Can I be fined for towing a caravan on a motorway?
FOR caravan enthusiasts, towing a trailer to somewhere new can be exciting.
But if you own a caravan, it is important to get to grips with various towing laws to avoid being handed a potentially hefty fine and even causing an accident.
Can I be fined for towing a caravan on a motorway?
In short: yes.
It is perfectly legal to tow a caravan on the motorway.
However, there are strict rules around caravan towing that will vary from person to person depending on their vehicle, so it is important to check that you are operating within the law.
If you are are found to be in breach of these regulations, you risk getting a costly penalty.
Read more about road laws
What rules are there on towing a caravan?
It may seem obvious, but towing a caravan while passengers are still in it is unsafe and illegal.
The maximum speed limit for a car towing a trailer on the motorway also differs to the standard limit — it is 60 mph.
Additionally, it is crucial that you find out the maximum towing capacity of your car.
This can be done by subtracting the gross vehicle weight (GVW) from the gross train weight (GTW); find these on your car's vehicle identification plate.
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Towing mirrors are a legal requirement, as are towing bars and trailer lights, so make sure to fit these, too.
Do I need to take a special test to tow a caravan or trailer?
You do not need to take a specific test to tow a caravan trailer as long as you have a valid category B (car and small vehicle) driving licence.
However, the weight that you can legally tow depends on the date you originally passed your driving test.
If your licence was issued BEFORE January 1, 1997: You are allowed to drive a combined vehicle and trailer weight of 8,250 kg MAM (maximum authorised mass).
If your license was issued BETWEEN January 1, 1997 and January 19, 2013: You can drive a car or van of up to 3,500 kg MAM towing a caravan of up to 750 kg MAM. You can also tow a trailer over this weight providing that the combined MAM of both vehicles does not exceed 3,500 kg.
If your license was issued AFTER January 19, 2013: You are permitted to tow trailers under 750 kg MAM, or trailers heavier than that if the two vehicles' combined weight is no more than 3,500 kg MAM.
Will my insurance cover me if I am towing a caravan or trailer?
Depending on your level of car insurance, your insurance provider should cover you to tow a trailer.
It is still worth checking with them that your policy covers towing.
It is not compulsory to get dedicated caravan insurance but it is worth considering, as many insurers will cover the cost of damage to your car but not the trailer with a standard car insurance policy.
Ten things YOU should know as a car owner
To help you feel more confident as a car owner, here are ten things you should be familiar with about your vehicle:
- When is your MOT due? Find out here
- When is your car tax due? Find out here
- Is it illegal to drive barefoot?
- How many units can you drink and drive?
- What do dashboard warning lights mean?
- Is it illegal to drive without road tax?
- Can you be fined for breaking the highway code?
- How to change the address on your driving licence
- What does MOT stand for?
- Is it illegal to park across someone's driveway?
