Question about tractors and licenses UK->

[Wilbur Evans]

Hi, I’m 18 I’ve just passed my car category B driving test and have got my licence now. But as I’m a student wanting to go into agriculture I was wondering, Do I need to take another test to drive tractors or am I okay on just my car licence as it does state category F is covered on my licence. also Is there anything I need to be aware of or can’t drive that I would need to?

Many thanks

Alex

 

[trebornella]

Congrats on your test. You can now legally drive a wheeled tractor, but not a tracked vehicle or a combine harvester. Not sure if there is a width restriction (dual wheels etc). Crazy but I think you can tow any trailer with a tractor, but you are restricted with what you can tow with a car, unless you take a trailer test.

 

[Matthew Britton]

What do you need for a combine then? I’ve been driving one for years on a normal license and no of nobody else who has taken a specific test.

 

[dod1e]

What do you need for a combine then? I’ve been driving one for years on a normal license and no of nobody else who has taken a specific test.

Normal licence but you need to be 21

 

[roscoe erf]

Congrats on your test. You can now legally drive a wheeled tractor, but not a tracked vehicle or a combine harvester. Not sure if there is a width restriction (dual wheels etc). Crazy but I think you can tow any trailer with a tractor, but you are restricted with what you can tow with a car, unless you take a trailer test.

no trailer test anymore

 

[roscoe erf]

What do you need for a combine then? I’ve been driving one for years on a normal license and no of nobody else who has taken a specific test.

its an age restriction think its 21 but could be 18

 

[roscoe erf]

Congrats on your test. You can now legally drive a wheeled tractor, but not a tracked vehicle or a combine harvester. Not sure if there is a width restriction (dual wheels etc). Crazy but I think you can tow any trailer with a tractor, but you are restricted with what you can tow with a car, unless you take a trailer test.

What do you need for a combine then? I’ve been driving one for years on a normal license and no of nobody else who has taken a specific test.

Agricultural tractors require a category F licence to drive on the public road. Category B (car) licence holders automatically have category F entitlement. To drive track-laying vehicles, including tractors, on the public road requires the category H entitlement.

You can hold a category F licence from age 16. 16-year-olds may only drive tractors up to 2.45 metres wide, and tow trailers up to 2.45 metres wide and with 2 wheels, or 4 close-coupled wheels. From age 17 these restrictions do not apply.

Category F licence only applies to tractors used primarily for agriculture or forestry. Therefore, if you wish to drive a tractor that is not used primarily for agriculture or forestry, you need to hold a goods vehicle licence. That is category C1E for combinations with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) up to 12 tonnes (8.25 tonnes if licence was obtained before 1997) and CE for combinations with MAM over 7.5 tonnes (8.25 tonnes for pre-1997 licences).

Other, non-tractor agricultural motor vehicles require a category B licence, and you must also be over 21 years old to drive these.

 

[trebornella]

Agricultural tractors require a category F licence to drive on the public road. Category B (car) licence holders automatically have category F entitlement. To drive track-laying vehicles, including tractors, on the public road requires the category H entitlement.

You can hold a category F licence from age 16. 16-year-olds may only drive tractors up to 2.45 metres wide, and tow trailers up to 2.45 metres wide and with 2 wheels, or 4 close-coupled wheels. From age 17 these restrictions do not apply.

Category F licence only applies to tractors used primarily for agriculture or forestry. Therefore, if you wish to drive a tractor that is not used primarily for agriculture or forestry, you need to hold a goods vehicle licence. That is category C1E for combinations with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) up to 12 tonnes (8.25 tonnes if licence was obtained before 1997) and CE for combinations with MAM over 7.5 tonnes (8.25 tonnes for pre-1997 licences).

Other, non-tractor agricultural motor vehicles require a category B licence, and you must also be over 21 years old to drive these.

Thanks for clarifying the rules. Re paragraph 3, how does the non agricultural use clause work? I assume it is there to stop hauliers using high speed tractors, Fastracs and similar for haulage, instead of using HGVs. What do the rules mean for someone ( not a farmer ) who owns a tractor as a hobby and uses it to attend rallies / road runs etc. There must be hundreds, probably thousands of cat F licence holders in this position.

 

[76masseyman]

Thanks for clarifying the rules. Re paragraph 3, how does the non agricultural use clause work? I assume it is there to stop hauliers using high speed tractors, Fastracs and similar for haulage, instead of using HGVs. What do the rules mean for someone ( not a farmer ) who owns a tractor as a hobby and uses it to attend rallies / road runs etc. There must be hundreds, probably thousands of cat F licence holders in this position.

Category B car license gives you category F for tractor automatically, but only wheeled tractors as above. If your tractor is a hobby machine only, you are ok to drive to rallies / road runs etc as long as it is on white diesel.

 

[Exfarmer]

Thanks for clarifying the rules. Re paragraph 3, how does the non agricultural use clause work? I assume it is there to stop hauliers using high speed tractors, Fastracs and similar for haulage, instead of using HGVs. What do the rules mean for someone ( not a farmer ) who owns a tractor as a hobby and uses it to attend rallies / road runs etc. There must be hundreds, probably thousands of cat F licence holders in this position.

Agricultural tractors and haulage tractors vary in there construction, particularly braking and steering. Some makes particularly JCB fulfill some conditions but not all.

 

[roscoe erf]

Thanks for clarifying the rules. Re paragraph 3, how does the non agricultural use clause work? I assume it is there to stop hauliers using high speed tractors, Fastracs and similar for haulage, instead of using HGVs. What do the rules mean for someone ( not a farmer ) who owns a tractor as a hobby and uses it to attend rallies / road runs etc. There must be hundreds, probably thousands of cat F licence holders in this position.

I think your getting confused with other traffic laws you have a licence age dependant to drive a tractor it doesn't matter if its privately owned or owned by the king .other rules come in such as fuel tax insurance etc on privately owned tractors. paragraph 3 is for large tractors used for haulage .