Towing a Caravan - Did you know ?
The summer months are fast appraoching, and caravan season will be here again but do you know how to stay safe and legal when on UK roads.
Can I tow a caravan on my licence?
This depends upon the type of licence you hold, when you passed your driving test, and the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of the caravan, which is its weight plus the maximum load it can carry. The rules are as follows:
If you passed your test after January 19, 2013, you can tow a caravan when the combined weight of the towing vehicle and caravan is more than 3.5 tonnes. If the weight exceeds this level, you’ll have to pass a further test in category B+E.
If you passed your test after January 1, 1997, you can tow a caravan so long as its MAM is no more than 3.5 tonnes. If your caravan exceeds this 3.5 tonne limit, you’ll have to get B+E entitlement on your licence.
If you passed your test before January 1, 1997 you’ll have a category C1 licence, which means you can tow a caravan so long as its combined MAM (including your car) is no more than 7.5 tonnes.
If your caravan exceeds the 7.5 tonne limit, you’ll need a category C (HGV) licence. If your caravan falls into this category, then it’s vital you get the category C licence as not doing so will mean your insurance is invalidated.
Is there an age limit for towing a caravan?
There is no lower age limit for towing a caravan, it all depends upon your licence having the relevant entitlements. If you passed your test after January 19, 2013, and the combined weight of the caravan is more than 3.5 tonnes, you’ll have to pass a further test in category B+E.
The cost of this test can vary depending upon when you take it, and if you’ve never towed a caravan before, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of lessons – plan for between 18 and 22 hours of lessons, which could set you back anywhere between £600 and £750.
To find out how to add higher categories to your licence, go to GOV.UK
Once you reach 70 years old, your driving licence expires, meaning you need to renew it every three years if you want to continue driving. If you passed your test after January 1, 1997 and haven’t already added the B+E entitlement to your licence, you’ll have to do this if you want to tow a caravan that weighs over 3.5 tonnes. If you already have this entitlement, it will be retained when your licence is renewed.
You can use this tool at GOV.UK to find out if you’re old enough or have the right kind of licence to tow a trailer from different kinds of vehicles.
How can I find out the towing capacity of my car?
Checking your car’s handbook is the quickest way to find out its maximum towing weight, which is the weight of your fully loaded car plus the combined weight of your fully loaded caravan. If it’s not clear, you’ll need to know the kerb weight of your car and the maximum mass of the caravan (called ‘maximum technically permissible laden mass’, or MTPLM).
You should be able to find the kerb weight of your car in the owner’s manual, on a plate on the door sill, or on the V5 registration document, where you’ll need to look for the figure marked ‘G: Mass In Service’. Similarly, the weight of the caravan is usually listed on a plate near the door frame, but you may need to consult the manufacturer to find out.
Once you have these figures to hand, if the mass of the caravan is 85% or less of the car’s kerb weight, you should be able to tow it without any issues. If it’s between 85% and 100% of the car’s kerb weight, you can still tow it, but it will make driving more difficult, and should only be attempted by experienced caravanners.
If the caravan weighs more than your car, you must not tow it under any circumstances.
Are there any width and length restrictions to towing a caravan?
The maximum trailer width for any towing vehicle is 2.55 metres, while the maximum length for a trailer towed by a vehicle weighing up to 3,500kg is 7 metres. This length does not include the A-frame, which is the parts that links the caravan to the tow hitch.
If you need to measure your vehicle, there are some parts that you don’t need to include as part of your measurements.
When measuring the length, you don’t need to include the:
Driving mirrors
Rearward projecting buffers (made of rubber or other resilient material).
When measuring the width, you don’t need to include the:
Driving mirrors
Lamps
Reflectors
Distortion in tyres due to loading.
What speed can you tow a caravan?
Speed limits for towing a caravan vary depending upon the type of road you’re on. When towing a caravan, always stick to the following speed limits:
Type of road and speed limit Speed limit when towing a caravan
Motorway 70mph 60mph
Dual carriageway 70mph 60mph
Dual carriageway 60mph 50mph
Single carriageway 60mph 50mph
Roads with speed limits of 20mph – 50mph Same as posted speed limit
Can you tow a caravan in the fast lane?
When towing a caravan on a three-lane motorway, you’re not allowed to drive in the outside lane.
On two-lane stretches of motorway, you can use the outside lane to overtake, but must return to the inside lane once you’ve finished overtaking. This rule also applies to any vehicle, regardless of whether or not they’re towing a caravan or trailer – outside motorway lanes are for overtaking only and are not meant to be driven in for long stretches.
To summarise, when towing a caravan on a:
Motorway or dual carriageway with a speed limit of 70mph, you should never drive any faster than 60mph and never use the third motorway lane.
Single carriageway with a speed limit of 60mph, you should not go above 50mph.
Road with speed limits of 50mph or lower, the maximum speed is the same as the posted speed limit. If there are no signs to show the speed limit, always assume that it is 30mph.
Can I carry passengers while towing a caravan?
You’re free to carry passengers in your car while towing a caravan, but towing laws prohibit you from carrying passengers in the caravan itself. There are actually no laws to stop you from carrying animals in a towed caravan, but we would never recommend that you do this.
What are the towing laws regarding caravan tyres and trailer lighting?
As with your car’s tyres, you should carry out regular checks to ensure your caravan tyres are in good condition, fully inflated and capable of carrying the maximum, fully-laden weight of the caravan while travelling at the maximum permitted speed.
What are the towing laws regarding caravan and trailer lighting?
If you’re going to be towing your caravan in the dark, your caravan must have the following fitted:
Brake lights
Direction indicators
Two red side lights at the rear
At least one rear fog light (if the trailer is more than 1.3m wide)
Two red triangular reflectors
Number plate light
It’s advisable to have these fitted to your caravan at all times.
What do you need to tow a caravan?
Although you might think you need nothing more than a tow bar and hitch to tow your caravan, there are a number of additional items you need to ensure you’re legally towing it. So, before you set off, you will need:
A tow-bar – Any tow-bar you have fitted must be type-approved so it meets all the required EU safety regulations, is right for your car and can take the necessary weight of your caravan. A type-approved tow-bar will have a label that features an approval number, and details of the vehicles it is approved for use on. This doesn’t apply to cars first used before 1 August 1998.
Towing mirrors – You’ll need to fit mirrors that enable you to see past the width of the caravan to give an adequate view of the road behind. If you don’t have these fitted, you can be fined up to £1000 and given 3 penalty points on your licence.
Caravan brakes – Any trailers, including caravans, that weigh more than 750kg must have its own working brake system.
Number plates – The back of your caravan needs to clearly show the same registration as the vehicle towing it.
If you’re found not using any of the above when towing a caravan, or the items you are using don’t meet the required safety standards, you could be fined up to £2,500, be on the receiving end of penalty points on your licence, or even banned from driving.
Drive safe
Team LNK