With the number of companies offering tank driving experiences in the UK continuing to increase, more and more people are becoming interested in driving these unique vehicles. As you can imagine, tank driving regulations are a little more complex than those concerned with more regular vehicles. They are not as strict as you would imagine however and it is actually possible to legally purchase and drive a tank on UK roads with the right qualifications behind you. I will first explain the regulations concerning tank driving experiences as such experiences are enough for most people. I will then explain just what you need to do should you be interested in actually taking a tank out onto UK roads.
Tank Driving Regulations for Tank Driving Experiences
The different companies in the UK that provide tank driving experiences all have different regulations in place governing exactly who can take part. They are however generally somewhere along the lines of the following.
- Most companies will not allow anyone under the age of twelve to take part.
- For reasons of safety there is generally a minimum and maximum height of five feet and six feet four respectively.
- There is almost always a maximum weight of twenty stone.
- Of course, any consumption of alcohol prior to the experience is strictly prohibited.
Tank Driving Regulations for Driving a Tank on UK Roads
In order to take a tank onto a UK road, like any other vehicle, a driving licence is required. The specific licence that tank driving regulations require people to have is known as an H licence. Though tanks are pretty complex vehicles and do require a lot of training to understand, many people have successfully acquired this licence and there are a number of companies in the UK that offer said training. One of the most reputable companies that offers this service in the UK is Tanks a Lot.
- They provide complete training solutions consisting of classes taken with instructors that are ex soldiers.
- Their classes are specifically designed to enable people to pass the H licence test.
- They also offer a number of classes for those that would simply like to use a tank as a recreational vehicle on off road courses. Such people do not need an H licence and therefore the classes are more based upon simply controlling a tank.
Tank Driving Regulations for Ownership of a Tank
Should you wish to purchase your own tank, this is possible provided you can find a tank that has been modified sufficiently. There are a number of companies that sell tanks in the UK as both collectors' items and as recreational vehicles with a difference. The modifications simply consist of disarmament to ensure that they could not be used to harm the public. Such modifications have no effect on a tanks power nor its all terrain capabilities.