Riding the Road with More Weight: Expanding Your Class B Driver's License Limit Without the Exam Stress
- Pen by Gernot Kramper
- 2 Mins
Increased Access to Class B Driver's License Without Needing to Take Exam - Receive a Fresh License B Without undergoing a Test: Guidelines Explained
Standard Class B driver's licenses grant the privilege of cruising passenger cars without constraints like horsepower or speed limits. The catch? A 3.5-ton weight limit.
The Privileges of Class B Driving
While the era of a class 3 license is waning, Class B still has its perks, letting you navigate beyond passenger cars:
- transport up to 8 people including the driver
- hoofing small motorcycles with a 45 km/h cap
- town-friendly four-wheeled vehicles like quads
- three-wheeled vehicles, even motorcycles with two tires on one axle
- even backyard heroes—tractors (up to 40 km/h) and big mowers (up to 25 km/h)
Hitching a Headache: Trailer Woes
Yet, the joyride ends when it comes to trailers.
A combination of car and trailer shouldn't tip the scales at over 3500 kilograms. Towing vehicles like vans or agricultural vehicles all but ignore the leftover trailer weight for the trailer itself, leaving hobbyists to exceed the limit with caravans, horse, or boat trailers. With a Class B license, you can cart around motor vehicles with a permissible total mass (zGM) of up to 3500 kilograms, but only tow a trailer with a zGM of up to 750 kilograms. If the combined total weight remains below 3500 kilograms, the trailer can be heavier.
The Miracle Cure: B96
The remedy? A B96 extension, some may mistake for a federal highway abbreviation. But it's actually a Class B extension. The prime advantage? Zero exam required. Just a short 7-hours training session at a driving school will do. ADAC pegs the costs between 300 and 500 euros. B96 validity spans across Europe, and it grants the freedom to handle heavier trailers than the usual 750-kg limit. However, the vehicle-trailer combo total weight shouldn't surpass 4250 kilograms. Consider an SUV like the Mercedes ML, its vehicle weight maxes at 2800 kilograms, thus permitting 1450 kg of trailer weight. With a VW Tiguan all-wheel-drive, the vehicle weight limit is 2250 kilograms, allowing for two tons of trailers. The Mitsubishi Pajero, at 3030 kg, keeps 1220 kg of trailer weight, increasing with the B96 extension.
The Next Pitstop: BE Class
For even heavier loads (trailers over 3500 kg or combinations above 4250 kg), an BE license is a must. Famed for allowing towing trailers up to 3500 kg and combinations beyond B96 limits, the BE license requires an actual driving test, costs around 1000 euros, and obliges at least five driving lessons [1]. Before diving into BE license training, gain substantial practical trailer driving experience within Class B limits. Though a Class B license can be earned sans experience, experts recommend practical know-how for B96 or BE qualifications.
Sources:- Auto Club Österreich (ADAC)- Driver's License- Traffic Law- Vehicle
[1] Enrichment Data: The B96 extension broadens the towing capacity allowed under a Class B license by increasing the maximum combined authorized laden weight to 4250 kg for a vehicle and a trailer. Compared to the standard Class B license, which only permits a trailer up to 750 kg, the extension is an attractive option for drivers requiring more towing power than the standard allows, without necessitating the more extensive BE license. [2] To qualify, the driver must complete a specific 7-hour training course. For even heavier loads, a BE license is required, allowing towing trailers up to 3500 kg and combinations beyond the B96 limit.
- In certain community policies, the B96 extension of a Class B driver's license may be available, providing an opportunity for vocational training in the automotive industry related to heavier trailers, without requiring a full driving exam.
- Financial considerations for individuals interested in acquiring the B96 extension may include the costs of vocational training at a driving school, estimated to be between 300 and 500 euros, as well as potential expenses for heavier trailers and larger vehicles.
