Alternative Fuel Vehicles {AFV}
Do you drive or operate 3.5 tonne vans? did you pass you car test on or after 1st January 1996?
will you need to drive AFV [alternatively-fuelled vehicle] up to 4.25 tonnes on your category B licence if so read on.
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
The UK law has changed so that the weight limit for Category B driving licence holders driving alternatively-fuelled vehicles could be increased from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25tonnes
UK law changed in 2018 so that the weight limit for Category B [car] driving licence holders driving alternatively-fuelled vehicles could be increased from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes provided it is not driven outside of Great Britain, not towing a trailer.
The driver must have completed a minimum of 5 hours training with an approved training provider and issued with a certificate from the awarding body.
Who can provide the training?
Training may only be provided by members of the only two government recognised
LGV training registers.
These training registers hold details of qualified LGV and
HGV instructors and training centres.
National Register of LGV instructors or the National Vocational Driving Instructors Register.
Automotive transport training is an accredited NRI training provider [ National Register of LGV instructors] we are able to offer this training to individuals and businesses.
Please contact us for more information.
Course Content
When a driver has completed the syllabus, they will have a better understanding of these aspects of driving an AFV.
• Road safety benefits
• Fuel-saving driving techniques
• Energy-saving driving techniques
• Refuelling and the safety factors of alternative fuel types
• Safe driving techniques
• Safe loading
• Vehicle handling techniques
• Legislative requirements.
The training will be a mixture of theory and practical maximum driver and instructor ratio of 20:1.
Anyone found driving an alternatively fuelled vehicle between 3.5 tonnes and 4.25
tonnes on a Category B licence without having done the 5 hours training would be
guilty of an offence under the Road Traffic Act (1988) – driving otherwise than in
accordance with a licence.
Drivers who hold a Category C licence including sub categories are permitted to drive
alternatively fuelled vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes without the need for
additional training. However, the driver would in this case then come into scope of
Driver CPC.
Whereas a driver who holds a Category C licence including sub categories (and
therefore also a category B licence) who undertakes the additional training is
permitted to drive alternatively fuelled vehicles weighing up to 4.25 tonnes without
coming into scope for Driver CPC.
Third parties who are likely to want to evidence that a driver has completed training
are:
• Insurance companies
• Employers
• The police.
