When do you need a BE licence to tow a trailer?

BE is required for a category B towing vehicle and a trailer over 750 kg when the combination’s maximum authorised mass exceeds 4,250 kg. A BE trailer cannot exceed 3,500 kg; for heavier trailers, consider C1E.

Do not look only at how heavily the trailer is loaded

To determine the required entitlement, identify the maximum authorised masses in the towing vehicle’s and trailer’s documents and consider the combination. B, harmonised extension 96 and BE have different scopes and legal thresholds. An empty or lightly loaded trailer does not automatically change its maximum authorised mass, which is the relevant figure for classifying the combination. Check MIT guidance for BE and the current Highway Code before setting off.

The second check is what the car can tow. The driver’s licence does not increase the vehicle’s technical capacity: the documents state towable mass, axle loads and towbar limits, all of which must be respected. The combination must meet both the driver’s category and the technical limits of the two vehicles.

For BE, the towing vehicle must fall within category B and the trailer or semi-trailer may have maximum authorised mass up to 3,500 kg. Choose the licence using the maximum authorised masses on the registration documents, not the trailer’s loaded weight that day. Also check the towing vehicle’s technical towing limit.

For a combination above 3,500 and up to 4,250 kg, code 96 is sufficient; above 4,250 kg, BE is required if the trailer does not exceed 3,500 kg. For a heavier trailer, C1E may be considered if the combination is within that category’s limits. In every case, the car must be technically approved to tow that mass.

• Read the maximum authorised masses of towing vehicle and trailer.
• Calculate the combination under the applicable legal definition.
• Separately check towable mass and the towing vehicle’s technical requirements.

B, code 96 and BE

B covers configurations within its prescribed limits. Code 96 extends B for certain heavier combinations through the required procedure; it is not a standalone “B96” category. BE permits further combinations within its definition, still subject to technical and document limits. To find the exact threshold, check current law and MIT guidance; avoid calculations based on unladen weight or estimated load.

Use real figures: copy the masses from the documents, check the total and verify the towing vehicle’s permitted towing mass. If the sum or classification is unclear, ask the Motorizzazione or a driving school to assess it before use. This is especially important for caravans, horse transport and work trailers.

Preparing to use a trailer

As well as the licence, check connections, lights, tyres, load and stability under the manufacturer’s instructions. Distribute and secure the load properly, and do not exceed mass or axle-load limits. Practise in a safe place with suitable instruction: reversing and braking differ when towing.

Quiz Patente Ufficiale offers chapter-based study, timed tests and review of mistakes to help you learn towing theory before checking your vehicles’ masses.