Big driving rule change UK motorists still may not know about
UK drivers have been given a new rule to follow since June, and not many will be fully aware of what the change means for them
Fresh driving licence rules have been in effect since June, and they could affect millions of motorists across the UK. Although it has been the law since early summer, not everyone is aware of these new updates or what they mean for them.
From June 10, anyone holding a Category B driving licence - the most common type of licence - has been allowed to operate an electric or hydrogen-fuelled vehicle with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of up to 4,250kg. Government requirements specify that the vehicle "must be a zero-emission vehicle".
This additional weight allowance applies to vehicle categories that can typically be operated using a category B licence and covers vehicles transporting up to eight passengers.
The standard MAM threshold for petrol and diesel vehicles with a category B licence stands at 3,500kg, the Liverpool Echo reported at the time.
If you passed your driving test before 1997 and possess a Category B licence, you're "usually permitted to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM)". You're also entitled to operate a minibus with a trailer exceeding 750kg MAM.
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On the fresh rules, guidance available on GOV.UK said: "If the vehicle has additional specialist equipment to support disabled passengers, it can have a MAM of up to 5,000kg. The extra 750kg must be attributable to the specialist equipment. You can also drive an electric or hydrogen powered minibus up to 4,250kg MAM (5,000kg if fitted with additional specialist equipment for disabled passengers).
"You will be able to tow a trailer as long as the MAM of the vehicle and trailer combination does not exceed 7,000kg. For example, if your vehicle has a MAM of 4,250kg, then the MAM of your trailer will be limited to 2,750kg."
It added: "The MAM of the trailer must never exceed 3,500kg. If you passed your category B driving test before 1 January 1997, you can drive vehicle and trailer combinations up to 8,250kg."
The government also confirmed that photocard driving licences will not be changed to reflect this additional entitlement. This means that anyone who isn't explicitly aware of the rule change could completely miss this update to the law.
This new rule means motorists can now legally drive larger electric vans, minibuses, and SUVs without needing a specialist licence, making it easier to switch to zero-emission vehicles. Drivers won't have to pay for and complete the extra training previously required to operate these larger vehicles.
In other driving news, people who are due an MOT soon may not know about one major change to tests introduced by officials earlier in 2025. Earlier this year, the DVSA started asking MOT test garages to take a photo of vehicles in the testing bay before undertaking an exam to cut down on fraud and prevent a spate of so-called ‘ghost MOTs’.
