![What Can I Tow with My Licence? VOSA Trailer Towing Laws UK [2026]](https://d2xsxph8kpxj0f.cloudfront.net/310519663382350818/AfEWB55G85nx2YWKzrhkdE/towing-blog-hero-v2_69a6306d.jpg)
Towing rules in the UK can seem complicated, but the basics are straightforward once you know your licence entitlement and your vehicle’s weight limits. The most important factors are when you got your car licence, the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of the vehicle and trailer, and your vehicle’s manufacturer towing limit. The rules are enforced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which took over from VOSA in 2014.
At GS Driver Training, we help drivers understand the rules clearly and tow with confidence. For a quick answer, use our interactive What Can I Tow? calculator to check your likely entitlement, or try our Which Licence Do I Need? quiz if you are unsure which category covers your situation.
DVSA Trailer Towing Laws: What Changed and What Applies in 2026
VOSA (the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) was the government body responsible for enforcing vehicle safety and towing regulations in the UK until 2014, when it merged with the Driving Standards Agency to form the DVSA. Many drivers still search for “VOSA trailer towing laws” because the name stuck, but the rules are now set and enforced by the DVSA under the same legal framework.
The most significant recent change to UK towing law came on 16 December 2021, when the government removed the requirement for a separate car-and-trailer (Category BE) driving test. Before that date, drivers who passed their car test after 1 January 1997 needed to take an additional practical test to tow trailers heavier than 750 kg. Since December 2021, all drivers who pass a full car test automatically receive Category BE entitlement on their licence.
As of April 2026, no further changes have been made to the core towing rules. The weight limits, licence categories and safety requirements described in this guide reflect the current position as published on GOV.UK.
Can Anyone Pull a Trailer in the UK?
Not everyone is automatically entitled to tow every trailer. Your eligibility depends on when you passed your driving test and the weight of the vehicle and trailer combination you want to tow. All full UK driving licence holders can tow a trailer of some description, but the maximum weights vary significantly.
Drivers who passed their test before 1 January 1997 have broader towing rights under what are commonly called “grandfather rights”. Drivers who passed from 1 January 1997 onwards are subject to stricter weight limits unless they hold additional licence categories.
Do You Need a Licence to Tow a Trailer?
You need a full UK driving licence to tow any trailer on public roads. Provisional licence holders cannot tow. Beyond that, the specific licence category you need depends on the combined weight of your vehicle and trailer:
- Category B (car licence): Allows towing within the weight limits described below.
- Category BE: Now automatically included with all full car licences issued since December 2021. Older licence holders may already have it — check the back of your licence.
- Category C1+E: Required for medium goods vehicles (3,500–7,500 kg) towing trailers where the combination exceeds 7,500 kg, up to a maximum of 12,000 kg combined. See our C1 licence training or browse all courses.
- Category C+E: Required for heavy goods vehicles over 7,500 kg towing trailers over 750 kg. See our Class 1 HGV training.
Car Licence Dates and Towing Limits
GOV.UK bases the main car-towing rules on whether you got your licence before or from 1 January 1997:
If you got your car licence before 1 January 1997, you can usually drive a car and trailer combination up to 8,250 kg MAM. These are your grandfather rights, and they remain on your licence for life provided you renew it.
If you got your licence from 1 January 1997 onwards, you can tow a trailer up to 3,500 kg MAM with a suitable Category B vehicle, and the combined MAM of vehicle and trailer must not exceed 7,000 kg.
There is also a further distinction for drivers who hold Category BE. If your BE entitlement was added to your licence before 19 January 2013, you can tow any size trailer within your vehicle’s towing capacity (no 3,500 kg trailer cap). If your BE was added on or after 19 January 2013, the trailer is limited to 3,500 kg MAM.
| Licence Date | What You Can Usually Tow |
|---|---|
| Before 1 January 1997 | Vehicle + trailer combination up to 8,250 kg MAM (grandfather rights) |
| From 1 January 1997 onwards | Trailer up to 3,500 kg MAM, combined up to 7,000 kg MAM |
| BE added before 19 January 2013 | Any trailer within vehicle’s towing capacity (no trailer weight cap) |
| BE added from 19 January 2013 | Trailer up to 3,500 kg MAM |
If your towing plans go beyond those limits, you may need a higher licence category such as C1+E or C+E, depending on the type of vehicle and trailer involved. GOV.UK lists C1+E as allowing a combined MAM up to 12,000 kg, while C+E covers larger goods vehicles with heavier trailers.
