Trailer towing legalities

[Pramsd]

Hi all,

Can anyone help me settle this. I can't get a good answer out of any official bodies.

My car can tow 660kg unbraked. I am looking to buy a trailer with a gross total weight of 750kg. I'll put my boat on it, and the whole thing, boat and trailer, will weigh 600kgs.

Can I tow that trailer with my car.

The licensing is irrelevant. I've done my trailer test. It all comes down to whether I can tow a trailer which technically could be loaded to a higher weight than my car can tow, though I won't be towing that weight.

[Gobuchul]

Yes you can tow that trailer.

You are well within legal limits.

They are much higher than the limits that are recommended by your manufacturer.

Licences issued from 1 January 1997
If you passed your car driving test on or after 1 January 1997 you can:

drive a car or van up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM
tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/what-you-can-tow

[Pramsd]

Thank you very much for the reply.

My question was more on the weight of the trailer in comparison to the towing weight of my car.

So the car can tow 660kg. The trailer and boat weighs 600kg. BUT the trailer has a plated max weight of 750kg.

In the view of the law - do they take the actual weight , or the plated weight.

[Limecc]

MTPLM subject of much debate on caravan forums.

Bottom line: You should be fine.

If you are caught in a DVLA check they weigh your axles and only the worst offenders are ever prosecuted. 50Kg or so will be going through the towball anyway.

They take the measured weight while attached to the car and compare to the plated weight of the car.

[surreycool]

Yes you can tow trailer and boat without any issues.

[John Kennett]

My understanding is that for licensing purposes it goes on MAM, but for everything else it's actual weight.

[HDAV]

Just buy a new plate that shows 660kg

[Andy_Rs600]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

My understanding is that for licensing purposes it goes on MAM, but for everything else it's actual weight.

This is my understanding as well. You need B+E if the MAM is over 750kg, but the weight you are interested in in relation to the limit in the tow vehicle handbook is the actual laden weight, not the MAM on the plate.

[beamishken]

This flowchart clarifies things

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by Andy_Rs600

This is my understanding as well. You need B+E if the MAM is over 750kg, but the weight you are interested in in relation to the limit in the tow vehicle handbook is the actual laden weight, not the MAM on the plate.

It's not that simple you can without B+E tow a combined MAM of 3500kg split between car and trailer so if car with MAM 2500kg you can tow a trailer MAM of 1000kg without B+E, if vehicle MAM is 3500kg you can still tow trailer 750kg (total 4250kg) without B+E but not car MAM 3000kg and trailer MAM 1250kg for example.

[Xk59D]

Every year this seems to do the rounds.

If you search the forum you will find more info.

Fwiw when I got a new trailer sbs and extreme said different things as regards to plated weights and the law. Rather than risk it I had my trailer plate rated down to suit car. There is also a letter knocking about on forum from someone at DVLA clarifying how it works, worth digging that out.

[surreycool]

This should explain it all

Licensed to Tow?

If you passed your car driving test before 1st January 1997 you would not need to take a B&E test.

If you passed your car driving test after 1st January 1997 read on because you may have to take a B&E test.

Who Does The Law Effect?

Drivers who have passed their test since 1st January 1997 will only have category B and not have category B&E on their licence. Without this category you will be restricted in the type of trailer you can tow. Category B&E allows you to tow trailers up to 3500kg provided that you do not exceed the towing vehicles towing limit (always refer to your vehicle handbook for its MAM and towing capacities before using it to tow a trailer).

Drivers with only category B on their licence can provisionally tow trailers up to 3500kg if accompanied by a driver who holds category B&E.

Licences issued from 19th January 2013

From 19th January 2013, drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow:

small trailers weighing no more than 750kg trailers weighing

trailers weighing more than 750kg, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer isn't more than 3,500kg

If you want to tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg, when the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer is more than 3,500kg, you'll have to pass a further test and get B+E entitlement on your licence.

What Is Maxiumum Authorized Mass (MAM)?

This is also known as Maximum Gross Weight (MGW) or Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). With trailers, the MAM represents the maximum combined unladen weight of the trailer and the permitted load it can carry. For example, if your trailer''s MAM is 3500kg and the trailer weighs 1000kg, then the maximum load permitted to be carried by the trailer is 2500kg. The maximum gross weight of the trailer should be displayed on the type plate.

The MAM of the vehicle refers to the combined vehicle curb weight (unladen weight) and load capacity.

The MAM of the trailer must not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combined MAM of the trailer and the vehicle must not exceed 3500kg if the MAM of the trailer is more than 750kg.
If the MAM of the trailer is 750kg or less the combined MAM of the trailer and the towing vehicle must not exceed 4250kg and the MAM of the towing vehicle should not exceed 3500kg.
For Example:

A vehicle with an unladen weight of 1250kg and a MAM of 2000kg, towing a trailer with a MAM of 1000kg could be driven by a category B licence holder. This is because the combined MAM of the vehicle and the trailer does not exceed 3500kg and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the vehicle.

However:

The same vehicle towing a trailer with a MAM of 1400kg could not be driven by a category B licence holder because although the combined MAM does not exceed 3500kg, the MAM of the trailer exceeds the unladen weight of the vehicle.

[beamishken]

This is a letter which clarifies the position with plated weights it states it is the actual weight and not the plated weight that is relevant

[MCL]

Interesting I always thought that it was plated weights that matter. Which I always thought was rather stupid. But clearly the above statement shows otherwise. If you got to 660kg you would need the trailer to be braked for that tow car.

[breezeblock]

worry about it when you get stopped by plod

[Limecc]

Originally Posted by breezeblock

worry about it when you get stopped by plod

Lol I like your style but others of us can't work like that.

[69cmw]

Originally Posted by breezeblock

worry about it when you get stopped by plod

[emoji23][emoji106]

[paintman]

That's why I weighed mine at the local council recyling site - aka local tip - and I carry the signed printout in the car.
IIRC cost me about £5.

[breezeblock]

Originally Posted by Limecc

Lol I like your style but others of us can't work like that.

do you ever speed?

[gpsguru]

Originally Posted by breezeblock

worry about it when you get stopped by plod

up until the last 5 years the plod would not have had a clue ............ however, Mr modern plod is quite well clued up on trailers as they have had quite a lot of training, and if they are not sure they will call the local DSVA mobile enforcement officer (used to be VOSA) to come and give the definitive answer !

A couple of close friends are plods and I was mega surprised at their trailer laws knowledge.

Around here you will get stopped and ticketed for no propbag or incorrect light bar ............ !