Towing massively increases your car’s ability to carry stuff, from garden waste to a caravan, to a horsebox, to another car. But it’s vitally important that you tow legally and safely. And that means you have to understand the towing capacity of your car.
It’s all about weight. How much weight your car can tow, the load your trailer can carry, and the combined weight of the car and loaded trailer. There are licencing implications, as well.
So it’s not as simple as just getting one of the best tow cars and hooking up your trailer. To help you make sense of it all, this guide explains everything you need to know about towing capacity and the laws that apply to it.
What does towing capacity mean?
There’s a maximum weight that any given car is legally allowed to tow – that’s its towing capacity. For some cars, it’s 0kg, because they haven’t been homologated – legally cleared – for towing. The maximum a car can tow in the UK is 3,500kg, though there are only a few that are capable of doing so, such as the Land Rover Defender. Note that trailers/caravans that don’t have brakes can weigh no more than 750kg.
You also need to consider the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of your trailer. Every trailer has one and it’s the total weight of the load and the trailer itself. So, if a trailer has an MAM of 1,000kg and itself weighs 250kg, it can carry a load of 750kg.
Caravans also have an MAM that’s greater than their own weight, giving you some payload capacity for luggage and equipment. In a caravan context, MAM is sometimes referred to as maximum technically permissible laden mass, or MTPLM.
You also have to be careful not to exceed the car’s gross train weight (GTW). That’s the combined weight of the car and its contents – including fuel and passengers – and the loaded trailer. The maximum GTW allowed for a car in the UK is 6,750kg, a figure that’s actually quite difficult to hit unless you seriously overload.
How do I find the towing capacity of my car?
You can find out what your car’s towing capacity is by searching for the Parkers review and clicking on the specs tab. Select the exact model you have, go to the specs page, scroll down towards the bottom and you’ll find its towing capacity.
Alternatively, look it up in the owners’ manual. You may also find it on the vehicle identification number (VIN) plate or an information plate that’s usually found under the carpet near the driver’s seat, or affixed to the passenger door frame. If you can’t find it, the manual should tell you where it is.
There will be four figures listed: the car’s MAM or gross vehicle weight (GVW), its GTW, and the axle weights. The car’s MAM/GVW is the maximum it can weigh when loaded up with passengers, fuel and luggage/cargo; axle weights refer to the maximum weight each end of the car can bear. From those figures, you can get the car’s towing capacity by subtracting the MAM/GVW from the GTW.
Similarly, you can find the MAM and payload capacity of a trailer/caravan on its owners’ manual or on the VIN plate.
Can I tow a trailer on my driving licence?
Yes, anyone can tow a trailer, even if you only passed a standard car driving test. The law changed in December 2021, allowing drivers who passed their test on or after 1 January 1997 to tow. Before then, those drivers had to pass a separate B+E license test. Drivers who passed their test before 1 January 1997 have always been allowed to tow. But there are still some wrinkles.
If you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997
You can tow a maximum of 3,500kg without the need to upgrade your licence, up from the previous maximum of 750kg. If your licence photocard doesn’t show the BE category, it’ll be added the next time you update/renew it. The change doesn’t apply in Northern Ireland.
If you passed your test before 1 January 1997
You can also tow 3,500kg behind a car but there are certain heavier vehicles that you can drive and tow with, as well. You can drive a vehicle that weighs as much as 7,500kg, such as a small lorry or horsebox, and drive a vehicle/trailer combination that weighs 8,250kg. So, you could drive a vehicle that weighs 7,500kg while towing a 750kg trailer.
You can also drive a 17-seater minibus with a trailer that weighs more than 750kg – that’s the weight younger drivers are restricted to.
To find out more about the various categories of driving licence, go to the government website.
Do I need training before I tow?
Legally, no – you don’t need training before towing a caravan or trailer. However, we strongly advocate getting some, especially if you’re going to start caravanning or pulling a bulky trailer such as a horsebox or race car hauler. Cars behave completely differently when towing and you have to learn how to manage the trailer. Reversing in particular can be really tricky, though it is made easier if you get a car with trailer assist, such the Volkswagen Tiguan.
There are many driver training companies that offer towing courses, as does the Caravan and Motorhome Club.
Can I tow a caravan?
Yes, you can. But make sure you match the right caravan with the right car. The lightest caravans, folding campers and trailer tents can weigh under 400kg and could be towed by a small car such as the Ford Fiesta. The very biggest two-axle caravans can weigh over 2,500kg, for which you’ll need a big SUV such as the Volvo XC90.
You’ll find a caravan’s unladen vehicle weight (UVW) – how much it weighs without fluids, equipment or luggage on board – and it’s MAM in the owner’s manual and on an information plate near the door.
To make sure you don’t exceed either the car’s or caravan’s maximum capacities, it’s worth investing in a set of portable scales that you can weigh them on once fully loaded (including passengers). But you’ll get the most accurate results by visiting your local weighbridge.
When it comes to matching car and caravan, it’s best to give yourself some headroom. So if, for instance, your caravan weighs 1,500kg, it’s sensible to get a car that can tow 2,000kg or more – something like a BMW 5 Series Touring or Kia Sportage. If the weight of a caravan is bang on your car’s limit, it’ll cope but it’ll have to work very hard.
Are there any other rules I should be aware of?
Lots, and there are many ways in which it’s easy to get caught on the wrong side of them. For instance it’s vital to make sure your trailer’s load is fastened in place with straps or secure nets/covers. The load should ideally be contained within the trailer but, if not, anything protruding from the back or sides should be clearly marked for other drivers to see. If you have a very tall load, make sure you measure its height so you don’t get caught out by low bridges.
