What can I tow with my license?

Here at Towmate Trailers, we want to ensure that you have all the information you need about towing laws in order to tow safely. The rules on what you can tow have changed recently. Before, the date that you passed your car driving test would dictate what you could and couldn’t tow. However, the Government made changes to these rules in order to help tackle the shortage of lorry drivers, which came into effect at the end of 2021. In this blog, we aim to explain what these changes were, and how they now affect what you can tow.

What could I tow before December 2021?

If you gained your license after 1/1/1997:
You could tow a trailer that had a maximum weight of 750kg when it’s loaded. However, the total load of the car and the towing vehicle could be no more than 3,500kg when fully loaded. The vehicle you used to tow the trailer could be a van or a car.

If you gained your license before 1/1/1997:
The total load of the car and the towing vehicle could be no more than 8,250kg when fully loaded. If you passed your driving test (car) before this time, it would also allow you to drive a minibus with a maximum load of 750kg. The vehicle you used to tow the trailer could be a van or a car.

What changed with the towing laws?

If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997, you are now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM (maximum authorised mass). The DVLA updated your driving license record to show that you’re allowed to tow trailers and you will have the BE category added to your driving license when you get a new photocard driving license. This was done automatically so you didn’t need to contact the DVLA for this to happen.

If you want to start driving a car and trailer or caravan for the first time:

• It’s best to take training from a qualified driving instructor
• The “National standard for driving cards and light vans” tells you about the skills, knowledge and understanding you need to tow a trailer or caravan.

For more information or to visit the government website regarding these changes, click here.