Trailer license - detailed instructions

To drive a vehicle with a heavy trailer, you need category B on your driver's license. Driving this road train without a license of the appropriate category is prohibited by the rules. For this violation, the driver may fall under administrative liability in accordance with the Traffic Regulations and the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

Therefore, it is worth considering in more detail such questions as: what prospects open up for the driver if he opens the BE category in his license, what cars he can service, how to obtain the BE category, what exercises he must master in order to pass the exam for opening the “BE” in rights

Category "BE" in a driver's license

The BE mark on a driver's license (VU) indicates only one thing: their holder has the right to drive a car with a heavy trailer, but at the same time must fulfill certain requirements in connection with the peculiarities of operating a vehicle of this type.

The main thing for a driver sitting behind the steering wheel of a car with a heavy trailer is to have driving skills that will allow him to avoid accidents on the road.

It is very difficult to drive a car that is coupled to a trailer. Therefore, special training is required to open a category and then operate a car on many kilometers of highways.

Just a moment! Before receiving category BE, your license must have category “B”, opened 1 year (or more) ago.

A driver driving a vehicle of category “B” without this mark on his license will face administrative punishment in the form of a fine. The amount is set individually depending on the situation and ranges from 5 thousand to 15 thousand rubles. At the time of arrest, the driver is removed from driving, and the car is sent to the impound lot.

What is category Be

Driving license category Be is a sublevel of category “B”. In accordance with the established list of driving licenses, category “B” means that a driver with a license of this type can drive cars weighing up to 3.5 tons.

The addition of the letter “e” means that permission is provided for driving vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons with a trailer. At the same time, the weight of the loaded trailer should not exceed the weight of the car.

If you have a trailer that weighs no more than 750 kg when loaded. Then it can be used in conjunction with a car with license category “B”. Exceeding the above-mentioned weight necessarily requires the driver to have the appropriate level of driving license. Failure to do so will result in a serious fine of up to 15 thousand rubles.

What cars can be driven with category “BE”?

Category BE includes:

1. Category B motor vehicles with a trailer. The maximum permitted trailer weight in this version is over 750 kg. It may well exceed the weight of the machine itself without load, and in this case the weight of the machine does not play any role here;
2. Category BE also includes vehicles from category B that have a trailer hitch. But there is one condition here, which is that the weight of the trailer (maximum permitted) can have a mass of over 750 kg, and the transport train itself, in terms of maximum weight, must necessarily exceed 3500 kg.

If on the first point (regarding a car with a trailer) the road service employees are well informed and do not ask any unnecessary questions, then on the second point the disputes between drivers and traffic cops do not subside. Law enforcement officers constantly ignore this definition and pick on drivers. This question is controversial, so it’s worth taking a good look at everything again, in particular, whether or not you should open the BE category if you are a fan of caravanning and can’t imagine a vacation without a trailer house.

What does category BE mean in driving license?

The law is the same for everyone, and if the driver does not have the necessary category on his driver’s license that allows him to drive the vehicle he is driving, he will have to pay a fine. Its size can vary between 5 -15 thousand rubles.
The driver is also removed from driving the vehicle, and the car is evacuated to the impound area. If this category is marked on a driver's license, what does this mean for drivers and transport police? This indicates that their owner has the right to drive a car with a heavy trailer, which is subject to certain requirements.

When driving such a vehicle, you must have the appropriate skills to operate the vehicle in an accident-free manner. Driving a car coupled with a trailer is a difficult type of driving; it requires special training and a category confirming the driver’s right to drive such a vehicle.

IMPORTANT! To obtain category BE, you must have a license in which category B was opened no later than 1 year ago.

Rights to a camper: is “BE” needed?

If the maximum permitted weight of the trailer is less than the weight of the B-category vehicle to which the trailer is attached, but at the same time the condition is met that the weight of the entire vehicle in the coupling is less than 3,500 kg, then a driver with an open B-license will be allowed to drive it. category.

If the driver has received a driving license giving him the right to drive all types of transport of categories “B”, “C”, “D”, then he can also take control of a vehicle with a trailer whose permissible weight is less than 750 kg.

If the trailer has a mass of more than 750 kg, then the holder of a license with open categories “B”, “C”, “D” will not be able to drive such a train until the permitting category o appears in his driving license.

In fact, it turns out that if the maximum permitted weight of the entire train exceeds 3500 kg, then only the driver whose driver’s license contains categories “B” + “E”, “C” + “E” or “D” has the right to tow it " + "E".

Here is a ready-made example: a trailer weighing (total) 1,100 kg was hooked up to a car whose total weight when weighed was 2,600 kg. The total mass of this composition became equal to 3,700 kg. To manage it, you must have categories “B” + “E” or “C” + “E”. But if the “B” + “E” category is open, then the brake system of the trailer must be inertial and its weight without load must be less than the curb weight of the towing vehicle.

