Back to the original question - for me at least the implications of going over 3.5t have been £70 or so a year off my road tax and no insurance increase! What a nonsense.
The main problem seems to be for those who haven't got the C1 licence, generally through age, either too young or too old (and not taken the relevant medical). Horsey-types seem to be quite badly affected as many horse boxes are over 3.5t - the younger riders, in order to drive them, have to take LGV training & test. I guess that's why you see more small van-based horse boxes on the road now.
Have any motorhome drivers on here had to that the test to get C1? What a pain - the rules around digital tachograph use are complex, having to learn all that in order to take a test to drive a vehicle that has no tacho fitted! LGV drivers - what was Class 1 - have to take so many hours of re-training every 5 years I understand in order to retain their licence, I don't believe this applies though if you're not carrying goods for resale.
The main problem seems to be for those who haven't got the C1 licence, generally through age, either too young or too old (and not taken the relevant medical). Horsey-types seem to be quite badly affected as many horse boxes are over 3.5t - the younger riders, in order to drive them, have to take LGV training & test. I guess that's why you see more small van-based horse boxes on the road now.
Have any motorhome drivers on here had to that the test to get C1? What a pain - the rules around digital tachograph use are complex, having to learn all that in order to take a test to drive a vehicle that has no tacho fitted! LGV drivers - what was Class 1 - have to take so many hours of re-training every 5 years I understand in order to retain their licence, I don't believe this applies though if you're not carrying goods for resale.