If you’re over 70, it’s most likely that you’re retired and are looking for interesting ways to fill up your time. Retirement is a massive change of lifestyle for everyone, especially when you’ve been working full time your whole life. Not only are you now older and wiser, but you also have more freedom than you’ve ever had before, with your kids grown up and a stable pension. But, what do you do now?
A caravan is a great investment for someone in retirement, as it allows you to take short or long road trips without the hassle of booking hotels or expensive public transportation. Some of you may have even had a caravan the majority of your working life, but can take full advantage of it now you have retired. So this begs the question, can you still tow a caravan once you’ve reached over the age of 70?
Even if you’re a perfectly safe driver, being over the age of 70 means its possibly been over 50 years since you’ve passed your driving license. As the law stands now, you’ll have to apply for a renewal of your license every three years when you reach past the age of 70, regardless of what license you hold.
Depending on when you passed your driving test and the size of your caravan, you may already hold the right license:
– If you passed your test before 1st January 1997, you’re allowed to drive a car and tow a caravan of up to 8.25 tonnes.
– If you passed your test after 1st January 1997, you are only entitled to drive a category B vehicle and tow a caravan of up to 705kg MAM (MAM means to include the weight of the passengers and luggage).
To tow a caravan over the age of 70, you have to hold the B+E licence category prior to your licence expiry, you will retain the entitlement when your licence is renewed. If you don’t hold the correct licence, you’ll have to pass a driving test to make sure you are qualified to tow a caravan.
Whilst you wait for your new licence you can still drive but only if you meet these conditions:
– You’re not banned from driving in anyway.
– You have a valid licence.
– Your licence wasn’t revoked for medical reasons and you still have suitable eyesight to drive safely.
Here at Towbar 2U, we’re happy to answer any queries you may have about towing any variety of trailers and caravans, to ensure you’re driving legally on the road. We have a wide range of towbars to choose from and can have it fitted onto your vehicle of choice for a competitive price. For more information on our products and services, please get in touch with a member of our team today.