The vehicle's operating manual always contains information about the permitted trailer weight, and if you follow them, there will be no problems.

What is a driver's license category?

The category, which is indicated on a driver’s license for driving any vehicle, has a letter designation (for example, “A”, “C” or “E”) and indicates a certain group of cars that the owner of this document can drive.

Thus, today on a driver’s license you can see:

• seven main categories: A, B, C, D, M, Tm, Tb;
• four subcategories: A1, B1, C1, D1;
• five special subcategories: BE, CE, C1E, DE, D1E.

Where is the “E” we are considering in this list? This will be discussed further.

How to open the "BE" category

When replacing a driver's document, the BE category should be entered automatically if the E-category was already open in the old license. Everyone else will have to receive it in stages:

• use the services of a driving school, where future vehicle drivers are trained to obtain a license of the category that satisfies their needs;
• before starting training, you must pay for it;
• undergo theoretical training to pass the exam for the required category and a practical driving course;
• successfully pass all examination tests in driving theory and practice;
• become the owner of a driver's document, where the VE category will be opened upon receipt of it at the traffic police.

Obtaining a medical certificate

You cannot avoid undergoing a medical examination, which will attest to the absence of deviations in your health. These deviations may be an obstacle to obtaining a license of the category that allows driving a car with a trailer. In other words, you must have a medical certificate in your hands. A small recommendation: get a medical certificate in advance, before you take the documents to the driving school and pay for the training. If deviations are identified, then you can’t even dream of obtaining the BE category of rights.

How does training work in a driving school at "VE"

It does not take much time to obtain a driving license with the right to drive a car with a trailer. The duration of training for category BE is only 1 month. The training course includes:

• attending classes on driving theory and traffic rules. Although this point is not mandatory, and the student can decide for himself whether to attend these classes at a driving school or conduct the training on his own. This attitude towards students develops for the reason that they all already have a B-category and have been working for a long time.
• learning the skills of driving a car with a trailer and preparing to perform special exercises on the race track to obtain certification;
• passing an exam conducted by a driving school, with the right to receive a certificate of successful completion of school and obtaining the right to admission to the exam in the traffic police.

The cost of training for a BE license is influenced by your region of residence. On average throughout the country, this service is from 15 thousand rubles. up to 18 thousand rubles, this also includes the fee for practical lessons in driving a car with a trailer.

How to get category BE

You should start with the basic requirements for motorists who want to supplement their standard category B with subparagraph BE.

It is important to note that BE is only issued if the motorist already has the usual and most common category B on his driving license. Additionally, there is an age requirement. So the driver cannot be under 19 years of age.

In this case, experience in operating a vehicle subject to category B restrictions must be at least 1 year.

Such standards are due to the fact that it is quite difficult to drive and maneuver a vehicle with a heavy trailer. Because of this, you need at least minimal experience in operating a conventional car without a trailer or with a trailer, but up to 750 kg.

In total, the obtaining procedure can be divided into 4 main stages:

• medical commission;
• driving school training and exams;
• traffic police exams;
• document execution.

If the motorist already had category E in his old license, when replacing the document, BE is simply written down. You will not have to undergo additional training or pass exams.

In other situations you will have to go through the full cycle.

Large trailers weighing over 750 kg

Medical commission

You should not have any difficulties with how to open an additional BU category for yourself if your rights already include the basic category B. Anyone can open it if the need arises. But whether a person gets the right or not depends on the successful completion of all stages.

Initially, everyone goes to medical institutions to receive the appropriate certificate. Thus, the driver confirms the absence of any contraindications for driving the vehicle with a trailer.

The test includes passing a standard set of doctors, as when passing for category B.

Try to approach this stage responsibly, and do not try to obtain a certificate fraudulently. Otherwise, you may face serious troubles in the future.

Driving school

After the certificate has been successfully received, you can go to training at a driving school in order to receive an additional BE category. Here you will be required to have knowledge and certain skills that will need to be supplemented with new theory and practice. If you have experience in operating a car, and have previously driven with passenger trailers, there should not be any big difficulties with the tests.

In terms of time, this takes much less time than in the case of category B. Usually it takes about 1 month. During the training period you will have to:

• Take a theoretical course. Don’t forget that you already have a B mark on your license. That is, all that remains is to simply replenish your previous knowledge. You can do this on your own without attending the classes themselves. But you still won’t get access to the traffic police exam without a certificate from a driving school. It is forbidden. Self-training has been canceled since 2013.
• Pass the internal practical exam. These are trips within the framework of special motor tracks with a trailer coupled with a vehicle. Knowledge of theory is also tested. If you pass the theory successfully, you will be allowed to take the practical exam.

