BE – Car with heavy trailer

Category BE on your licence allows you to drive cars or vans with a maximum total weight of 3500 kg and one or more trailers attached to the vehicle. The combined total weight of the trailer or trailers must not exceed 3500 kg.

The theory test

 The test consists of 60 questions in total, but you can score a maximum of 55 points. This is because 5 of the questions are sample questions and do not count towards the test score. To pass the test, you must answer 44 questions correctly. The test takes 40 minutes.

The theory test includes questions on matters such as:

• vehicle knowledge and manoeuvring
• environment
• road safety
• rules of the road
• personal circumstances

You will find out whether you have passed or failed immediately after the test. You will also receive an email showing your results. A theory test pass for category BE is valid for one year. You will need to take the driving test within that time.

The driving test

You must pass the category BE theory test before you can take the category BE driving test. You are responsible for ensuring that an approved vehicle combination is available for the test.

The driving test consists of:

• safety check
• special manoeuvres
• driving in traffic.

Safety check

The driving test will start with you being asked to carry out a safety check, including the coupling of the vehicle and trailer. The vehicles must be uncoupled when the test starts.

When the driving test begins, the towing vehicle must be behind or to the side of the trailer. You must adjust the seat, mirrors, seat belt and head restraint as necessary to ensure a correct driving position.

The safety check must always include checking the following:

• That the doors are closed.
• Cargo (securing, arrangement, quantity and registration certificate).
• Coupling device, breakaway brake cable, brakes and power connection to the trailer.

You may also be asked to perform one or more of the following checks:

• lights, brakes on the towing vehicle, tyres and rims, direction indicators
• reflectors, horn, fluids (such as windscreen washer fluid, coolant and engine oil)
• windows, steering, warning systems, windscreen wipers and washers.

The examiner will tell you what should be included in your safety check and ask questions about one or more elements of it. You must be able to give reasons for what you have checked, and why. You must also be able to describe the risks and consequences of vehicle faults and defects and suggest what to do, even if no such faults have been detected.

Special manoeuvres

After the safety check, you will be asked to demonstrate that you are able to reverse while turning at the same time, and park safely for loading and unloading.

Riding in and outside urban areas

You will drive in traffic, both urban and rural, for at least 25 minutes during the test. You must demonstrate that you can use the correct gear selection and braking techniques, plan your driving and pay attention to other traffic.

The examiner will tell you where to drive. You may be given different tasks to perform such as making a U-turn, parking, hill starting or reversing while turning the vehicle. The test ends with a check to ensure that you can disconnect the trailer from the vehicle and park safely for loading and unloading.

The examiner will make an overall assessment of your driving and you will find out whether you have passed or failed immediately after the test.

Vehicle requirements for the driving test

The driving test must be done in a suitable car or van with a trailer attached. If you have a category B licence for manual transmission, you can use an automatic car for the driving test without limiting your licence.

The tax and insurance must be paid. Otherwise, the vehicle combination must be reliable from a safety standpoint. The car and trailer must be registered in Sweden, and you must show the last registration certificates issued.

The car and trailer must not be banned from the roads, or be an emergency vehicle or a hearse. Nor may it be loaded with dangerous goods or animals.

The vehicle combination must:

• have a total combined weight of more than 3500 kg

The car must:

• be capable of travelling at speeds of at least 100 km/h
• have a kerb weight of at least 1000 kg
• have a total weight not exceeding 3500 kg
• have head restraints for the front seats
• have approved three-point seatbelts in the front seats

The trailer must:

• have a total weight of no less than 1000 kg and no more than 3500 kg
• be loaded to at least half the maximum load with goods of a general cargo nature that are capable of being anchored
• have a gross weight of at least 800 kg
• have a cargo compartment in the form of an enclosed box structure that is at least as high and wide as the towing vehicle. However, it may be permitted to be slightly narrower than the towing vehicle if visibility to the rear is possible only when the side mirrors of the towing vehicle are used.
• be equipped with a service brake (this also applies to retests involving only a safety check).