There are strict rules around what you can tow depending on your driving licence – and ignoring it could see you facing a fine and points on your licence
Caravan owners may be at risk of facing a £1,000 fine and three penalty points for towing a weight they’re not legally allowed to. In the UK, strict rules dictate what weight you can tow based on your driving licence.
This applies to both the weight of the vehicle and caravan, known as ‘maximum authorised mass’ (MAM) which is typically found in the owner’s manual or on the caravan’s plate. Your MAM depends on when you passed your driving test and received your full driving licence.
This is because those with an older licence are permitted to tow a much higher MAM than those with a newer licence.
Weight restrictions based on when you got your licence
The weight restrictions vary depending on when you obtained your licence. If you received your driving licence before January 1, 1997, then you’re generally allowed to drive a vehicle and tow a caravan with a combined MAM of up to 8,250kg.
Additionally, you can drive a minibus with an MAM of more than 750kg.
However, if you got your driving licence after January 1, 1997, then you can only tow a caravan with an MAM of up to 3,500kg. Your physical driving licence will have a list of all the types of vehicles you can operate on the back.
For towing a trailer, this is classified as a category BE vehicle. However, the size of the trailer will depend on the BE ‘valid from’ date shown on your licence.
If the date is before 19 January 2013, then you can tow any size trailer within the towing limits of the vehicle. However, if the date is on or after 19 January 2013, then you can tow a trailer with a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of up to 3,500kg within the towing limits of the vehicle.
You could be hit with a £1,000 fine and three to six penalty points on your licence for towing a vehicle without the correct licence.
Carrying out maintenance checks on your caravan
There isn’t a specific penalty for having an unmaintained caravan. However, it is against the law in the UK to operate a vehicle deemed to be in a ‘dangerous condition’.
People found violating this law could face a fine up to £2,500 and three points on their licence. In certain cases, culprits could also face a driving ban. A range of basic safety checks can be performed before you tow a caravan.
Guidance from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) suggests motorists should check the following:
- State of tow ball and connections
- Effectiveness of breakaway cables
- Wheel and tyres
- Lights and indicators
- Load and weight limit to ensure trailer is not overloaded
Full details on the standards required for each of these categories can be found online.