Trailer Law
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales.
Licences issued before 1 January 1997
You are not affected by the changes if you passed your car driving test before 1 January 1997.
You’re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). View your driving licence information to check.
You’re also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.
MAM is the limit on how much the vehicle can weigh when it’s loaded.
Licences issued from 1 January 1997 to 18 January 2013
If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997 to 18 January 2013, you were allowed to drive either of the following:
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a car or van up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (up to 4,250kg in total)
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a trailer over 750kg MAM, as long as it is no more than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (up to 3,500kg in total)
You’ve had to pass a car and trailer driving test if you want to tow anything heavier.
Licences issued from 19 January 2013
If you passed your car driving test from 19 January 2013, you were allowed to drive either of the following:
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a car or van up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (up to 4,250kg in total)
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a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg
You’ve had to pass a car and trailer driving test if you want to tow anything heavier.
What changed on 16 December 2021
If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you’re now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM.
Driving a car and trailer for the first time
It’s best to take training from a driving instructor if you want to start driving a car and trailer.
Towing weight
Most cars have a maximum weight they can tow. It’s usually listed in the handbook or specification sheet.
Alternatively the vehicle’s ‘gross train weight’ may be listed on the vehicle identification number (VIN) plate on the car. This is normally under the bonnet or inside the driver’s door.
The gross train weight is the weight of the fully-loaded car plus fully-loaded trailer and must not be exceeded.
Maximum width
The maximum trailer width for any towing vehicle is 2.55 metres.
Maximum length
If your vehicle’s maximum authorised mass (MAM) is 3,500kg or less, you cannot tow a trailer that’s longer than 7 metres.
If your vehicle’s MAM is more than 3,500kg then the maximum lengths are:
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12 metres for the trailer towed by the vehicle
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18 metres for the vehicle and trailer combined
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3.05 metres for how far the load can overhang the back of the trailer (whatever the length of the trailer is)
Maximum lengths do not include the A-frame (the frame that connects your car to the trailer).
Trailer brakes
Your trailer must have a working brake system if it weighs over 750kg when it’s loaded.
Some smaller trailers also have brakes, but these are optional.
Any brakes must be in good working order.
You must use a breakaway cable or secondary coupling in case the trailer becomes detached from your car.