Driving practice on private land

[slowdriver]

My wife passed her test after 1997. She therefore does not have a C1 entitlement.
We are have a 4 ton PVC, LHD, which she cannot legally drive. So we have two choices if we want to both drive the van.
Firstly she takes a C1 test or secondly we down-plate the van.
In order to decide which, it makes most sense for her to practice on private land not generally accessible to the public. So no supermarket carparks or similar publicly accessible places

So I am looking for somewhere near Oxford on private land with controlled access

Any suggestions.

 

[Nirvanauk]

Ideally you would need a disused airfield. However would it not be easier to book her in for a 2 day course with a local driving school?

 

[Wildbill]

It no longer applies any one passing ther test now or since 1997 can now drive up to 7.5 tone and two a trailor with a combined train waight up to 7.5. Tones
Without a test
Bill

 

[Figaro]

It no longer applies any one passing ther test now or since 1997 can now drive up to 7.5 tone and two a trailor with a combined train waight up to 7.5. Tones
Without a test
Bill

Really ?

Where did that come from

 

[Wildbill]

Really ?

Where did that come from

Sorry not in yet but Chang is coming I though it was all Reddy in should have checked before posting
Bill

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[slowdriver]

Ideally you would need a disused airfield. However would it not be easier to book her in for a 2 day course with a local driving school?

I should have mentioned that my wife is very cautious driver. She drives around Oxford but avoids UK motorways and in general would never choose to drive the van or any other vehicle. I like driving so I do all the driving. But when we are away it would handy to have a spare driver both to increase the range that can be driven in a day and in emergencies.
So she wants to just get the feel of the van off the public highway.

 

[Gellyneck]

I should have mentioned that my wife is very cautious driver. She drives around Oxford but avoids UK motorways and in general would never choose to drive the van or any other vehicle. I like driving so I do all the driving. But when we are away it would handy to have a spare driver both to increase the range that can be driven in a day and in emergencies.
So she wants to just get the feel of the van off the public highway.

This thread could be worth a read if you haven't seen it given the comments you've made around your wife driving the van.

European vehicle recovery due to illness.

Just been on the phone to Comfort doing the renewal. I happened to mention did European recovery cover illness and if hospitalised/couldn't drive would they get van back to UK. If you are the sole driver named on the policy then Yes. However .....if you have your partner/kids/mate named on the...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Wildbill]

Towing with a car

Towing trailers, caravans and horseboxes with a car, including the weight and size limits, and what licence you need to have

www.gov.uk

The changes in 2021 apply to trailor caravans.
I was sure it had changed fo vans as well
Bill

 

[slowdriver]

I have reviewed this thread Government Consultation on Driving Licence Changes
and it offers an obvious solution, but it could be three years or so before it gets implemented - the consultation only ends on the 28th October 2022

 

[slowdriver]

This thread could be worth a read if you haven't seen it given the comments you've made around your wife driving the van.

European vehicle recovery due to illness.

Just been on the phone to Comfort doing the renewal. I happened to mention did European recovery cover illness and if hospitalised/couldn't drive would they get van back to UK. If you are the sole driver named on the policy then Yes. However .....if you have your partner/kids/mate named on the...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

We have been thinking of sorting it out for a while but it was that that thread got me posting

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[wolfie2]

It may be worth a chat with Bicester Heritage. I think they may have a suitable space.

 

[slowdriver]

It may be worth a chat with Bicester Heritage. I think they may have a suitable space.

Good call - I will see what they can offer

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

My wife passed her test after 1997. She therefore does not have a C1 entitlement.
We are have a 4 ton PVC, LHD, which she cannot legally drive. So we have two choices if we want to both drive the van.
Firstly she takes a C1 test or secondly we down-plate the van.
In order to decide which, it makes most sense for her to practice on private land not generally accessible to the public. So no supermarket carparks or similar publicly accessible places

So I am looking for somewhere near Oxford on private land with controlled access

Any suggestions.

Do you mean just to see if she is even happy driving the van?
Whether it's downplated or she gets a C1, it will be the same to drive presumably?

If that's the case, just rent a 3.5t similar van for the day? Enterprise are cheap, especially if you are flexible on when. I've had Sprinters and LWB transits from them.

 

[Nanniemate]

I should have mentioned that my wife is very cautious driver. She drives around Oxford but avoids UK motorways and in general would never choose to drive the van or any other vehicle. I like driving so I do all the driving. But when we are away it would handy to have a spare driver both to increase the range that can be driven in a day and in emergencies.
So she wants to just get the feel of the van off the public highway.

