Your car has a permitted maximum mass of 3,000 kg. You hold a BE licence. What is the maximum permitted maximum mass (in kg) the combination of car and trailer may have?
Show the answer
Correct answer: 7000 kg
Correct: 7000.0 kg (±250.0).
Which licence for which trailer: B, B+code 96, BE
What the exam asks here: The dealer says immediately: 'With B you can only take the 700-kilo one, the rest is BE.' Most learners believe exactly this — that B stops at 750 kg.
The trap
Many learners think: On a plain B licence you may never tow a trailer heavier than 750 kg.
The rule is: A plain B may tow a trailer above 750 kg as long as the combination of car and trailer stays up to 3,500 kg. The 750 kg threshold only applies to the trailer alone
Challenge
The dealer says immediately: 'With B you can only take the 700-kilo one, the rest is BE.' Most learners believe exactly this — that B stops at 750 kg. Wrong: on a plain B you may also tow a heavier trailer, as long as the combination stays under 3,500 kg. Two numbers steer everything: 750 kg (the trailer alone) and 3,500 / 4,250 kg (the combination together).
The model
Plain B (Book p.233): trailer up to 750 kg, OR trailer heavier but combination up to 3,500 kg. B with code 96: trailer above 750 kg, combination 3,500-4,250 kg. BE: trailer above 750 kg, combination above 4,250 kg (so trailer max 3,500 kg, combination max 7,000 kg). C1E: above the BE limits.
Core
Which licence you need depends on two masses at once: the permitted maximum mass of the trailer, and that of the combination (car plus trailer). On a plain B you may move a trailer if it is up to 750 kg, or if it is heavier than 750 kg but the combination stays up to 3,500 kg (Book p.233). A B with code 96 (or BE) is needed if the trailer is heavier than 750 kg and the combination lies between 3,500 and 4,250 kg. BE is mandatory if the trailer is heavier than 750 kg and the combination is more than 4,250 kg — B with code 96 no longer suffices. With BE the trailer may be at most 3,500 kg, so the combination at most 7,000 kg (Book p.234). Above the BE limits (combination up to 12,000 kg, trailer heavier than 3,500 kg) you need C1E. A tandem-axle trailer may also be towed on plain B alone if the whole set is not heavier than 3,500 kg (Book p.235).
Why it matters
Driving without the correct licence is driving without a valid licence: uninsured in a crash, plus a hefty fine and being stopped on the Utrecht ring road with no permission to continue. A heavy combination brakes and steers very differently from an ordinary car. Especially the 'plain B is allowed up to 3,500 kg combination' rule is often forgotten — people needlessly think they need BE, or, far more dangerously, tow a 4,000 kg combination on B alone.
Active recall
It is drizzling and the digital speed signs on the A2 show 100. Your car has a permitted maximum mass of 2,800 kg, your trailer 900 kg — combination therefore 3,700 kg. May you drive this on a plain B licence alone?
Teach back
Explain in your own words: in which two cases does a plain B licence suffice, when do you need B+code 96, and when must it be BE?
Memory hook
750 looks at the trailer, 3,500/4,250 look at the combination. Under 3,500 = B; up to 4,250 = B+96; above that = BE.
The picture
Signs and law
A2
End of the previously indicated maximum speedEnd of the previously indicated maximum speed
Test yourself
At the Gamma in Utrecht you stand with your car (permitted maximum mass 2,500 kg) between three second-hand trailers: one of 700 kg, one of 900 kg, one of 2,000 kg. Behind which one may you drive on a plain B licence alone?
Show the answer
Plain B (Book p.233): trailer up to 750 kg, OR trailer heavier but combination up to 3,500 kg. B with code 96: trailer above 750 kg, combination 3,500-4,250 kg. BE: trailer above 750 kg, combination above 4,250 kg (so trailer max 3,500 kg, combination max 7,000 kg). C1E: above the BE limits.
Exam questions on this topic
Just before the Moerdijk bridge, in the early morning mist, you are driving a car of 2,800 kg permitted maximum mass with a 900 kg trailer (combination 3,700 kg). Which licence do you need at minimum?
- Plain B suffices, because the trailer is lighter than 3,500 kg
- BE is mandatory, B+code 96 is not allowed here
- C1E, because the combination is above 3,500 kg
- B + code 96 (or BE)
Show the answer
Correct answer: B + code 96 (or BE)
Why learners get this wrong: As long as the trailer is up to 750 kg the combination may be as heavy as you like on a plain B; and once the trailer is heavier, only the trailer weight counts.
Statement: on a plain B licence you may never tow a trailer heavier than 750 kg.
- True
- False
Show the answer
Correct answer: False
Why learners get this wrong: On a plain B licence you may never tow a trailer heavier than 750 kg.
At a campsite in Zeeland you compare two combinations (permitted maximum masses). Combination 1: car 2,400 kg + trailer 1,200 kg = 3,600 kg. Combination 2: car 1,900 kg + trailer 600 kg = 2,500 kg. You have a plain B licence. Which may you drive?
- Combinations 1 and 2
- Only combination 2
- Neither of the two
Show the answer
Correct answer: Only combination 2
False — you think every trailer needs a BE licence. A trailer of up to 750 kg may be towed with a plain B, so combination 2 is allowed; only combination 1 needs B with code 96 or BE
Why learners get this wrong: As long as the trailer is up to 750 kg the combination may be as heavy as you like on a plain B; and once the trailer is heavier, only the trailer weight counts.