Having an insecure or otherwise unsafe load can lead to the police issuing you with a fine and driving licence penalty points. Similarly, if you regularly pull a trailer that contains hazardous substances such as compressed gas or oil, you should put the appropriate stickers on the trailer. That way, the emergency services will know what they’re dealing with should the situation arise. Not having the right hazardous substance warnings can be an offence.
There are other, more local rules and restrictions you can get caught out by, as well. For instance, most council recycling centres levy charges on large vans and trailers. Turning up with 1,000kg of building rubble will almost certainly land you with a charge, even if it came from your garden. You may need to pre-book a timeslot to unload, as well.
Note that trailers with a high MAM are often pretty heavy themselves. A trailer with an MAM of 3,500kg may itself weigh 1,500kg, leaving you with a payload of 2,000kg. Penalties for overloading a trailer can be pretty stiff; at the very least the authorities would prohibit you from going any further until the excess load is moved to another vehicle.
It’s particularly easy to get caught out with a horsebox. Horseboxes tend be fairly heavy empty, to which you have to add the weight of the horse, its food and water and any equipment. That can quickly add up.
Can I tow for work?
Towing any form of trailer for your job can be a legal minefield, if the combined weight of the vehicle, trailer and load exceed 3,500kg. At that point, you’re bound by the rules governing commercial vehicle drivers’ hours. We haven’t got space to go over the rules and regulations in full here; instead check out the government’s guide to drivers’ hours.
You’ll also need to have your vehicle fitted with a tachograph, a device that digitally records who is driving the vehicle, when and for how long. A tachograph is available on every pickup truck sold in the UK, including the Isuzu D-MAX or SsangYong Musso. And on vans, as well. There are specialists who can fit one to any existing vehicle, as well. Alternatively, you can keep a detailed log of the driving you do and its purpose.
If the vehicle and trailer you’re driving are privately registered, you can sometimes argue the toss on the need for a tachograph and drivers’ hours compliance. However, the rule of thumb used by the authorities is that, if you’re being paid in any way to drive the vehicle, you need a tachograph or log.
Can I have my car fitted with a towbar?
Yes, you can. Even if you’ve only got a cheap car to tow with. The towbar must be homologated for your car and the installation must conform to the car manufacturer’s specifications which set out how the towbar should be attached to the chassis and how the electrical connections should be hooked up.
The easiest thing to do is take your car to a manufacturer approved dealer who will fit the same sort of towbar as the car would have from the factory. However, they may not with cars beyond a certain age. Alternatively, you can get one of the best aftermarket towbars, but make sure you use a reputable supplier/fitter and that the towbar is the right one for your car.
Important things to remember when towing
- The speed limit for towing a caravan or trailer is 60mph on motorways and dual carriageways, 50mph on single carriageway roads.
- The maximum width a trailer can be is 2.55m, inclusive of its load.
- The maximum length a car and trailer can be is 17m, inclusive of the load.
- If the trailer is wider than the car, extended towing mirrors must be fitted.
- Tow bars must meet EU regulations and be designed for use with your car.
- If you’ve never towed before, we strongly recommend getting some training.
- The rear of the trailer must show the same registration number as the tow car, on a proper number plate.
- The rear of the trailer must be equipped with working side lights, tail lights, indicators, number plate lights and a fog light.
- Anything that protrudes from the side or rear of the trailer must be clearly marked for other road users to see.
- Trailer loads must be safe and secure.
- If your car/trailer combination is deemed to be unsafe, you can be fined up to £2,500 and receive three penalty points on your driving license.
FAQs: Everything you need to know about towing
What is the legal towing capacity in the UK?
The maximum weight that can be towed behind a car in the UK is 3,500kg. However, that only applies to cars that have been certified to tow that much weight. You must always abide by the maximum towing capacity of your car. Loaded trailers and caravans that weigh less than 750kg don’t need brakes.
What is the 85% rule for towing?
This is a recommendation rather than an actual rule, though many serious towers stick to it religiously. It means that your trailer should weigh no more than 85% of the car. So, according to the rule, if your trailer weighs 1,700kg, you’d need something like a Kia Sorento rather than, say, a Ford Kuga. Both cars have a towing capacity of over 1,700kg, but the Kia is that bit heavier and therefore conforms more closely to the 85% rule.
Do caravans need an MoT?
Somewhat surprisingly, caravans don’t need an MoT to be used on the road. However, owners are required to make sure their caravan is in a condition that’s safe to be used on the road. So it’s wise to have it inspected at least annually to make sure it’s in good order. Conversely, goods trailers with an unladen weight of more than 1,020kg do have to be MoT’d on an annual basis.
Can you tow with an automatic car?
Yes, you can. Be aware that towing capacities can vary between the manual and automatic versions of a particular car, with positive or negative effects. Towing is arguably easier with an automatic gearbox – it’s one less thing to worry about, giving you more brain space to focus on the trailer.
Some automatic cars require a particular mode to be engaged for towing, or there may be a specific procedure for pulling away from stationary. Consult the car’s manual to find out.
How much does a caravan weigh?
The smallest caravans, folding campers and trailer tents can have an MAM as low as 400kg. The very biggest, most luxurious ones weigh well over 2,500kg. The majority of family-friendly caravans weigh somewhere between 1,000kg to 2,000kg.
What does braked towing weight mean?
This refers to how much weight a car can tow when the trailer is fitted with brakes. A trailer can weigh no more than 750kg if it doesn’t have brakes, however some cars have lower ‘unbraked’ towing weights. If you often tow an unbraked trailer, have your car’s brakes checked regularly because they’ll wear out quicker. Exceed your car’s unbraked towing capacity and its brakes could be overwhelmed by the load and fail.
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