I think and keep saying if there are 2 people with licences both should be confident to drive the van . It's bad enough dealing with an unexpected issue without never having driven it. Get her on the course not only will a professional give her confidence it may avoid a possible divorce with your helpful suggestions

 

[Ridgeway]

May be doing something similar myself but have found a local driving school and will just take a few lessons, that way at least it’s all above board insurance wise.

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[Colino]

I'm not sure about this but could you insure her on the van then put L plates on it. Or is it different to a car

 

[Geistguy]

Please remember that even on private land she should have third party liability cover as a minimum and without the correct licence this would be almost impossible to find.

The only safe solution, as already mentioned, is a trial lesson from an appropriate instructor in their vehicle.

 

[sedge]

You wouldn't get insurance for anyone who hasn't got a full licence. The difficulty is (as I see it) it's all very well on private land the van itself not being insured BUT if it happens to damage or injure any thing or any one whilst the learner is driving - who will the third party sue for damages?

 

[Swifter]

It no longer applies any one passing ther test now or since 1997 can now drive up to 7.5 tone and two a trailor with a combined train waight up to 7.5. Tones
Without a test
Bill

Is this true ? I was totally unaware. Do you have a link to this information please ?
Edit
I’ve seen it was a mistake

 

[Geistguy]

You wouldn't get insurance for anyone who hasn't got a full licence. The difficulty is (as I see it) it's all very well on private land the van itself not being insured BUT if it happens to damage or injure any thing or any one whilst the learner is driving - who will the third party sue for damages?

Sorry Sedge but you can get insurance for learner drivers of any category including provisional licence holders, driving schools being a good example. Should the driver cause 3rd party damage then the driver and owner (knowingly allowing the vehicle to be used ) can be sued

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[davidbaldam]

The CCM do a manoeuvrability course near Banbury. Well worth the money for you wive to get use to the size of the van and how to reverse etc.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Book her into a CAMC MH driving course. We both did one even though we both had C1 licences. You are never too old to learn.

 

[slowdriver]

I'm not sure about this but could you insure her on the van then put L plates on it. Or is it different to a car

That was a question I was pondering

 

[slowdriver]

I will check out the CAMC course I think.
Thx for the suggestions

 

[Nanniemate]

That was a question I was pondering

I will check out the CAMC course I think.
Thx for the suggestions

She still will not have the licence unless she goes for the test. The was a good som at Silverstone mk training , nice people

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[The Wino]

You wouldn't get insurance for anyone who hasn't got a full licence. The difficulty is (as I see it) it's all very well on private land the van itself not being insured BUT if it happens to damage or injure any thing or any one whilst the learner is driving - who will the third party sue for damages?

I think you probably could it's little different to extending car insurance to take out a learner ( at a price!)

 

[Nigel P]

I'm not sure about this but could you insure her on the van then put L plates on it. Or is it different to a car

You can only supervise a learner in a C1 vehicle if you have passed C or C1yourself, inherited rights from pre-1997 'B' tests do not entitle supervision in inherited categories.

 

[denisejoe]

Don’t forget even if she passes her test but is not confident and you are abroad and are taken ill if she is on the insurance they will expect her to drive the van home

 

[slowdriver]

You can only supervise a learner in a C1 vehicle if you have passed C or C1yourself, inherited rights from pre-1997 'B' tests do not entitle supervision in inherited categories.

I am being dim, as usual, but I don't quite know what you mean. I have a full licence, passed in 1968, including C and C1, C1E, D1, D1E, etc - they are not as far as I understand it, inherited.
I passed the C and C1 test when I took the test in 1968 as far as I understand it. Can you explain further?

 

[Gromett]

I am being dim, as usual, but I don't quite know what you mean. I have a full licence, passed in 1968, including C and C1, C1E, D1, D1E, etc - they are not as far as I understand it, inherited.
I passed the C and C1 test when I took the test in 1968 as far as I understand it. Can you explain further?

I have a friend who is the same age as me, he took his test in 1991. He got his C1 given to him as part of this.
I took my test in 1999 after the 1997 cut off so I didn't get C1. I took my C1 test later.

I can supervise someone on a C1 provisional. My friend cannot.

If you have a C on your driving licence then you took the C test and the C1 was awarded as part of that. That is an earned C1 not an inherited one and you can therefore supervise.

This is how I understand it.

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