Key Weight Definitions
MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) is the maximum weight a vehicle or trailer is allowed to weigh when fully loaded. GOV.UK says this is normally shown in the owner’s manual and on a plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle or trailer. You may also see it called “gross vehicle weight” (GVW) or “maximum technically permissible laden mass” (MTPLM) — they mean the same thing in practice.
Gross Train Weight (GTW) is the maximum permitted combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer together. This figure is important because even if your licence allows towing, you still must stay within your vehicle’s design limits.
Kerb weight is the empty weight of the towing vehicle (with a full tank of fuel but no passengers or cargo). It is often used in safety guidance and towing advice, but your legal position should always be checked against the plated weights, handbook figures and licence entitlement.
Noseweight is the downward force the trailer coupling exerts on the tow ball. Most vehicle manufacturers specify a maximum noseweight (typically 50–100 kg). Exceeding it can affect steering and braking. Too little noseweight can cause the trailer to snake at speed.
How to Find Your Towing Weights
To tow legally, you need to check four sources:
- The towing vehicle’s plate or sticker — usually found on the door frame or under the bonnet. This shows the vehicle’s MAM and gross train weight.
- The vehicle owner’s handbook — lists the manufacturer’s maximum towing capacity and noseweight limit.
- The trailer’s plate or sticker — shows the trailer’s MAM. For caravans, this is the MTPLM.
- Your V5C logbook — shows the vehicle’s revenue weight (MAM). Note that not all trailers have a V5C, and the V5C applies to the towing vehicle, not the trailer.
A practical rule is that your trailer must not exceed the lowest of: the limit allowed by your licence, the limit shown on the vehicle’s plate, the limit shown on the trailer’s plate, and the vehicle manufacturer’s maximum towing capacity.
Towing a Trailer with a Van
Vans follow the same towing rules as cars, but there are extra considerations because many vans are heavier. A large panel van (such as a Ford Transit or Mercedes Sprinter) can have a MAM of 3,500 kg on its own, which means the combined weight with a trailer can quickly approach or exceed 7,000 kg.
If you hold a post-1997 car licence and want to tow with a van, the same limits apply: trailer up to 3,500 kg MAM, combined up to 7,000 kg. However, if your van’s MAM is 3,500 kg and the trailer’s MAM is also 3,500 kg, you are right at the 7,000 kg combined limit — which is allowed, but leaves no margin.
Some larger vans (such as the Iveco Daily) have a MAM above 3,500 kg, which means they fall into Category C1 territory and you would need a C1 licence to drive them, regardless of towing. Always check the VIN plate on the van to confirm its MAM before towing.
Do You Need a Licence to Tow a Caravan?
Towing a caravan follows the same legal rules as towing any other trailer. The key question is whether the combined MAM of your car and caravan stays within your licence limits. Most modern touring caravans have a MAM (MTPLM) between 1,000 kg and 1,800 kg, so they are well within the 3,500 kg trailer limit for post-1997 licence holders.
However, you should also consider the 85% guideline. The Caravan and Motorhome Club recommends that your caravan’s laden weight should not exceed 85% of your car’s kerb weight for safe, stable towing. This is a safety recommendation, not a legal requirement. Experienced towers may tow up to 100% of kerb weight, but beginners should stay within the 85% guideline.
For twin-axle caravans or large American-style RVs, the MAM can exceed 2,000 kg. In these cases, check that your car’s gross train weight can handle the combination, and ensure your licence covers it.
Trailer Registration Plates and Legal Requirements
Every trailer towed on UK roads must display a registration plate showing the towing vehicle’s registration number. The plate must comply with BS AU 145e standards (the same format as car number plates). You need to change the plate each time you tow with a different vehicle.
Trailers used only within the UK do not need to be separately registered with the DVLA. However, if you plan to tow your trailer abroad (outside the UK and Ireland), trailers over 750 kg must be registered with the DVLA and will receive their own unique registration number.
In addition to registration plates, trailers must have:
- Rear lights, brake lights and indicators that work correctly and are visible. These must be connected to the towing vehicle’s electrical system.
- A rear reflector on each side (red triangular reflectors for trailers).
