Attending The B+E Trailer Test after a Get Towing Trailer Training Course

Attending The B+E Trailer Test

The trailer test consists of two parts;

Part one (the reversing manoeuvre)

The examiner will ask you to read and sign a DL 25 form saying you have suitable insurance and will ask to see both parts of your driving licence. Eyesight test, this is the normal eye test requirement to read a registration plate at a distance of 20.5 metres.
The examiner will ask you, ‘show me tell me’, questions on maintenance and safety issues.
The manoeuvres are carried out at the driving test centre, consisting of a reversing manoeuvre into a bay.
You will pass the trailer test if you make no more than 15 driver faults, as long as no serious or dangerous faults have been made during the trailer test.

Part two (the drive)

Part two is a 60 minute drive to the same standard as the Cat B car test.
The un-coupling and re-coupling exercise is done before or after the on road part of the B+E driving test.

The examiner will meet you in the reception waiting room and ask to see both parts of your driving licence, and will ask you to read and sign the DL 25.

Taking the examiner to the car and trailer combination

You will proceed to your combination where you will be asked the ‘Show me Tell me’ questions.
The reversing exercise
The examiner will show you a diagram, and brief you on what is required for the exercise and confirm that you fully understand his instructions.
Before starting the vehicle engine; check that the seat and mirrors are correctly adjusted, the handbrake is on and the gear lever or selector is in neutral. If your vehicle has vacuum or air-pressure brakes make sure that the appropriate instrument indicates a safe working limit.
You should also be aware of the location of the emergency fuel cut off switch if fitted.
The examiner will remain outside of the vehicle during the reversing exercise.
The length of the bay will be based on the length of the combination, and in proportion to the length and a width of the combination, which was given when booking the test. This can be varied at the discretion of the examiner within the range of 1 metre over and 2 metres under that length, you will not be informed of the change.
If, on the day of the test you turn up with a different size combination, inform the test centre and tell the examiner as soon as possible.
The exercise is started from a position with the front of the vehicle in line with 2 cones. All the cones you drive through are 1.5 times the width of the widest part of the combination, excluding the mirrors, and the overall length of the manoeuvre is 4 times the length of the combination. You should reverse your trailer into the bay, keeping a cone marker on the offside.
You should stop with the extreme rear of your trailer within the ‘stopping area’ at the end of the bay, (marked with a hatched black/yellow).
To demonstrate your control during the reversing manoeuvre, you should proceed at a controlled speed but not excessively slowly.
You may stop and review your vehicle position by applying the handbrake, turn the engine off and step out of the vehicle, but only once.
You will be expected to observe all around the vehicle as if looking for pedestrians, the examiner will be checking to see that both mirrors are being used correctly.
You must keep the combination under control and take good observation with reasonable accuracy.
You can drive forward to straighten your trailer (shunt) but no further than the front of your pre-marked area. You are allowed 2 shunts during the exercise. Aim for smooth accurate steering. You must keep within the marked areas.
If you are not sure that you are within the marked area, you can get out and check; apply the handbrake, turn the engine off, do not make eye contact with the examiner or he might think you have finished, if you need to adjust your position, return to the cab and continue the manoeuvre. You are allowed to get out and check your position ‘once’.

Note:
You can cross your hands during the reversing exercise and occasionally when driving normally, as long as you do not loose control of the vehicle.
Don’t allow the trailer to get into a jack-knife or near jack-knife position as this is regarded as out of control.
It is important that no marker, boundary or cone is knocked down or moved, during the trailer test, as this is a major fault on the B+E test.

Good luck