Studying at a driving school requires certain financial investments. This directly depends on what region you live in and what driving school you have chosen. If you take into account the cost of training along with practical classes, in total you will have to pay from 8 to 15 thousand rubles.

Table of categories of rights and ages for obtaining them

traffic police

But a driving school is not enough to open yourself to the BE category, given the mandatory presence of the fundamental B category in your license. Successful completion of training at a driving school is confirmed by the issuance of an appropriate certificate. Together with him, the motorist goes to the traffic police department at his own discretion. By law, you can choose any unit according to your place of residence or residence, or even temporary location.

As part of the traffic police examination, there are 3 stages for the successful completion of the entire procedure. This way, employees eliminate the possibility of issuing licenses to people who do not have the proper level of knowledge or training.

At the first stage, the theory is given. Although you have already taken it at a driving school, here you will have to repeat everything again. The standard BE test includes 20 questions. A test taker can make a maximum of 2 mistakes. Moreover, if an error is made, an additional block of questions is given, which are important to answer correctly. If there is only one error, there will be 5 additional questions. If there are two, then get ready for 10 more questions.

The second stage involves traveling to a special racing track as part of a light road train. The examinee is required to perform several standard maneuvers within the prepared area. Namely:

• drive into the garage in reverse gear;
• drive in reverse gear along a limited corridor.

Only 1 mistake is allowed when performing 2 exercises. If it doesn’t work out the first time, you are given the opportunity to try again on the spot.

At the final stage, the examinee, together with the inspector, travels to real urban conditions. Moreover, you can often find standard routes along which the exam is taken on the official website of the department. This provides an additional opportunity to prepare in advance, study all the signs, trajectories, etc.

If you want to open a new category in your license as quickly as possible, then some disappointment may await you. In most MREOs (traffic police departments), relevant exams are rarely prescribed. This is explained by the rather modest number of people who take tests in this category. Typically, the gap between exams can be from 1 to 2 months.

Two axle flatbed trailer

In this regard, more experienced people who have successfully passed all the tests give useful advice. With their help, you can quickly open up the BE category if you have a standard B category.

• Look for MREO offices near you that are planning to conduct exams soon. You can sign up for this group of motorists. So the theoretical wait of 2 months is sometimes reduced to literally 1-2 weeks.
• Sign up to take the theoretical and practical test. To do this, you should unlink from the MREO, which is directly related to your driving school. You are not required to take the knowledge and skills test strictly in this department.
• To unsubscribe, contact the MREO employees who are responsible for organizing and conducting exams. They just need to put the appropriate stamp on the back of the certificate, which is issued after completing training at a driving school.
• Submit documents to the appropriate MREO and wait for the appointed date.

It is not always possible to minimize waiting time. But if you're in a hurry, it's worth a try.

Delivery of documents

Previously, you have already given your certificate or certificate from a driving school confirming the successful completion of all theoretical and practical exams. Also, upon completion of the tests in the MREO, the inspector enters your data into the database.

According to current legislation, updated licenses are issued the next day. Just keep in mind that it is working days that are taken into account. If the exam falls on a Friday, you will most likely be able to pick up your driver’s license with the already opened BE category on Monday.

The document is issued in the same department of the MREO where the exams were taken and where the application was submitted to pass the practical and theoretical tests provided for by law. In order for your license to be issued in person, you will need to bring your passport and receipt with you. Here we are talking about a receipt for payment of state duty. Until you pay this amount, the document will be stored in the MREO.

Questions also arise regarding how one can obtain the BE category when replacing old rights. If you were previously marked as category E, your certificate will be changed to BE automatically, without any exams. If there was an ordinary B, then you will have to go through the entire process described above.

Exam for "BE"

The exam is held at the State Traffic Inspectorate, where a three-stage knowledge testing system has been developed. Moreover, at each level, those drivers are eliminated who do not demonstrate strong knowledge to obtain category BE in their license.

Theory

In the theoretical part of the exam you will have to answer 20 questions. You are allowed to make only 2 mistakes, which are not forgiven by the examiners. If 1 mistake is made, the examinee must additionally answer 5 questions correctly. Well, if 2 mistakes are made, then 10 additional questions will be added at once. And only correct answers will help you get credit for the theoretical exam.

Test at the race track

The driver driving the vehicle train must undergo several special exercises at the race track to make it clear whether he is worthy of obtaining a driving license with category BE, or whether time is required for additional training.

The practical driving test includes 4 exercises: (from September 1, 2021, the number of exercises has been increased to four)

1. ex. No. 9 - at the beginning, the trailer is coupled to the car, then uncoupled;
2. ex. No. 10 - complete stop of the car to board or disembark passengers;
3. ex. No. 11 - entering the hangar in reverse. Special precision is needed here, because... this maneuver involves “backing” the trailer at 90° and the ability to fit into the established frame;
4. exercise No. 12 - parallel parking at the platform where loading takes place.

