Towing - additional test?

hjb123

Was just wondering if anyone can tow a caravan or small trailer or when the trailer test is needed. I passed my driving test in 1998 so thought that I would have to take an additional test before I could tow a caravan/trailer, however someone said that I would be able to but only upto a certain weight?

Did a google search but couldnt really find a plain answer?

AdrianHi

Read page 22 on the right side of the page under "Legal Matters" where there is what looks to be a straight answer to your question.

AdrianHi

Ooops, forgot to post the link to the document I was referring to:
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/6797E246-1576-4EA5-99CB-0633D535831C/0/GettingStarted.pdf

hewhoisnotintheknow

to tow a caravan yes you will

scbk

Depends on the GVW of caravan and GVW of the towing vehicle
You can tow a trailer up to 750 OR have a GTW of up to 3500 on a standard car licence

bunking_off

As others have said it's down to the weight of towed/towing vehicle. DVLA provides the definitive.

Pity you didn't pass prior to 1997...lot easier then...

arunadasi

Thought I'd post here rather than start a new thread.
I have a large trailer, about 2 m. long, which I brought from Germany a couple years ago. It's kept in a garage now and hasn't been used for ages.
I was told that I need a special licence to tow it in the UK; I didn't in Germany. Is this true, and do I need to take a test? It has German licence plates and German insurance.
I got my licence in 1983, in Germany.

bunking_off

Not sure that length is an issue (fnarr, fnarr)... well there are maximum lengths, but 2m for a trailer is nothing really - there's plenty caravans about that are 20-odd feet long.

It'll all come down to the weight of the laden trailer (less or more than 750kg) and the particulars of your license in terms of when it was issued (see my link above). As yours was issued in Germany, I don't know if the B/C/E/E1 etc notation is valid...you'd probably need to call the DVLA to seek advice.

In terms of the trailer itself, if it was legal in Germany it's highly likely to be legal in the UK, as the provisions are set at a European level. The basics are that if >750kg laden it needs to be braked (typically using an over-run system), regardless of weight if it has brakes they need to be operational, there needs to be a system so that it can be reversed without manual intervention and - I think - a breakaway cable that pulls the brakes on should it come loose from the towing vehicle.

In the UK trailers aren't separately licensed, so you need a set of plates matching the towing car on the back, together with red triangles etc. Generally, your car insurance covers the trailer 3rd party...not sure what the situation is in insuring fully comp.

hewhoisnotintheknow

1983 i would of thought you wont need to do an additional test, its only the youngens who need too

Ring the dvla they were helpful for me

mikey72

arunadasi wrote: »

Thought I'd post here rather than start a new thread.
I have a large trailer, about 2 m. long, which I brought from Germany a couple years ago. It's kept in a garage now and hasn't been used for ages.
I was told that I need a special licence to tow it in the UK; I didn't in Germany. Is this true, and do I need to take a test? It has German licence plates and German insurance.
I got my licence in 1983, in Germany.

The trailer should have the licence plate of the towcar, and be covered by the car's insurance. Maximum width is 2.3m.
If you don't have a UK licence I have no idea what your german licence will cover in the UK.
If you have a UK licence the categories will be on it.

arunadasi

mikey72 wrote: »

The trailer should have the licence plate of the towcar, and be covered by the car's insurance. Maximum width is 2.3m.
If you don't have a UK licence I have no idea what your german licence will cover in the UK.
If you have a UK licence the categories will be on it.

Thanks everyone!
I think I will really have to call DVLA on this, as it's a complete mix-up. In Germany, a trailer has its own licence plate and its own insurance, and you can use it with any car. I have both a German and a UK licence; my car has a UK licence.
I haven't used it for years but we are moving hosue soon so I will need it.