Are Passengers Allowed To Ride In A Caravan Being Towed?

This is just one of the questions often asked around the legalities of towing. In this edition of our blog we will offer you an answer to it, and to other questions around the rules, regulations and laws regarding towing a caravan.

How Much Weight Can I Tow?

Licence

A standard UK driving licence entitles you to tow – but the weight you can tow depends on when you passed your driving test. If this was before 1st January 1997, you are licenced to tow a caravan if the combined weight of the towing vehicle and caravan is under 8250kg MAM (maximum authorised mass). After 1st January 1997, and you are entitled to tow a caravan with a combined weight of under 3500kg MAM.

Weight

As a consequence of the licencing conditions described above, you’ll need to know your towing car’s maximum capacity and your caravan’s MAM. To find the car’s towing capacity, refer to the manual or locate the VIN plate on the vehicle itself. Subtract the towing car’s MAM from the gross train weight. This will tell you the maximum weight that your car can tow, and your caravan must not exceed this. The general rule of thumb is to aim for the caravan to be no more than 85% of the weight of the car.

Do I Need An MOT, Road Tax And Insurance For My Caravan?

Neither an MOT, insurance or the payment of road tax is necessary when you own and tow a caravan.

However, the caravan should be safe to tow at all times. This is entirely the owner’s responsibility. Therefore, regular checks and maintenance are essential (covering things like tyre pressure and condition, correct functioning of brake lights, indicators and safety lights).

A caravan is not bound by road tax obligation like a car is. If your caravan weighs below 3,500kg you do not have to pay road tax. If you are towing a caravan above this limit you will be subject to certain road tax rules (depending on the size of it). You should be able to find out this information from your caravan dealership at the point of purchase, or you can research it at gov.uk.

For insurance purposes, it is not necessary to have any extra cover to be legally allowed on the road. As long as your car insurance is fully comp (i.e. a fully comprehensive policy) this will be enough to allow you to legally tow a caravan. However, if your car insurance is third party only, it would be wise to invest in some additional cover.

What Kit Do I Need To Tow A Caravan?

Every caravan made after 1982 has to be fitted with a breakaway cable. This is a safety feature which will engage the caravan’s brakes if, for some reason, it becomes detached from your car while you are on the move. Your caravan must also have a rear number plate, illuminated, which displays the registration of the car which is towing it. It’s also a requirement for the driver of the towing car to be able to see four metres either side of it, with no blind spots. This means towing mirrors or mirror extensions are necessary. Caravans must also have fully functioning sidelights, brake lights, and flashing indicators as well as two red triangle reflectors.

Is There A Speed Limit When I’m Towing?

It is a legal requirement to stick to the speed limit when you are towing a caravan along normal roads. This means no more than 30mph in a 30mph zone, etc. For roads with national speed limits, you must drive at 10mph below the limit. This means that on single carriageways with a 60mph speed limit you must drive at 50mph, and so on – i.e. 60mph on dual carriageways and 60mph on motorways.

Can I Tow A Caravan In The Outside Lane Of A Motorway?

A very short answer, here. You cannot drive in the motorway’s outside lane when you are towing a caravan.

Am I Allowed To Have Passengers In My Caravan When It’s Being Towed?

Absolutely not. It is illegal to have allow passengers to remain in a caravan while it is being towed. Their presence is a safety issue as they will affect the weight distribution, making driving extremely difficult. Additionally, caravans are not built to cope with serious hard and fast impact – so it’s incredibly dangerous to allow passengers to remain onboard, as well as illegal. Interestingly, it is not illegal for your dog to ride in the caravan while you are towing – though we would always advise against this.

At Spinney we stock a massive range of caravans for sale, which we are proud to know will supply families with many happy memories – all within the correct legal parameters of driving, of course. You can see what we have to offer by browsing our website, including incredible vehicles from top brands such as Swift,Coachman and Bailey caravans. Once you’ve spotted something you think is just the ticket for you and your family, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us – we’re more than happy to offer more information, as well as talk you through some of the points we have raised in this blog. Happy – safe and legal – caravanning!