The rules on what you can tow are different depending on when you passed your car driving test. The rules will change later in 2021. The new rules will still depend on when you originally passed your car driving test.There are different rules for towing if you live in Northern Ireland. Licences issued before 1 January 1997 you will not be affected by the changes. 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 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 can currently drive either of the following: a car or van up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (up to 4,250kg in total)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 can currently drive either of the following: a car or van up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (up to 4,250kg in total)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 will change later in 2021
If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you’ll be allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM when the law changes. DVLA will update your driving licence record to show that you’re allowed to tow trailers. You’ll get category BE added to your driving licence when you get a new photocard driving licence. You do not need to contact DVLA for this to happen. It will be done automatically.The date the law will change has not yet been confirmed. Sign up for email alerts to be told when the law changes. Car and trailer driving tests are stopping from 20 September 2021. You can no longer book or take a car and trailer driving test from 20 September 2021. However, the law will not change until later in 2021.
What you can do until the law changes
Until the law changes later in autumn 2021, you must continue to follow the current rules about what you’re allowed to tow based on when you passed your car driving test. You can be fined up to £1,000, be banned from driving and get up to 6 penalty points on your driving licence if you tow anything heavier before the law changes. You’re only allowed to tow anything heavier if you’re being supervised. When you’re being supervised, you must:display L plates to the front of the car and the rear of the trailer be accompanied by a person who’s at least 21 years old and has had category BE on their driving licence for at least 3 years. 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.
The ‘National standard for driving cars and light vans’ tells you about the skills, knowledge and understanding you need to tow a trailer or caravan. You can also read about why learning to tow is important,safety checks you should do when you’re towing a trailer or caravan with a car.
