Towing with a car, the law explained.
The law around towing a trailer with a car or van changed on 16th December 2021. Until that point it had been a requirement to pass a B+E test if the combination of the vehicle and trailer exceeded 3,500kgs MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) or if you had passed your driving test prior to 1st January1997.
There is now no longer a requirement to pass an additional test to tow any trailer with your car or van. There are some things to check to ensure that you are still legal to tow.
The actual weight of the trailer and its load has to be within the towing capacity of the tow vehicle. Look in your vehicle handbook to find out what your cars towing capacity is. If you are new to towing or pulling a caravan it is sensible to keep the actual weight of the trailer and load to within 80% of the actual weight of the car.
It’s important to note that the 80% rule is only advice, not law. However, caravans are prone to been blown around by crosswinds and passing large vehicles so extra caution is recommended when towing a caravan or high sided trailer.
You should also ensure that the gross train weight is not exceeded. This is the actual weight of the car and trailer as it sits on the road, including any load, passengers, fuel etc. You will find this information in the car handbook or on the VIN plate of the vehicle, inside the drivers door.
Although there is no longer a licensing requirement to tow a trailer, companies and employers should consider their responsibilities with HSE with regards to their employees towing or hitching a trailer without any recorded official training.
Some training companies can still offer courses to ensure you will be safe to tow. These are especially popular with those towing horse trailers or caravans or towing commercially. Contact your local provider for details.
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