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Guidance: Tow a trailer or caravan with a car: safety checks

Driver Vehicle Standards Agency

April 22
13:17 2024

The rules on what you can tow are different depending on when you passed your driving test.

You can get training on how to tow a trailer safely, including caravans or horse boxes.

Check what you can tow and find training providers.

Checks before you tow

Carry out the basic safety checks shown in this video to make sure that your vehicle and trailer are safe and legal.

Towing a trailer with a car: basic safety checks

You can be fined up to 2,500, be banned from driving, and get 3 penalty points for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

Tow ball and connections

Check that:

  • the trailer is correctly coupled to the towball or pin - follow the manufacturers advice
  • the coupling height is correct
  • the 7 or 13 core cable and plug is not damaged

Breakaway cable

Use a breakaway cable or secondary coupling. This engages the trailers brakes (if fitted) or stops the trailer if it becomes detached from the car.

Check that:

  • the cable is not worn or damaged
  • theres enough slack in the cable so that it does not accidentally apply the brakes
  • the cable will not drag on the ground when youre driving

Follow the manufacturers advice to make sure its connected correctly.

Wheels and tyres

Check that the tyres on both the car and trailer:

  • do not have any cuts or bulges
  • are inflated to the manufacturers specification for the load being carried

Check that each tyre has a tread depth of at least 1.6mm:

  • across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread
  • around the entire circumference of the tyre

Check that the wheel nuts and bolts are tightened to the correct torque.

Check that mudguards are fitted to the trailer and theyre secure.

Lights and indicators

Check that theres no damage to the lights, and that theyre all working correctly.

Load and weight limit

Check that:

  • the trailer is not overloaded
  • the load is distributed evenly
  • the load is secure

Find your cars weight limit

The vehicle manufacturers plate gives information about weight limits for your car. Check the cars handbook if a plate is not fitted.

Vehicle plate

An example of a vehicle manufacturers plate.

Weight Description
Weight 1 Maximum weight of the car on its own
Weight 2 Maximum weight of the car and trailer combined
Weight 3 Maximum weight for the front axle of the car
Weight 4 Maximum weight for the rear axle of the car

The maximum weight includes passengers, other loads, and fuel.

Trailer with no braking system

The loaded trailer:

  • must not weigh over 750kg
  • should not weigh more than 50% of your cars weight

Trailer with braking system

The car and loaded trailer must not weigh over the second weight shown on the car manufacturers plates.

When youre driving

You must not drive faster than the speed limit for the type of road youre on.

If the trailer starts to snake or swerve, ease off the accelerator and reduce your speed gently. Its a sign that either:

  • youre going too fast
  • the trailer is loaded incorrectly

Do not brake harshly on a bend, as it makes the trailer unstable. Reduce your speed in plenty of time when approaching any hazard.

Motorways

You must not drive in the right-hand lane of a motorway with 3 or more lanes.

Get a free safety check

You can get a free safety check for a trailer up to 3,500kg through the National Trailer and Towing Associations (NTTA) free safety checks scheme.

The check will highlight issues that you need to address.

Find a free trailer safety check provider on the NTTA directory.

More information

For more information you can:

Published 26 November 2016
Last updated 22 April 2024 +show all updates
  1. Added a link to find trailer training providers.

  2. Updated the video on how to carry out basic safety checks.

  3. Added information about getting a free trailer safety check through the National Trailer and Towing Association's free safety check scheme.

  4. First published.

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