- A rear fog light if the trailer obscures the towing vehicle’s fog light.
- A breakaway cable — legally required for all trailers with a MAM between 750 kg and 3,500 kg. The cable must be attached to the towing vehicle (not looped around the tow ball) so that if the trailer becomes detached, the brakes are applied automatically.
- Towing mirrors — required if the trailer is wider than the rear of the towing vehicle. You must be able to see at least 4 metres either side of the trailer. Mirror extensions must be E-marked if your car was registered after 26 January 2010.
Towing Speed Limits, Width and Length Restrictions
When towing a trailer, you are subject to lower speed limits than normal traffic:
| Road Type | Speed Limit When Towing |
|---|---|
| Built-up areas (30 mph zones) | 30 mph (same as normal) |
| Single carriageways | 50 mph |
| Dual carriageways | 60 mph |
| Motorways | 60 mph |
On a motorway with three or more lanes, you must not use the right-hand lane (the outside lane) while towing a trailer, unless directed to do so by signs or road works.
Trailers also have maximum dimensions:
- Maximum width: 2.55 metres (for any trailer)
- Maximum length: 7 metres for trailers towed by vehicles up to 3,500 kg MAM
- Maximum overall length (vehicle + trailer): 18.75 metres for an articulated vehicle, or the vehicle’s own limits
Do I Need a CPC to Tow a Trailer?
A Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) is generally not required for towing a trailer with a car or van for personal use. CPC applies to professional drivers of lorries (Category C) and buses (Category D) who drive for a living.
However, if you are towing a trailer commercially as part of your job, and the combined weight of your vehicle and trailer exceeds 3,500 kg, you may need to hold the appropriate licence category (C1+E or C+E) and a valid Driver CPC. This applies to drivers of goods vehicles, not to private individuals towing their own caravan or horse trailer. For more information on CPC, see our Driver CPC periodic training page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum weight I can tow on a car licence?
If you passed your car test from 1 January 1997 onwards, you can tow a trailer up to 3,500 kg MAM, with a combined vehicle and trailer weight of up to 7,000 kg. If you passed before that date, you can tow up to 8,250 kg combined.
Do I need a separate test to tow a trailer in 2026?
No. The separate car-and-trailer (Category BE) test was removed on 16 December 2021. All drivers who pass a full car test now automatically receive BE entitlement.
Can I tow a trailer with a van?
Yes, provided the van’s MAM is within your licence category and the combined weight of the van and trailer stays within your limits. Check the van’s VIN plate for its MAM and towing capacity.
What happens if I am caught towing overweight?
The DVSA can issue a £100 fixed penalty for being up to 10% overweight. For 30% or more overweight, you face a court summons, fines up to £5,000, and 3–9 penalty points. Your vehicle may be immobilised and your insurance invalidated.
Do I need a breakaway cable?
Yes. A breakaway cable is a legal requirement for all trailers with a MAM between 750 kg and 3,500 kg. It must be attached to the towing vehicle’s chassis, not the tow ball.
What speed can I drive when towing?
50 mph on single carriageways, 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways. You must not use the right-hand lane on a motorway with three or more lanes.
Is the 85% rule a legal requirement?
No. The 85% rule is a safety guideline recommended by the Caravan and Motorhome Club. The legal limits are set by your licence category and the vehicle’s plated weights.
Do I need to register my trailer?
Not if you only use it in the UK. Trailers over 750 kg must be registered with the DVLA if you plan to tow them abroad (outside the UK and Ireland).
Summary
In most cases, the rule is simple:
- Before 1 January 1997: usually up to 8,250 kg combined MAM
- From 1 January 1997 onwards: trailer up to 3,500 kg MAM, combined up to 7,000 kg
- BE before 19 January 2013: any trailer within vehicle limits
If you want to tow beyond those limits, you may need a higher entitlement such as C1+E or C+E. Not sure which licence you need? Try our Which Licence Do I Need? quiz, or contact us for personalised advice.
Need Help or Towing Instruction?
GS Driver Training offers towing familiarisation, reversing practice, safety guidance and practical instruction for drivers who want to tow with confidence and stay within the rules. If you are unsure what your licence allows, we can help you understand the limits before you tow.
Call us on 01252 447808, contact us online, or browse our training courses to discuss your towing training needs.
Also read: