The rules surrounding towing a caravan can be quite daunting to the novice touring caravanner, but it’s vital to understand who can and cannot tow a caravan, and what caravans you can tow. In this guide, we’ll look at licences, insurance and the equipment you need to tow safely.
What licence do you need to tow a caravan?
Lots of factors contribute to what licence you need for towing a caravan and what weight of caravan you can tow. These include when you passed your driving test, as well as the total weight of your caravan plus towing vehicle. The law surrounding this changed in December 2021 and was focused around the MAM or maximum authorised mass of the vehicle and trailer. If you are in any doubt, we would always recommend the Government guidelines for towing.
Towing capacity
When calculating how much weight your car can tow refer to your vehicle handbook, where you will find the maximum recommended weight for a fully loaded cat + fully loaded caravan. For more details about towing capacity and your vehicle’s kerbweight, read How to work out caravan towing weight.
The law and caravan insurance
The law does not require you to insure a towed caravan as it considers your vehicle insurance sufficient for third party liability. However, consider the cost of replacing your caravan and its contents and you may want to take out separate insurance. Whichever you choose to do, informing your insurance company is always advised so that they can make any necessary amendments; failure to do so could also invalidate your existing insurance.
Having established that you hold the correct licence and insurance for towing (read our guide to insurance for towing caravans), and that your vehicle and caravan are within acceptable weight limits, what else do you need to know before towing a caravan?
Speed limits when towing a caravan
It is important to understand that speed limits that apply to vehicles towing a caravan are not the same as the speed limits for cars not towing a caravan. Add into the mix that it also depends on the roads you are using and you can see why you must know the speed limits in force. Generally on motorways, you are restricted to 60mph and you must not drive in the outside lane of a three-lane or more motorway. Similarly, you must drive no faster than 60mph on a dual carriageway and on a single carriageway, the limit is 50mph. Our guide to speed limits for a vehicle towing a caravan has lots oaf additional information and advice.
Equipment for towing a caravan
Mirrors for towing a caravan – this is something you must get right! Mirrors must be in place that allow you to see 20 metres behind the caravan and 4 metres either side of it, so extra towing mirrors will be necessary if your caravan is wider than your towing vehicle. Failure to comply is a criminal offence which can incur penalty points on your licence, prosecution and fines.
Towing stabilisers – these can help to provide stability against snaking and pitching that is beyond the driver’s control such as that caused by hitting a pothole. They do not make up for poor loading or driving or for unequally matched cars and caravans, but towing stabilisers could prevent an accident.
Security equipment – in addition to insurance, there are measures that you can put in place to secure your caravan against theft. Our guide to caravan security looks at methods for securing wheels with wheel clamps and hitch locks to prevent the caravan being towed away, as well as caravan security posts.
Towing equipment and accessories from BEC Ingoldmells
We stock a large supply of towing equipment and accessories available online or in-store, as well as everything you need for siting and levelling your caravan once you arrive at your destination.
For all other static or touring caravan enquiries, please drop us an email to sales@becingoldmells.co.uk and our friendly team will do their best to help.
