how much does H licence test cost ?

[RichardT10829]

guys (in the UK)

an idea's what i need to do to arrange an H test ?

say i had access to a tracked vehicle and land to take the test on what would i need to do ?

i looked on the DSA site and i think its circa £60 for the test but it is very vague on whether the instructor can come to a location i specify ?


anyone able to discuss what they did during their test and how long it lasts for ? i have heard of tests lasting circa 5 mins in some cases

Cheers

Richie

[shaun]

when you apply for the test you just put the address of the place of test not the test station. i can talk you through it if you want. i have put a lot of people through their tests.

[RichardT10829]

yeah cheers Shaun was not sure how it works.. was just wondering what other folk have had to do for their tests ? i know with these things you tend to have to do more and more as time goes on

[tankbarrell]

Different DSA offices apply different criteria to others. Some will insist the test is conducted on the road in a suitable vehicle, others are happy to do it off road in a crawler tractor.

Be prepared to travel if you want the easier version!

[RichardT10829]

yes i am happy to travel so i think i would prefer the easier one....seems daft taking a test on the road when the instructor has no way of intervening should you make a balls up of something....but on the flipside i can understand why they would.

[tankbarrell]

That's the thing, you take your test with an examiner not an instructor. If they have to intervene, you've already failed!

It is an easy test, I wouldn't worry about it.

[RichardT10829]

Adrian thats my point how would they be able to intervene...they are usually stood at the roadside no ? then again in the likes of a CVRT they would not be able to intervene even if they were sat on the deck next to the driver hahahahahaha i need to get my ass into gear and get it sorted before i complete the carrier, so i have held the licence for a wee bit.

[kevin powles]

Richard,
why not book it at the Lowestoft test station, you can use my carrier, i will put you on the insurance. One thing to remember is as a steel track laying vehicle you top speed is restricted to 5 mph, so you dont actually ever get out of first gear. You just book it on line, i will try and find my instruction book i bought for the H test and post it up.

kev.

[Ron Pier]

I managed to get mine by using a mini digger on private land. The office here in Bournmouth wouldn't hear of it though. They insisted that it had to be done in a road legal vehicle with roundabouts and traffic lights involved.
But I went over their heads and spoke to the chief guy in Dorchester, who agreed that in my case he would except the mini digger option.
The examiner wanted me to drive around a fictitious road system for about 1/2hour. I think you would have to be very unlucky to fail the driving part. But remember you will need to know the highway code inside out.

It's a bit of a grey area and as Adrian said the criteria can alter throughout the counties.
And Richard as long as there is room the examiner will ride with you in the vehicle. You might like to look at a place such as this. www.svtraining.co.uk
Ron

[RichardT10829]

Cheers for that Kevin please do send up the literature matey and thanks for the link Ron.


I reckon i may do the test down suffolk way, will see what comes of it.

[tankbarrell]

Originally Posted by kevin powles

One thing to remember is as a steel track laying vehicle you top speed is restricted to 5 mph, so you dont actually ever get out of first gear.

Do you have that in writing Kevin? I have found the rule that states all tracklayers are limited to 20mph but not seen a specific steel track rule.

[shaun]

Guys, if you check the rule book i think you will find it states - a track laying vehicle with no rubber tyres and no suspenion is limited to 5 mph - a track laying vehicle with rubber tyres but no suspenion is limited to 20 mph - a track laying vehicle with rubber tyres and suspenion is limited to 25 mph. i have seen nothing that relates to the material the tracks are made out of.
The vehicle you take your track test in must be road registered.

[shaun]

richie the carrier has very poor vision to the left , so bare that in mind when deciding on what vehicle you take your test in.

[RichardT10829]

Having had a go in a CVRT I think that is the way to go the controls were nice and responsive and the FOV in the scorpion was suprisingly excellent ! Infact I have really fallen for the CVRT and would deffo buy one tomorrow if I could !

[tankbarrell]

This is what I found.

Part III
Track-Laying Vehicles(see application provisions below the following Table)
Table 1 2 3
Item No. Class of Vehicle Maximum Speed (in miles per hour) while vehicle is being driven on a road
1. A motor vehicle being a track-laying vehicle which is fitted with—(a) springs between its frame and its weight-carrying rollers, and(b) resilient material between the rims of its weight-carrying rollers and the surface of the road,and which is not drawing a trailer. 20mph
2. A vehicle specified in item 1 above drawing one or more trailers each one of which is either—(a) a track-laying vehicle fitted with springs and resilient material as mentioned in that item, or(b) not a track-laying vehicle and each wheel of which is fitted with either a pneumatic tyre or a resilient tyre. 20mph
3.A vehicle specified in item 1 above drawing one or more trailers any one of which is either—(a) a track-laying vehicle not fitted with springs and resilient material as mentioned in that item, or(b) not a track-laying vehicle and at least one wheel of which is not fitted with either a pneumatic tyre or a resilient tyre. 5mph
4. A motor vehicle being a track-laying vehicle which is not fitted with springs and resilient material as mentioned in item 1 above, whether drawing a trailer or not. 5mph
5. A motor vehicle not being a track-laying vehicle, which is drawing one or more trailers any one or more of which is a track-laying vehicle—(a) if every wheel of the motor vehicle and of any non-track-laying trailer is fitted with a pneumatic tyre or with a resilient tyre, and every trailer which is a track-laying vehicle is fitted with springs and resilient material as mentioned in item 1(b) in any other case 20

The key being the phrase ' between the rims of its weight-carrying rollers and the surface of the road'.

