Towing And The Law

The information contained on this page applies to recreational towing only. If you are driving a vehicle and trailer combination over 3500kg Maximum Authorised Mass, for any financial reward, you must use a Tachograph and obtain an Operater's Licence, although there are exceptions to this. You must also ensure your driving licence covers you up to the maximum permissible mass of your vehicle and trailer combination.

Who can tow what?

The first thing we need to establish is what your driving licence entitles you to tow. If you passed your driving test before Jan 1st 1997 you will have the following entitlements.

Category B	Motor Vehicle up to MAM (Gross Vehicle Weight) of 3500kg with up to 8 passenger seats plus a trailer up to MAM of 750kg. Or a car plus a trailer over MAM of 750kg in combination up to a combined MAM (Gross Train Weight) of 3500kg. The mass (weight) of the trailer and its load must not exceed the unladen mass (Kerbside Weight) of the towing vehicle
Category B+E	Motor Vehicle up to MAM (Gross Vehicle Weight) of 3500kg with up to 8 passenger seats plus a trailer up to the combined MAM (Gross Train Weight) on the vehicles' VIN plate
Category C1	Medium Goods Vehicle up to MAM (Gross Vehicle Weight) of 7500kg plus a trailer up to MAM of 750kg
Category C1+E	Medium Goods Vehicle plus trailer over MAM of 750kg up to a combined MAM (Gross Train Weight) of 8250kg
Category D1	Passenger Carrying Vehicle with between 8 and 16 passenger seats plus a trailer up to MAM 750kg
Category D1+E	Passenger Carrying Vehicle with between 8 and 16 passenger seats plus a trailer over MAM 750kg up to a combined MAM (Gross Train Weight) of 12000kg

Note: If you now renew your licence (Photocard licences are renewed every 10 years up to your 70th birthday, unless you hold an LGV licence) you will lose your D1 & D1+E entitlements, unless you meet higher medical test standards. You will then be able to drive a minibus without a trailer for the next 3 years

If you passed your test after Jan 1st 1997, you will only have Category B entitlement. Several courses are then open for upgrades.

• You can take a separate practical test for B+E entitlement, currently £89 (£107 for a weekday evening or weekend test)
• Or to obtain C1+E & B+E entitlement take an additional C1 theory test and, having passed this, an additional C1 practical test and then C1+E practical test £210 (Upgrades combined MAM to 12000kg when your over 21)
• Or to obtain D1+E & B+E entitlement take an additional D1 theory test and, having passed this, an additional D1 practical test and then D1+E practical test £210
• To obtain both C1+E and D1+E take the C1+E course plus D1 tests £331

Types of Trailer

There are 4 basic types of trailer categorised by MAM (laden weight);

• Category O1 - Trailers up to MAM of 775kg with one axle
• Category O2 - Trailers up to MAM of 3750kg not in category 01
• Category O3 - Trailers up to MAM of 10000kg not in category 02
• Category O4 - Trailers over MAM of 10000kg

All trailers over MAM 750kg up to MAM 3500kg must have overrun type brakes. All trailers over MAM 3500kg must have coupled brakes. You cannot tow an unbraked trailer with a laden weight over 50% of towing vehicles' unladen mass (kerbside weight) or 750kg which ever is lower. Trailers up to MAM 1500kg must have a secondary coupling to the towing vehicle, capable of retaining the trailer. Trailers over MAM 1500kg must have a means of applying the trailer's brakes if it becomes separated.

The towing vehicle also affects the weight of trailer you can tow. The vehicles' VIN plate will show 4 important figures related to towing capacity.

• Front Axle MAM
• Rear Axle MAM
• Vehicle MAM (Gross Vehicle Weight)
• Combination MAM (Gross Train Weight)

You cannot exceed any of these figures. Quite often the 2 axle weights added together will exceed the vehicle MAM (Gross Vehicle Weight) but the lower figure must be applied. Equally the combination MAM will probably be much less than the Vehicle MAM plus a 3500kg trailer, again the lower figure must be applied.

The MAM (Gross Vehicle Weight) of the towing vehicle also dictates the size of the trailer you can tow.

• Vehicles up to MAM of 3500kg can tow a trailer upto 2.3m wide and 7m long (excluding the drawbar). The combined length must not exceed 18.75m
• Vehicles over MAM of 3500kg can tow a trailer upto 2.55m wide and 12m long (excluding the drawbar). The combined length must not exceed 18m