Anyone done their trailer test?

[tandp]

Will be getting mine booked in the next few weeks.

Seems incredibly expensive (the test is £105 alone, never mind the training).

Are there any particularly difficult exercises?

[posie]

i've done it - all ok esp if they get you practising the reverse park lots.
you'll be fine :)

[Nookster]

Def worth the money if u get a good trainer.

Would say if you have lots of practise it won't be difficult but go in unprepared and i think it could be a little daunting


good luck

[skewbald-mad]

i did mine! great teacher and got thru it! basically just a normal driving test, but you have to be aware of trailer on back and be able to reverse it and do emergency stop!

[MagicSix]

Do you have to use a horse trailer or does a small one count?

[skewbald-mad]

Do you have to use a horse trailer or does a small one count?

i used the companys own vehicle which was a golf tdi and a stock trailer. The test is not specific to towing horses/horse trailers so dont expect them to teach you about safe towing for your horse im afraid!

[Karenmc]

This whole trailer test thing is very frustrating, it is sooo expensive!!

In my area there is 1 company who does this, you aren't allowed to just sit the test, you must do a minimum of 1 days training and the test which comes in at £420 inc VAT

The next nearest company is 40 miles away, they recommend three days training at £160 plus vat per day but if your prepared to give them £45 plus VAT for an hours assesment they may agree to one days training and the test which they charge £115 for so at min it will cost £368 and max £684.25

None of these companies will let me use my own equipment, there after this i would have to travel approx 60/80miles to find another test center.

AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

I asked the other day what this "days" training involved and was told, going over points of your car, hitching, unhitching, driving and reversing round cones etc....

Now i have been driving with my trailer for a couple months now (with L plates and under supervision :)) i know how to hitch, unhitch, drive, i already have a license is there any need to duplicate what i already know about my car?? OK my reversing isnt great but with practise it will come, to be honest i havent had to reverse at any of the places i go to!

I can completely understand that the training will be invaluable for some people but for others it could be completely unnecessary, i am by no means perfect but i doubt it will take 8hrs of training to get me through my test, it just feels like a money making scheme to me!!!

Rant over!! :o

[Aniseed]

I'm sure you can get the details of what is on the test online or buy a book which I would advise. You are probably more than capable of doing everything you need to but unfortunately it has to be carried out in the correct way. For example hitching and unhitching you have to check the condition of the trailer and remove the number plate when you unhitch which Im sure is not something people normally do. The one thing I found really difficult was the reversing as you have to go back into a marked bay from an angle if that makes sense. First time I went straight over the cones and it was an instant fail!

It is so rediculous how much it costs and considering the likelihood of being pulled over you have to wonder whether it is worth it, I suppose its piece of mind just to know you are all above board but there are a hell of a lot of people who aren't.

[MuddyCob]

I did my test earlier this year, although I had lots of practice before I had any lessons, I can honestly say that the lessons were well worth it. I did 6hours training plus an hour's prep before my test. Although I had been towing/hitching up/unhitching/reversing before I went for my lessons, I am 100% sure I would not have passed without the lessons. The test is as much about your standard of driving as anything else so you really need an instructor to point out the bad habits you have got into (and don't notice!). It is also good for the reversing, if you get a good instructor as I did they will be able to get you reversing confidently - when I got a bit stuck the first time the instructor sat in the driver's seat and talked through every move. He also took me on the motorway towing - a bit daunting at first but I had to go on there during my test and I definitely feel much safer having done that.

It is so rediculous how much it costs and considering the likelihood of being pulled over you have to wonder whether it is worth it, I suppose its piece of mind just to know you are all above board but there are a hell of a lot of people who aren't.
Yes it does cost a bit but worth it as I said above, and you wouldn't be insured if you had an accident without the correct license!

[pennyg]

Hi tandp

Towinghorsetrailers.co.uk contains lots of useful information on your towing test, including diagrams of the exercises you need to be able to do.

go to http://www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk/towing_training_test.htm