I would argue that the wheel rim does not include the rubber tyre but a court may decide differently..... I would suggest a carrier is allowed to do 20 mph.

[shaun]

well found Adrain, it was a few years back when i went and sat with a traffic cop in police HQ Norwich sorting out the regs for tracked vehicles on the road, i wanted to know what they may nick me for if i was ever stopped.

[kevin powles]

I have read that phrase Adrian has quoted time and time again and put it to other people too before my 'H' test, you can only conclude from this, is that your speed limit during your test in a carrier would be 5 mph. What speed you then do after you have passed your test if another matter.

So stick to a walking pace of 5 mph and you cant go wrong.

kevin.

[Lynn Eades]

I would obtain a copy of the statute, and I would present it to the testing officer before the test, and ask him what his interpretation is.

[RichardT10829]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

I would obtain a copy of the statute, and I would present it to the testing officer before the test, and ask him what his interpretation is.

cant agree more... the problem is sometimes even the examiner will not know hahahahaha


I will get the ball rolling and get it booked up pronto ! just need some dates of availability from the site owner i have contacted so i can get it booked.


i take it the highway code questions were the usual "what sign is this" ?

[tankbarrell]

Originally Posted by kevin powles

I have read that phrase Adrian has quoted time and time again and put it to other people too before my 'H' test, you can only conclude from this, is that your speed limit during your test in a carrier would be 5 mph. kevin.

I would disagree. There are two conclusions, it all depend on your interpretation of 'between the rims of its weight carrying rollers and the surcace of the road'.

It does not mention track material at all merely that there has to be some resiliant material, presumeably rubber, between the road and the wheel rim. I would ague that there is in a carrier and similar steel tracked vehicles.

Automotively, the wheel rim does not include the tyre.

[Ron Pier]

I've read through those directive that Adrian posted a few times now, and I would agree with him on the conclusion.
Since options 2,3,and 5 are for vehicles drawing a trailer, we can discount them. So that leaves options 1 and 4. Since a carrier has springs and rubber on the rollers/wheels, it must mean 20mph. A quarry machine such as a old drag line or modern Poclain type digger that has no suspension and steel rollers would have the 5mph imposed
Also since 5mph is slower than most milk floats, I think you could be in danger of pissing off the examiner!
It's probably academic anyway, as most would probably use a more modern vehicle like a 432 or Scorpion..... Just my 10cents

Ron

[RichardT10829]

well anyone who is considering doing their test i cannot recommend the CVRT enough i have not sat in the Spartan / Samson or other carrier variants of the family but the Scimitar / Scorpion are very comfy indeed Alvis really need patting on the back for that creation !

[martyn]

use a m548 cargo!!!

[RichardT10829]

is that the rapier support vehicle ?

[RichardT10829]

Still prefer the CVRT mate.....too cool for school !

[George McKenzie]

O Canada the land of the FREE .Be carfull what you ask for .You may not like what you get . I have done alot of hiway trucking with construction equiptment and have never heard of having a licence to operate a track machine on the road .The only thing we were concerned with was damage to the road caused by the tracks, the speed limit minimum and top speed and lights .For this reason most things are hauld . For parades most things have nothing ,insurance or licence but you have to trailer it to and from the paraded if you do this .I find it interesting that a inspecter would know anything about an army vehicle .let alone be able to drive one . In Alberta I helped to get a lifetime licence for the old cars over 30 years old .I have # 5 on my 28 Ford CVT .It can only be used for antique perposes . Good luck Richard

[Hans Mulder]

Here in British Columbia I am having a tough time convincing ICBC (Crown's insurance corporation) to issue me with registration for the carrier, even though others on here have done, and even have collector or antique vehicle plates. I might have to register it as machinery or as a utility vehicle to get around ICBC.

[George McKenzie]

Originally Posted by Hans Mulder

Here in British Columbia I am having a tough time convincing ICBC (Crown's insurance corporation) to issue me with registration for the carrier, even though others on here have done, and even have collector or antique vehicle plates. I might have to register it as machinery or as a utility vehicle to get around ICBC.

When you run into this don't open up a can of worms .Just call it a tractor Otherwize You may have to have a public enquirey to decide what kind of a commission that would be needed to find a groupe of people that could decide what should be done . There is nothing like GOVERNMENT to screw up things .Ha Ha I have been in parades for years and have had no problems .These machines will never be used like cars and trucks .You are doing the public a favour by showing the off .

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by martyn

i will now like to say sorry to all the other members of MLU for this rant but

. . . but this is not the place to discuss your dispute

I have placed the subject postings elsewehere. Back to subject please!

Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by George McKenzie

I have done alot of hiway trucking with construction equiptment and have never heard of having a licence to operate a track machine on the road .The only thing we were concerned with was damage to the road caused by the tracks, the speed limit minimum and top speed and lights .For this reason most things are hauld . For parades most things have nothing ,insurance or licence but you have to trailer it to and from the paraded if you do this .

Basically the same here in Holland: one needs a licence for mopeds, motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses and trailers, but not for tracked vehicles or farm tractors. The latter will be fixed shortly, since the legislator now finally sees that driving today's huge farm tractors with multiple trailers by 16 year olds without a licence is a huge liability.

A friend of mine once drove a Sherman recovery tank on the public road, and he was stopped by the police as "he could not drive it on the road". He showed the policeman all of the above drivers licences and insurance for the tank. He had no registration papers as one cannot get a registration for a tracked vehicle here. The poor policeman did not have an answer to what else was needed to drive it legally, so he had to leave him drive off. Talk about a "grey area" when standing in a huge cloud of tank exhaust smoke!

H.