Towing and trailers

Driving licences

Driving licences issued on or after 01.01.97
From 01.01.97 drivers who pass their car driving test (category B) can drive:

• Category B covers small vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass (MAM) with up to 8 passengers seats with a trailer up to 750kgs (MAM) allowing a combination weight of 4.25 tonnes or
• A vehicle of up to 3.5 tonnes MAM and a trailer over 750kgs allowing a combination of both car and trailer to be not more than 3.5 tonnes.

If you want to tow a trailer outside these provisions you will need to take another test for category BE.

Driving licence issued before 01.01.97
If you passed your car driving test (category B) before 01.01.97, you will usually be entitled to drive a motor vehicle and trailer with a combined MAM of up to 8250 kg.

Passengers
It's against the law to carry passengers in a caravan when it's being towed.

Speed limits
It is also important to stick to the required speed limits – they are different for cars towing a caravan:

• 60mph - motorways and dual carriageways
• 50mph - single carriageways
• 30mph - built up areas

Motorways – third lane
On the motorway, a car towing a caravan cannot go in the outside lane (where there are 3 lanes).

Mechanical condition
Make sure your car and caravan are roadworthy with regard to their mechanical condition e.g. lights, tyres, brakes, number plates, mirrors etc.

Weights and plates
Make sure that the weight of your caravan doesn't exceed the weights for the drawing vehicle – these may be shown on a plate under the bonnet or in your vehicle's handbook.

Towball
Make sure you comply with any requirements in relation to your car's towball e.g. weights, heights and breakaway couplings.

Mirrors
The requirement is that you must be able to see clearly down both sides of your caravan, and 4 metres either side at a distance of 20 metres behind the caravan. If your existing car mirrors cannot provide this or you are doubtful as to whether they can, it is safest to fit extension towing mirrors otherwise you may commit an offence.

Further information
It's important to realise that the above only represent a basic guide to what's required. If you need further information, we would suggest you contact an approved dealer or an organisation such as the Caravan and Motorhome Club. 

A motor vehicle can pull a trailer as long as there are no passengers in the trailer (pets are allowed but this is not advisable).

The rules for drawing a trailer are as follows:

CARS -

The distance between the trailer and the vehicle must be not be longer than 4.5 metres and should not exceed 1.5 metres unless the rope or chain is clearly visible to other road users from either side.

A heavy motor car or a motor car may draw 2 trailers if one of them is a towing implement and part of the other is secured to and either rests on or is suspended from that implement, or 1 trailer in any other case.

The maximum authorised mass (max weight) of the trailer must not exceed the unladen weight (no fuels, liquids, batteries or occupants) of the towing vehicle (with certain exceptions, see link to Direct Gov site for more information).

MOTORCYCLES -

A motorcycle can draw behind it one trailer, as long as there is not a passenger in the trailer and the trailer does not have an unladen weight over 254 kg (unless it is a broken down motorcycle).

A motorcycle with an engine size not over 125cc shall not draw a trailer (except for a broken down motor cycle being ridden).

A motorcycle over 125cc can draw a trailer so long as:

• it does not exceed 1 metre in width;
• the distance between the rear axle of the motorcycle and rear most part of the trailer is no more than 2.5 metres;
• the motor cycle is clearly and indelibly marked in a conspicuous and readily accessible position with its kerbside weight;
• the trailer is clearly and indelibly marked in a conspicuous and readily accessible position with its unladen weight; and
• the laden weight of the trailer does not exceed 150 kg or two thirds of the kerbside weight of the motor cycle, whichever is the less (unless the trailer is a broken down motorcycle and one passenger is riding it).

When the vehicles are attached solely by a rope or chain, the maximum distance allowed between the vehicles is 4.5 metres.

If the distance between the two vehicles exceeds 1.5 metres then the rope or chain must be made clearly visible within a reasonable distance from either side to other road users. This is usually done by tying a coloured flapping cloth in the middle of the rope or chain.

The person in the broken down vehicle must be a qualified driver, as he is actually driving the vehicle. A further point is that if it is dark then the broken down vehicle must have its lights on as it would under normal circumstances.