However, the towing rules are different in Northern Ireland – the type of licence you hold determines the categories of trailers you can pull. Once you know this number, it is very important to add the weight of any additional payload you will put in the trailer – such as luggage in a caravan or a horse in a horse box. If you need help calculating your total, you can buy a tow scale. Passenger cars, motorcycles, trucks and dual-use vehicles when towing caravans or trailers Two maximum towing weights may be indicated, one for a braked trailer and the other for an unbraked trailer. “And if you`re not quite confident, towing can be an awesome experience and we could see more accidents on the road. The easiest formula to follow when calculating your car`s maximum towing capacity is to subtract the car`s MAM from the gross tow weight. The towing capacity of your car is the total capacity remaining once the weight of the vehicle has been removed from the total weight of the train, the maximum weight of the trailer itself. Whatever you are shooting, you should never exceed the TRAILER`s MAM or the vehicle`s maximum towing capacity. These should be treated as absolute limits, and the reasonable option is to stay well below them to be safe. If you assume that you are doing this in a dangerous way when towing on public roads, you can be prosecuted and held responsible for a heavy fine, penalty points or even a driving ban.
Therefore, it is important to take all possible measures to ensure that you are as safe as possible. Remember: Drivers who passed their test between January 1, 1997 and January 18, 2013 are allowed to drive a car or van with a tow trailer of up to 3,500 kg up to 750 kg MAM. Drivers who passed their driving test before 1 January 1997 are not affected by the amendment to the UK towing laws. Whether you intend to tow a horse box, caravan, trailer or boat behind your car, you will need a full driver`s license, from December 16, 2021, you will not need an additional tow ticket as long as the maximum permissible mass (MAM) of the trailer does not exceed 3,500 kg. Different speed limits may apply to towing, these are the current restrictions. The government has announced a change in towing regulations in England, Scotland and Wales. From 16. In December 2021, the new rules came into force, but what are they? Read on to find out. NFU Scotland (NFUS) said it recommends that members always undergo training for health and safety reasons prior to towing. In conjunction with regular trailer maintenance, this should ensure that the risk of accidents during towing is minimized, the union added. When measuring the total weight of the caravan, you need to include the occupants of the tow truck and the luggage in the car or caravan.
If you think you`re getting particularly close to your car`s maximum towing capacity, it may be a good idea to get a more accurate figure with a special measurement tool. On 16 December, new rules for towing trailers for England, Scotland and Wales came into force. Before towing, you should always consult the manual of your towing vehicles for GTW (Gross Train Weight). This is the total permissible weight of the vehicle plus the trailer plus the load. You should also check the trailer`s rated weight to make sure the trailer is capable of pulling the load you want to pull. The nominal weight of the trailer can be found on the VIN panel, which indicates the gross weight of the trailer, that is, the total weight of the load, including the weight of the trailer. For example, if the trailer is designed for 3,500 kg, and the trailer itself weighs 1000 kg, you can put 2,500 kg on the trailer. On December 16, 2021, the UK`s towing rules were changed, so even if you`re an experienced caravanner, it`s important to know how these changes might affect you.
For a safe towing experience, there are a number of checks you need to do before you travel. Karin Smyth is Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Trailer and Towing Safety. However, if you completed your driving test on or after January 1, 1997, you will need to take an additional car and trailer driving test to tow heavier caravans or trailers. Changes to towing laws on December 16, 2021 mean that you can now tow trailers up to MAM 3,500 kg (from MAM 750 kg) and mandatory driving tests of cars and trailers have been discontinued. It`s important to know the maximum tow weight allowed by law, but connecting a six-berth caravan to your small sedan won`t end well. To find out the maximum allowable tow weight of your car, you should consult the manufacturer`s manual or website. 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 license plate or in the manual. As with towing weights, more than one quantity is likely to be displayed. You can assume that you will see the maximum permissible mass of the vehicle, the gross weight of the train (most of what the car and trailer can weigh in combination) and the maximum axle loads for the vehicle. This guide contains everything you need to know, from your driver`s license requirements to the maximum allowed tow weights and sizes, as well as some helpful tips to protect yourself and other road users on the roads.
Your car`s manual should tell you if it is towable and what maximum weight it can safely support. Alternatively, this information is sometimes found on the license plate of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). If this information is not found, it is very likely that your car is not suitable for towing. If you have a comprehensive insurance policy, it usually covers you for towing, but some insurers only do this for liability. This means that even if you would be insured for injuries to people or property, the trailer or caravan itself would not be covered. Although you can now tow a trailer up to 3,500 kg (MAM) with your standard driver`s license, any trailer weighing more than 750 kg must always be braked, regardless of the vehicle that pulls it. Caravans start at about 1,000 kg and weigh more than 2,500 kg, so everyone is braked. In response to the intergovernmental consultation on the proposed change in trailer towing, the NFUS Legal and Technical Committee welcomed the savings for businesses, but also highlighted significant concerns about road safety and training needs.
Yes. There are a number of electric vehicles suitable for towing, their immediate torque short to heavy loads, but electric range can suffer, so make sure you have access to charging stations along your route. Towing laws are expected to change on Nov. 15, eliminating the need for motorists to take an additional driving test to pull caravans or trailers. Drivers who passed their driving test after 1 January 1997 may tow trailers up to 3 500 kg OF MAM (maximum permissible mass). Yes. Recent rule changes mean that anyone with a full driver`s license can now tow a trailer or caravan up to a maximum allowable mass (MAM) of 3,500 kg. The previous towing limit for persons who obtained their driving licence after 1 January 1997 was 750 kg. DON`T MISSWe will bring `increased risk` to changes to caravan rules [COMMENTARY]Delay in caravan and towing rules is `the worst of both worlds` [INSIGHT]Changes to the caravan law could cause `more accidents on the road` [ANALYSIS] The Nissan Qashqai SUV offers a towing capacity of between 1040 kg and 1800 kg depending on the engine/powertrain configuration, which makes it better for heavier loads and large caravans suitable.
However, the consultation found that more than 5,000 respondents felt that drivers would still need training before towing a trailer, even if it was not mandatory. Previously, driving licences issued between 1 January 1997 and 18 January 2013 allowed a maximum of 4 250 kg for the vehicle and trailer, 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), a MAM of 3,500 kg was imposed on the trailer and the towing vehicle. In December 2021, the law was amended to allow more drivers to legally tow trailers without additional mention on their driver`s license or towing tests. After this change, these are the current towing rules of the United Kingdom. Whether you`re planning to tow a caravan, trailer, horse box or boat, it`s important to understand what your driving licence gives you the right to tow, the laws governing towing in the UK and how to tow safely.