Navigate the latest UK rules for safely towing trailers, caravans, and horseboxes with your car. Since the removal of the mandatory B+E trailer test, all drivers who passed their car test from 1st January 1997 can now tow trailers up to a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of 3,500kg without needing an additional licence. However, you must always check your vehicle’s specific towing weight limit (Gross Train Weight/GTW) to ensure compliance. Understand the legal weight and size limits for your towed unit, including the maximum width of 2.55 metres and length of 7 metres, to stay legal and keep your licence in check. Professional towing training is highly recommended for mastering essential skills like reversing and hitching.

Trailer Safety & Awareness Course

Aimed at businesses that feel their staff would find it beneficial to undergo health and safety towing training. Our Trailer Safety & Awareness course is certificated by the NTTA and designed to help you feel competent and safe when using trailers. A full day course covers pre-towing inspection routine, reversing, coupling/uncoupling up and on-road towing training. For further information or to book click here.

Caravan Towing Course

Whether you are new to caravanning and would like to gain some confidence and experience before taking the plunge or simply want a refresher, then we can help. 4 hour course for 1 person or 5 hour course for 2 people, content includes information on the towing law, caravan loading, hitching up, reversing and driving on motorways and country lanes. For more details or to book click here.

What Can I Tow?

You can tow trailers up to a certain weight with your car driving licence. The weight you’re allowed to tow depends on when you got your licence. You’ll need to know the weight of both the vehicle and trailer – also known as the ‘maximum authorised mass’ (MAM). The MAM is listed in the owner’s manual and is normally shown on a vin plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle or trailer.

If you got your licence before 1 January 1997

You can usually drive a vehicle and trailer with a combined weight of up to 8,250kg MAM.

You’re also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.

If you got your licence from 1 January 1997

You can tow a trailer that weighs up to 3,500kg MAM.

Reference https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

To see what you can tow check your VIN plate, this can be found on either the passenger/driver’s door, under the bonnet or is mentioned in your vehicle manual.

It will look like this;

To calculate your towing capacity, you will need;

• Maximum weight of the vehicle (Fully loaded)
• Maximum weight of your trailer (Fully loaded)
• Maximum towing capacity of the vehicle

Max tow capacity 4200KG – vehicle weight 2505KG = maximum trailer weight you can tow with.