My Dad took a driving test, albeit many tears ago, on one (unknown) vehicle and, when asked which groups he required on his licence said "All Groups". For many years his licence said just that!
However, as others have indicated, the passing of a driving test since 1st January 1997 is now restricted to less groups, making more test passes necessary for larger vehicles ad trailers.
The following is an extract from those ever-useful reference CDs from
www.flexibase.freeserve.co.uk/power_poi ... tions.html :
Are you licensed to tow a trailer
or drive a Van, Minibus or Motorcaravan?
Drivers qualified from 1st January 1997
may first need to take an L test for each
Many current B licence holders have C1
(small lorry/van) & D1 (Minibus: 9 to 16 passenger seats)
so are qualified to drive these,
Drivers qualified after 1st January 1997:
Are only authorised to drive vehicles up to 3500 Kgs MAM
With trailers up to 750 kgs max. authorised mass (MAM) (which excludes many caravans) and with up to 8 passenger seats*
Or larger trailers if the combined vehicle and trailer weight does not exceed 3500kgs Max. Authorised Mass(MAM) (Horse trailers usually exceed this)
AND MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle
BUT
Safety advice: Trailer not to exceed 85% of towing vehicle’s weight: Caravan Club
A trailer test must be passed to qualify for classes B+E
A Minibus test must be passed for over 8 passenger seats*
A Medium goods vehicle test must be passed for vehicles over 3500 Kgs for C1+E
Licence summary
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/NR/rdonlyr ... tshell.pdf
*There are exemptions for Minibuses used not for hire or reward under Minibus permits etc. - details appear on the Instructor/Observer/Tutor Training CD.