test. 

Why were tests not made necessary for everyone? Because under our law if you’re given a right such as the right to toe you keep it. There are very few folk still on the road who’ve never sat a test but if you started driving before the driving test was introduced you were given a license without ever sitting a test. This is why I will tow as soon as I can because as I understand it if I use that right I will retain it even if the test is reintroduced. 

Why haven’t I taken the test? It’s not just the expense it’s availability. There is no private ground I can practice on so I’d need to pay for a course and test. This would probably cost me a lot more than £700 and such courses aren’t readily available so finding a provider and the time and money proved impossible. As others have said there’s no guarantee I’d  pass (I get terrible test nerves it’s difficult to pass a hands on test when your hands are shaking). We did consider having a lighter tow car but decided it was safer to have a better car and one driver than split the driving with a lighter car. 

I’m hoping that they will introduce a test again but that it will be a theory test to check that towers understand how to measure nose weight, load their trailer etc as I believe that would improve road safety.  I’d also like to see tests on this web site so that members can test their knowledge and make sure they know how to be safe. I believe scrapping the current test could actually make things safer as a lot of towers are using light tow vehicles in order to be legal. 

"This is why I will tow as soon as I can because as I understand it if I use that right I will retain it even if the test is reintroduced. "

Usually once a right has been gained, that right is retained even if the law is changed. Which is why all of those who took their driving test pre-1997 retain their towing and weight limit rights - whether or not they have actually used them.

Any new law with regards to towing testing, will only affect those new licences after the law is introduced - so no need to rush out and tow your caravan.

you will have to apply to have it added to your license before you can use it though, so dont be caught out.

Also its like when the license was introduced  in card format a lot of people including a police officer realised their motorcycle entitlement was missing and had to retake the test....

so check that the entitlement is there before you drive.

This is the draft statutory instrument published last week - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2021/9780348227581

Looks like the date of the change is going to be 15th November.

The category will be added to the electronic licence record for all licence holders automatically.

No need to send in your licence, it will be updated on the photocard once you renew:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-for-towing-a-trailer-or-caravan-with-a-car-from-autumn-2021#what-will-change-later-in-2021

What will change later in 2021
If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you’ll be allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM when the law changes.

DVLA will update your driving licence record to show that you’re allowed to tow trailers. You’ll get category BE added to your driving licence when you get a new photocard driving licence.

You do not need to contact DVLA for this to happen. It will be done automatically.