Caravan Licences: What You Actually Need

 

If you’re new to the world of caravans, understanding what licence you need can feel confusing. With law changes, licence requirements, and MAM’s it can be a lot to get your head around!

Follow our guide below for a quick overview of everything you need to know. 

Can I Tow a Caravan On My Driving License?

Yes you can – in most cases.

If you have a standard UK Category B licence, you are allowed to tow heavier caravans than you could in the past. You no longer need to take a separate B+E test just to tow a larger caravan.

So what really matters is:

  • Your car’s maximum towing capacity
  • Your car’s and caravan’s maximum weight together

 

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What About The Old 750 kg Rule?

You’ll still see mentioned a lot that you can only tow a caravan up to 750 kg with a Category B licence. This is still true, but it’s no longer the main limit for most drivers. 

What License Do I Need To Tow a Caravan?

If you passed your test after 1 January 1997: 

You can tow caravans up to 3.5 tonnes on your driving licence, as long as your car is able to handle it. Your driving licence record will have been updated automatically once this change came into place, so you don’t need to do anything.

 

If you passed your driving test before 1st January 1997:

You were already allowed to drive a car and caravan combination up to a total weight of 8.25 tonnes. This hasn’t changed, so you can continue to do this.

 

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Do I Need Towing Training? 

Whilst you no longer need to pass a specific B+E licence test to tow, it’s generally a good idea to get some training before hitting the road. The DVSA strongly recommends that new towers take a course to give you some hands-on experience. 

Towing significantly changes how your car handles, from braking distances, to reversing. A little practice can go a long way and prevent any unwanted mishaps!

 

As a recap…

  • If you have a standard UK driving licence, you no longer need to take a separate B+E test to tow a larger caravan.
  • If you passed your test after 1 January 1997 you can tow caravans up to 3.5 tonnes
  • If you passed your driving test before 1st January 1997 you were already allowed to drive a car and caravan combination up to a total weight of 8.25 tonnes – this hasn’t changed.
  • The DVSA recommends that new towers take a course to give you some hands-on experience before hitting the road.

If you are visiting us, our staff will be more than happy to help you and answer any questions you may have.

 

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