While checking in at the campsite, the site manager asks about your licence. You have a tandem-axle trailer (double axle) of 1,500 kg behind a car of 1,800 kg (combination 3,300 kg). The manager says: 'You need a BE licence for that, surely?' Is that correct?
- No, the combination stays within 3,500 kg, so a plain B licence is enough
- Yes, with B the trailer may not be heavier than 750 kg
- Yes, with two axles BE is needed, however heavy the combination is
Show the answer
Correct answer: No, the combination stays within 3,500 kg, so a plain B licence is enough
False — you remember only half of the rule. With a plain B the trailer may also be heavier than 750 kg, as long as car and trailer together do not weigh more than 3,500 kg.
Why learners get this wrong: On a plain B licence you may never tow a trailer heavier than 750 kg.
On the provincial road, far from any campsite, you recall the licence rules. Statement: as soon as you hitch a trailer behind your car, you always need a BE licence.
- True
- False
Show the answer
Correct answer: False
Why learners get this wrong: As soon as you hitch a trailer behind your car, you need a BE licence.
For a house move along the A2 you hitch a closed trailer with a permitted maximum mass of 1,100 kg behind a van with a permitted maximum mass of 3,500 kg. The trailer has two axles. Which licence do you need?
- BE, because the combination together weighs more than 4,250 kg
- C1E, because a trailer with two axles counts as a heavy trailer
- B with code 96, because it applies up to a 7,000 kg combination
Show the answer
Correct answer: BE, because the combination together weighs more than 4,250 kg
False — the number of axles does not decide the licence. C1E is only needed above the BE limits (combination over 7,000 kg or trailer heavier than 3,500 kg)
Why learners get this wrong: As soon as the combination is heavier than 3,500 kg, or the trailer has two axles, a C1E licence is needed.
About Which licence for which trailer: B, B+code 96, BE: which statement is WRONG?
- A plain B already suffices for a trailer up to 750 kg, or for a heavier trailer with a combination up to 3,500 kg.
- You must always look at BOTH masses.
- A plain B may tow a trailer above 750 kg as long as the combination of car and trailer stays up to 3,500 kg.
- As soon as the combination is heavier than 3,500 kg, a BE licence is mandatory.
Show the answer
Correct answer: As soon as the combination is heavier than 3,500 kg, a BE licence is mandatory.
Between 3,500 and 4,250 kg combination a B with code 96 suffices (or BE by choice). BE only becomes mandatory above 4,250 kg
Why learners get this wrong: As soon as you hitch a trailer behind your car, you need a BE licence.
Between 3,500 and 4,250 kg combination a B with code 96 suffices (or BE by choice).
- False
- True
Show the answer
Correct answer: True
Between 3,500 and 4,250 kg combination a B with code 96 suffices (or BE by choice). BE only becomes mandatory above 4,250 kg
Why learners get this wrong: As soon as the combination is heavier than 3,500 kg, a BE licence is mandatory.
It is drizzling and the digital speed signs on the A2 show 100. Your car has a permitted maximum mass of 2,800 kg, your trailer 900 kg — combination therefore 3,700 kg. May you drive this on a plain B licence alone?
- Yes — the trailer is lighter than 3,500 kg, so a plain B always suffices
- No — the trailer is heavier than 750 kg and the combination (3,700 kg) is above 3,500 kg; you need B+code 96 or BE
Show the answer
Correct answer: No — the trailer is heavier than 750 kg and the combination (3,700 kg) is above 3,500 kg; you need B+code 96 or BE
≤750: B · 750-4,250 combi: B+96/BE · >4,250: BE
Why learners get this wrong: As long as the trailer is up to 750 kg the combination may be as heavy as you like on a plain B; and once the trailer is heavier, only the trailer weight counts.
Frequently asked questions
‘On a plain B licence you may never tow a trailer heavier than 750 kg’ – is that true?
No. A plain B may tow a trailer above 750 kg as long as the combination of car and trailer stays up to 3,500 kg. The 750 kg threshold only applies to the trailer alone
‘As long as the trailer is up to 750 kg the combination may be as heavy as you like on a plain B; and once the trailer is heavier, only the trailer weight counts’ – is that true?
No. You must always look at BOTH masses. A trailer up to 750 kg is allowed on B, but once the trailer is above 750 kg, the combination (3,500 / 4,250 kg) determines which licence is needed
‘As soon as you hitch a trailer behind your car, you need a BE licence’ – is that true?
No. A plain B already suffices for a trailer up to 750 kg, or for a heavier trailer with a combination up to 3,500 kg. BE is only mandatory above 4,250 kg combination
‘As soon as the combination is heavier than 3,500 kg, a BE licence is mandatory’ – is that true?
No. Between 3,500 and 4,250 kg combination a B with code 96 suffices (or BE by choice). BE only becomes mandatory above 4,250 kg
‘With a B licence with code 96 you may tow a combination up to 7,000 kg’ – is that true?
No. B with code 96 is only allowed up to 4,250 kg combination. The 7,000 kg limit belongs to BE, not to code 96