Im 16 soon and wish to be able to drive a tractor on the roads. Please could someone shed some light on what I can drive, where I can drive and what the test involves.

Many thanks

HM

This, or at least a similar question occurs very frequently on FWi forums. The answers given are so varied that it is obvious the majority of people who reply simply do not know, but are quite happy to make a guess. I do not presently live in the UK, but if I did, I would start by asking the DVLA which actually issues licences. They must know the answer.

There is definitely a lot of confusion over this issue. Mostly because some of the laws are absurd!I was 16 last September and took my tractor test soon after. Firstly the tractor you take it on can't be more than 2.45 metres wide (at the widest point i.e including mirrors etc.) All the lights must be in working order and you can't have anything on the back of the tractor. You can drive to the test site unnaccompanied but you must have L-plates front and back. If you fail the test you can still drive the tractor home unnacompanied! You aren't allowed to practice on the road, the only time you are allowed on the road, before you pass your test, is on the way to or from the test site.

At the test itself the examiner doesn't come in the cab with you he stands by the side of the road and watches you. I had to drive up and down a few times, reverse round a corner, do an emergency stop, stop in appropriate places, drive round roundabouts etc etc. Then he asked me a few questions on road signs and a bit of general driving theory and that was it.

Once you've passed your test you are still limited as to what you can drive. Tractors and implements/trailers must all be no wider than 2.45 metres. Any trailers must be single-axle or double-axle as long as the centres of the axles are no more than 1.3 metres apart (no artics). There is no limit on the weights you can tow/carry other than the limits everyone has to apply to. Having said all this I can't see a policeman casually stopping you, checking age, licence and then measuring your trailer width and how far apart the axles are. As long as you are driving sensibly it should be fine.

To apply you need to have a provisional licence and then just ring up the DVLA (0300 200 1122 is the number you need I think) and ask for a tractor test (Category F). They should send you an email with date and time but keep checking the website as I didn't get my email. It could take a few weeks for them to get everything sorted depending on how reguarly people in your area take tractor tests!

Hope this helps and if you have any other questions I'll do my best to find the answer to them :)  

By the way as far as I know when you get to 17 these width restrictions are cancelled but I'm not certain on that.

Good luck with the test!

JS

Thanks for the information its exactly what I needed to know.

Thanks again

HM

Very good clear and concise post Johnjo.

You are correct that after you are 17, you arev no longer restricted to the smaller width.

Thanks for that info- I forgot to ask when I prviously wrote, that am I restricted to where and what roads can drive on once I've passed the test at 16?

You can drive on any roads after you've passed your test (except motorways obviously) but the tractor must have a beacon if driving on a dual carriageway although it doesn't need one to cross a dual carriageway. Have you booked the test yet?

hi, Thanks for that! No i haven't booked the test yet just getting exams out the way.

Thanks

HM

Im 15 and i'll be 16 next year, i want to do the test but don't know which tractor to do it in? My uncle has a massey ferguson 6490,manitou loadall,case international & a jcb fastrac 2170. Which would be best? I was thinking between the massey & jcb. Can someone tell me which would be best? Thanks.

Which ever one you're most comfortable driving and is COMPLETELY road legal. Check lights, indicators, breaks, windows, tax disc and clean it inside and out.

Thought it would be better to post here than start a new topic. Got my test booked again and it is taking place on Thursday and made sure this time the tractor has not lost its tax disc. 2 quick questions: In the rules it states you are allowed to drive to the test on the road is there a distance limit on that? Also the tractor is in a full roadworthy condition yet has not got a front left wheelguard, will that create any problems? Any help would be much appreciated and if no luck here will give DSA a call on Monday morning and see what they say. Josh

Because the examiner comes to you, I don't think the distance driven to the test is usually much of a problem, but the least it could be is the 20 mile from the farm rule. Don't forget you can also drive home again if you fail, but then that's it until your next test! (Or you're 17)

I really can't see the missing mudguard being a problem, but if it concerns you, whip the other one off before the test to match it up, then there's no questions to be asked!!

Thank you for that bovril.

I rung DSA this morning to confirm and as you stated the distance is not a huge problem but they said to go with 20 mile rule.

Then with regard to wheel arch under some certain act if the tractor has 1 it should have both and if it has none it does not matter. So spanners will be coming out to take that off.

 Just thought I would lighten that up for anyone else who may want to know.