If you need to manually calculate the maximum towing capacity of your car, the weight of your vehicle will also be displayed on the VIN plate or manual. As with trailer weights, more than one amount is likely to be displayed. You can expect to see the maximum permissible mass of the vehicle, the gross weight of the train (most of what the car and trailer can weigh when combined) and the maximum axle loads of the vehicle. Driving licences issued from 19 January 2013 to 15 December 2021 were subject to the same restrictions, but if the trailer weighed more than 750 kg, there was no longer a provision that it could not weigh more than the towing vehicle. The probability was in any case extremely unlikely, and the maximum MAM for the towing vehicle and trailer in this case remained at 3 500 kg. The online tool assumes that you already have the appropriate classes and codes for towing (i.e. Class B). You will also need a full driver`s license for towing with large vehicles. Not all vehicles are suitable for towing, but those with a set weight limit can tow legally and safely. It is important to check these limits before laying off a trailer to avoid potentially serious damage to the vehicle or even a traffic accident. The purpose of this document is to describe the current legal requirements to help individuals and industries ensure that boats are legally towed and that their towing capacity is not unnecessarily limited. The legality of a particular driver/vehicle/trailer combination depends on a number of factors. Different vehicles have different weights and pulling capacities.
Different trailer/boat combinations have different weights and trailers can have different MAMs. The driving licence may contain an authorisation to drive one or more categories of vehicles. All of these variables mean that each combination must be evaluated on its individual merits. Whether you want to tow a horse box, caravan, trailer or boat behind your car, you will need a full driving license for this, from 16 December 2021 you will not need an additional train ticket as long as the maximum permissible mass (MAM) of the trailer does not exceed 3,500 kg. The trailer you are towing with a motorcycle must not be more than one (1) metre wide. It must also bear a clear and permanent mark indicating its unladen weight. A laden trailer must weigh the lightest of (i.e.): the maximum width of the trailer for each towing vehicle is 2.55 metres. The size of the trailer and/or its load may limit the view of the reward from the vehicle. He is required by law to maintain a reasonable view of the reward, which may require extensions of the vehicle`s exterior mirrors. Category B driving licences issued before 19 January 2013 shall be subject to the additional proviso that, when towing a trailer weighing more than 750 kg, the weight of the trailer must not exceed the unladen weight of the vehicle.
WHAT CAN YOU TOW? There are laws for towing caravans, trailers and horse boxes with a vehicle. UK driving licences have been updated over the years, most recently to harmonise them across the EU. Whenever this has happened, existing licence holders have had their licence classes updated so that they have not lost any of their existing rights. Therefore, when towing a combination of boat and trailer with a car or small vehicle, eligibility depends on the date of initial issuance of the driver`s license. You can use an online tool to find out if you meet all towing licence and age requirements. The installation will help you check if you are old enough to tow a trailer and if you have the right driver`s license to tow with different types of vehicles. If you plan to use your company vehicle for towing, perhaps a caravan or trailer, you should be aware of the applicable laws and consult with your fleet manager. Until now, driving licences issued between 1 January 1997 and 18 January 2013 allowed a maximum of 4,250 kg for the vehicle and trailer, with the trailer not exceeding 750 kg. If the trailer weighed more than 750 kg (but not more than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle), an MAS of 3,500 kg was imposed on the trailer and towing vehicle. Driving licences issued outside the UK are generally recognised for the right they confer in the country of issue. However, there are some exceptions, as some vehicle categories are unique to certain countries. However, it is unlikely to affect pulling a boat/trailer combination with a car or small vehicle.
However, only a few boat/trailer combinations weigh less than 750 kg, so the legality of drivers holding a category B driving licence issued since January 1997 must be taken into account. Note: The rules differ if you are transporting unusual loads (e.g. you need a certificate for the owner of a trailer with an unusual load). The Ministry of Transportation provides additional guidance on how to check if you need to register a trailer before moving it overseas. If you`re not sure about towing rules on UK roads, check Gov.uk for more information. The vehicle manufacturer defines the performance of a particular vehicle. These include whether it is equipped with a pulling capacity and, if so, what capacity it is. This capacity is defined in the owner`s manual of the vehicle concerned and the law requires that this capacity not be exceeded.
You should always do security checks before pulling a trailer, caravan or horse box with a car. Towing equipment must: With your driver`s licence, you can pull a 3,500 kg train. So if your physical weight is only 3,000 kg, but the MAM rating for the vehicle and trailer is 4,000 kg, you exceed the legal limit. In addition to weight, the size of the trailer is also subject to legal limits. Unless special agreements are made with the police, the following dimensions apply: If you want to tow a trailer weighing more than 750 kg, if the total weight of the towing vehicle and trailer is more than 3,500 kg, you must pass another test and obtain the B+E authorization for your driver`s licence. You can then tow trailers up to 3,500 kg. You should only use a cart to tow a broken down car to a repair station or scrap a vehicle. You cannot use it for recreational towing.
16. In December 2021, the UK`s towing rules were changed, so even as an experienced caravan driver, it`s important to know how these changes might affect you. If you plan to attach a trailer or caravan to your car, it`s important to know the legal requirements before you leave. For example, the popular Vauxhall Corsa can tow up to 1,200 kg, with the exception of the 1.2-liter model with 75 hp, limited to 500 kg. The largest number can accommodate some of the smaller two-berth caravans, although once you factor in luggage and passengers, it can crawl above the maximum number allowed. That`s why most small hatchbacks and city cars are better at towing small trailers. Passenger cars, motorcycles, light commercial vehicles and multipurpose vehicles towing caravans or trailers The regulations do not allow towing with a driver`s license if the chassis plate does not indicate GTW or GCW. If we now consider the same combination of boat and trailer towed by a typical larger four-wheel drive vehicle with 2500 kg MA, an unladen weight of 1900 kg and a towing capacity of 2000 kg: the year in which you pass your driving test determines the rules of what you can legally pull. It also gives you the boundaries that you can draw without additional testing.
You can be fined up to £2,500 if your vehicle, caravan or railway equipment is in a dangerous or dangerous condition. You could revoke your driver`s license, get 3 penalty points on your driver`s license, or be banned from driving altogether. It`s important to know the maximum towing weight allowed by law, but connecting a six-person trailer to your small sedan won`t end well. To find out the maximum allowable towing weight of your car, you should consult the manufacturer`s manual or website. Although the driving test for cars and trailers is no longer required by law, DVSA urges drivers to train before towing for safety reasons. It`s definitely not a bad idea to get lessons to increase not only your towing safety, but also your confidence. Fortunately, there are a number of private driving schools and other organizations that still offer towing courses. If your trailer weighs more than 750 kg when loaded, it must be equipped with a working braking system. Although some smaller trailers weighing less than 750 kg may also be equipped with brakes, these are not a legal requirement.
When towing behind a typical station wagon of 2100 kg MAM, an unladen weight of 1700 kg and a towing capacity of 1400 kg: drivers who obtained their driving licence before January 1997 have such a large claim that it is unlikely to be a problem related to towing dive ribs. If the towing vehicle weighs 3500 kg or less (maximum permissible weight or gross vehicle weight), what you are towing must never exceed the MAM of the trailer or the maximum towing capacity of the vehicle. These should be treated as absolute limits, and the reasonable option is to stay well below them to be sure. The Nissan Qashqai SUV offers between 1040kg and 1800kg of towing capacity depending on engine/powertrain configuration, making it more suitable for heavier loads as well as large caravans.