Of the four exercises, ideally you need to do all of them perfectly. But if the driver makes a mistake in only one case and immediately corrects his mistake, he will still receive credit.

Driving around the city

It seems that everything is clear here, and in order to open the BE category, the driver will have to drive a car with an attached trailer onto the highway in the same way as it was when passing for a B-category license. You can get acquainted with the routes using the official website of the traffic police. This allows the driver to prepare in advance by clarifying what signs are encountered along the road and what the trajectory of the roadway is.

This will end the driver’s check and, if he successfully passes all exams, he will have the right to travel on highways in a car with a trailer on completely legal grounds after receiving the appropriate mark from the VU.

Anyone who has completed training and can drive a car with a trailer in accordance with the traffic rules can obtain a license with open category BE from the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate.

Last update: 04-09-2020

How to open BE on a driver's license

If the driver’s old license had category E, then BE should be entered automatically when replacing the driver’s license with a new one. In other cases, you will have to undergo special training and pass an exam at the traffic police. More on this below.

A mandatory requirement for candidates wishing to drive vehicles with heavy trailers is to have an open category B license for at least 1 year from the date of issue. If you have less driving experience, adding e to b on your license will not work. This requirement is based on improving road safety and reducing accidents involving newcomers to the road.

Passing a medical examination

First, you must undergo a medical examination and obtain a medical certificate indicating that there are no contraindications to driving a car with a trailer.

The list of necessary doctors is described in the corresponding article, so we will not focus on it. We recommend that you follow this sequence and obtain a medical certificate before visiting a driving school with money and an enrollment kit, since if you have health problems, you will have to forget about the BE category of rights, and with it about training

Driving school training

Obtaining the right to drive a car with a trailer will take a little time - the training period for category BE is on average 1 month and includes:

• Taking a theoretical course. Since “B” is already open on your driver’s license, you can improve your knowledge on your own without visiting a driving school. The choice is up to the student.
• Teaching the skills of driving a car with a trailer and performing specific exercises on the race track;
• Passing an internal exam and receiving a certificate of successful completion of training. This document is the basis for admission to testing knowledge and skills in the traffic police.

The cost of training for a BE license depends on your region of residence. If we take the average figure for the country, then the above services cost around 15,000 rubles, taking into account teaching the practice of driving a vehicle with a trailer.

Passing exams at the traffic police

The State Traffic Inspectorate provides for a three-stage knowledge test of future motorists. Each level eliminates persons who have insufficient knowledge to obtain the BE category of rights.

First stage: theory exam

It consists of 20 questions in which it is permissible to make 2 mistakes. But they can be expensive - for each mistake, additional questions are given, to which answers are allowed, only without errors. For one mistake you will receive an additional 5 questions, for two – ten.

Stage two: test at the race track

To obtain a driving license with category BE, the future driver of a “passenger road train” must pass several exercises on a specially prepared site. The following exercises will be demonstrated:

• Entering the garage in reverse - here you really need jewelry precision to “bend” the trailer 90 degrees and fit into the established framework;
• Driving backwards along a corridor marked with cones.

On the court, you are allowed to make 1 mistake in one of the exercises and retake it on the spot.

Stage three: driving around the city

Here, without any surprises, in order to open the BE category, the examinee must drive a car with a trailer, just like when obtaining a “B” license. You can view the driving routes on the official website of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate and prepare for the exam in advance by studying all the signs and subtleties of overcoming these trajectories. These are the checks that a motorist will have to pass in order to legally drive on public roads with a trailer. Was it necessary or not? - decide for yourself. After passing all the tests, the driver can receive a license with an open category BE from the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate and drive a car without worrying about possible attacks from traffic police inspectors when checking documents.

Requirements for this category of rights

Category BE applies to vehicles:

1. Belonging to category B, having traction with a trailer. In this case, the maximum permitted weight of a trailer is considered to be a weight of more than 750 kg, and exceeding the weight of the vehicle without any load - it does not matter what weight the tractor will have.
2. Category BE also includes vehicles of category B coupled to a trailer with a maximum permitted weight of more than 750 kg. In this case, the condition must be met that the maximum permitted weight of this transport train is greater than 3500 kg.

If cars with trailers that fall under the first requirement do not raise any questions for traffic police inspectors, then under the second point, drivers periodically find themselves in unpleasant situations and disputes with traffic cops who “forget” about the existence of such a definition. Therefore, you definitely need to open the BE category if you have to engage in caravanning or go on vacation with a trailer house.