Apologies if this has been answered before - I tried searching but couldn’t seem to find anything relevant, and the DVLA have a different answer every time they are asked!
My Dad still holds his C+E licence, even though it is over 20 years since he last drove a truck. He has been told by DVLA and others that if he gives it up, he will go back to the basic, latest version of a car licence, including not being able to tow his caravan, and that the only way to remain legal to tow a caravan is to keep the HGV, including yearly medicals etc.
Other places have indicated that this is not the case - does anybody know what the reality is for this, anybody been down the same road etc?
Just for the record, he passed his car licence in 1961 and HGV in 1975.
Thanks
Gary
Assuming that your father is under the age of 70 so his driving license has not yet expired or been taken away for any reason since 1997, then as far as I can see if he lets his HGV entitlement lapse he will still be able to pull a trailer/caravan with vehicle/trailer combination weight up-to 8.25 tonnes
All drivers who passed a car test before 1 January 1997 retain their existing entitlement to tow trailers until their licence expires. This means they are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. They also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.
If since passing the car test in 1961 his license has expired (aged 70+) or been taken away since 1997 then he will be able to use a vehicle pulling a trailer/caravan that falls into either of the categories bellow.
a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes (3,500 kilograms) maximum gross weight towing a trailer of up to 750 kilograms maximum gross weight (up to 4,250 kilograms in total)
a trailer over 750 kilograms maximum gross weight as long as it is no more than the unladen or ‘kerb’ weight of the towing vehicle (up to 3,500 kilograms in total)
See here for more details