Anyone who wants to operate a trailerable boat needs the Sport Boat Licence (SBF See) once the engine power exceeds 15 hp (11.04 kW). Training for this official licence is offered, among others, by boating schools. To tow a trailer on public roads, different driving licences are required depending on the type of trailer.
Car Driving Licences
Old licence class 3 With the old driving licence class 3, you are allowed to tow all single-axle trailers (including tandem axles). This licence applies to vehicles with a permissible total weight of up to 7.5 tonnes. You may tow a trailer as long as its permissible total weight does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle and the combined permissible total weight of the vehicle and trailer does not exceed 12 tonnes.
Driving licence class B Driving licence class B applies to vehicles with a permissible total weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. With this licence, you may tow the following trailers:
Trailers up to 750 kg
Trailers over 750 kg, provided that the permissible total weight of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle and the combined permissible total weight of the vehicle and trailer does not exceed 3.5 tonnes
Driving licence class BE Since January 1, 1999, a special trailer licence is required if you want to tow one of the following trailers behind a category B vehicle:
Trailers over 750 kg permissible total weight if the permissible total weight of the trailer exceeds the unladen weight of the towing vehicle
Trailers over 750 kg permissible total weight if the permissible total weight of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, but the combined permissible total weight of the trailer and towing vehicle exceeds 3.5 tonnes
Example: A VW Golf 1.6 l / 75 kW, unladen weight 1,173 kg, permissible total weight 1,760 kg, and a permitted towing capacity of 1,200 kg can tow, for example, a 5 m sports boat (permissible total weight of boat + trailer + equipment = 1,100 kg). A category B driving licence is sufficient in this case, as the permissible total weight of the trailer is lower than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle and the combined permissible total weight remains below 3.5 tonnes.
All other important information about driving with a trailer is nowadays part of driving school curricula. Those who obtained their driving licence years ago can also book practical trailer training sessions there.
