Will I keep tow trailer and caravan rights when swapping to French driving licence?
Rules changed for drivers after Brexit
UK towing limits depend on when the licence was issued
Henry Saint John/Shutterstock
Reader Question: When I change to a French driving licence from a UK licence, will I keep my trailer categories? I use a three-tonne trailer in my work.
Answer: Licence swap rules (and whether a swap is possible at all) depend on agreements between the issuing country and France. When exchanging a UK licence for a French one, in theory all categories are switched over, as France’s Foreign Ministry states here.
This ranges from standard ‘A’ (motorcycle) and ‘B’ (car) permissions, as well as categories allowing drivers to drive heavier vehicles such as lorries and buses (notably ‘C’ and ‘D’ categories).
However, this is only the case for those who took specific tests to obtain these permissions. Also, if they did take such a test, they must also pass a medical for C/D categories and include the certificate in their application, to maintain these.
For those who had ‘grandfather’ rights to drive heavier vehicles – included as standard with older UK licences granted before 1997 – and who did not need to take a separate test for these, transferral rights were lost after Brexit.
Read more: Campervans: many UK drivers will need to sit French driving test
Heavy towing combinations
It means that those who can drive heavier vehicles on a standard UK ‘B’ licence because it was issued before 1997 – including certain heavy towing combinations – will not be able to do so when this is exchanged for a French one unless they take an extra test to regain the category.
This is the case even if you were driving/towing such vehicles in France on a UK licence.
Note that if you have moved to France permanently, your licence must eventually be exchanged when it expires.
Despite the above however, in your situation you may remain unaffected.
Holders of a ‘B’ licence (the standard driving licence) can drive vehicles with a trailer up to a certain weight limit without needing an additional category, both in the UK and France.
Read more: Can I tow a caravan in France with a UK driving licence?
Weight limits for towing
For UK licences the exact limits for towing vehicles depend on when the licence was granted – you can find out the limits here.
When you exchange it for a French licence, a French ‘B’ permit allows for a maximum PTAC (Poids Total Autorisé en Charge; Maximum Authorised Mass) of 3,500kg. This can include a car or smaller vans and campervans, plus a trailer (including caravans) as long as the total does not exceed 3,500kg.
It is also possible to obtain an additional ‘96’ category with a seven-hour training course, which allows a combined weight up to 4,250kg.
If the total weight is more than 4,250kg you will instead need a BE category, or C1E if this is the case and the trailer in itself weighs more than 3,500kg.
Finally, if you passed your original UK test prior to 1997 it should automatically gain ‘BE’ status on being swapped, which should be more than adequate for what you describe.
New EU rules on driving licences are expected to expand the standard combined weight limit to 4,250kg for all those who have held a ‘B’ licence for more than two years.
However, these rules may not come into force until 2029.
