Two limits at the same time
The right driving licence does not help if the car or trailer is overloaded. Your licence is determined by the gross weights in the registration. At the same time, the actual weight must stay below the technical limits of the car and the trailer. A licence combination that is not permitted does not become permitted because the trailer happens to be empty.
Get out the registration certificates for the car and trailer. Then do the sums in the trailer weight tool and compare with the figures from the Swedish Transport Agency.
B, B96 and BE in brief
- B: car with a gross weight of up to 3,500 kg and trailer with a gross weight of up to 750 kg. A heavier trailer is also fine if the car and trailer together weigh no more than 3,500 kg gross.
- B96 (extended B): car and trailer may have a combined gross weight of up to 4,250 kg.
- BE, issued from 19 January 2013: car with a gross weight of up to 3,500 kg and trailer with a gross weight of up to 3,500 kg.
If you have an older BE licence, your entitlements may differ. Check the dates and conditions on your licence. Even with B96, the car may not tow more than it is technically rated for.
The weights you need to keep apart
- Gross vehicle weight: kerb weight plus the permitted maximum load, as registered.
- Actual weight: what the vehicle really weighs when you drive.
- Maximum trailer weight: the highest actual weight of trailer and load the car may tow.
- Maximum train weight: the highest actual weight of car and trailer combined.
The trailer weight is listed under O.1/O.2 in the car's registration certificate and the train weight under F.3. The trailer's maximum load and the coupling's limit also apply. None of the limits may be exceeded.
Example: your driving licence can limit you even with a light load
Say the car has a gross weight of 2 200 kg and the trailer 1 500 kg. That makes 3 700 kg. That is too much for a standard B licence when the trailer weighs over 750 kg, but it fits within B96. The car's towing capacity and the actual combined weight also have to add up.
If the margin is small, weigh the rig. The boat catalogue gives a base weight to start from. The scale shows what the boat weighs today.
Don't forget everything that's in the boat
Include the engine if it is not part of the boat weight. Add fuel, batteries, anchor, equipment and loose gear. A spare wheel and other accessories on the trailer also eat into the margin. Position and secure the boat as the trailer and car manufacturers specify. The winch strap alone will not hold the boat in place.
A launching trolley is not the same as a registered boat trailer, so the rules for driving on the road differ. If the rig is heavy, it can pay to hire a transport company or let the yard do the lifting. Put launching and haul-out next to what the whole transport costs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I tow more with a BE licence than my car allows?
No. The driving licence does not change the car's towing capacity or gross train weight.
Does the boat's actual weight or the trailer's gross weight count for the driving licence?
The licence is based on the registered gross weights. The actual weight decides whether the car, trailer and combination are overloaded.
Can I trust the catalog's boat weight?
As a starting point. Equipment, fuel, engine and modifications often make the boat heavier. Weigh it if the margin is small.
Sources
- Transportstyrelsen, personbil med släp transportstyrelsen.se
- Transportstyrelsen, BE personbil med tungt släp transportstyrelsen.se