Towing Rules UK: The Complete Guide for Caravan Owners
In the UK, you can legally tow a caravan up to your car's maximum braked towing capacity. The widely recommended 85% rule says your caravan's MTPLM should not exceed 85% of your car's kerbweight for stable, safe towing. You must also stay within your car's Gross Train Weight (GTW).
Enter your reg to find your car's towing capacity, kerbweight and GTW in seconds.
Check towing capacity by regCheck whether a specific car and caravan are a sensible match using the 85% rule, tow limit and GTW.
Open towing calculatorSources and methodology
- Official data. Based on DVLA records, manufacturer specifications, and NCC guidelines
- Regulation reference. Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and EU Regulation 1230/2012
- Independent. RoamWorthy is not affiliated with any manufacturer or dealer
1. Quick answer: what do I need to check before towing?
Before towing a caravan in the UK, check four things: your driving licence covers the combined weight, your car is within its braked towing capacity and Gross Train Weight, your caravan stays at or below its plated MTPLM, and the 85% guideline is realistic for your experience. Confirm the latest licence and roadworthiness rules on GOV.UK before relying on them.
2. Driving licence: Category B, C1 and trailer rules
Most car drivers in the UK hold a Category B licence. Following recent rule changes, Category B now allows towing a trailer or caravan where the combined MAM of car and trailer is up to 3,500kg. Heavier combinations may need a C1 licence or B+E entitlement. Rules can differ in Northern Ireland, so always check current DVLA guidance on GOV.UK.
Quick licence check:
- Test passed before 1 January 1997: usually has C1 grandfather rights for heavier combinations
- Test passed on or after 1 January 1997: standard Category B covers most modern car-and-caravan setups
- Always confirm your exact entitlement on the GOV.UK driving licence checker
3. Car limits: towing capacity, kerbweight and Gross Train Weight
Every car has a maximum braked towing capacity set by the manufacturer. You must not exceed this. The kerbweight is your car's ready-to-drive weight (full fuel, no passengers), and it is the anchor for the 85% guideline. Gross Train Weight (GTW) is the maximum combined weight of car plus loaded caravan, and it can be the limiting factor even when towing capacity passes.
How to find your car limits:
- Check the VIN plate inside the driver's door frame
- Look in your car's owner's handbook
- Use our free reg checker for an instant lookup
4. Caravan limits: MTPLM, MIRO and payload
MTPLM is the maximum loaded weight of the caravan, set by the manufacturer and stamped on the VIN plate. MIRO is the unladen weight as it leaves the factory. Payload is what is left for water, gas, awning, bedding, clothes, food and accessories. Many caravans have a payload of just 150 to 200kg, so check before you buy.
Use our payload calculator to see how much usable payload a specific caravan really has.
5. The 85% towing rule: guidance, not law
The 85% rule is a safety guideline recommended by The Caravan and Motorhome Club, the NCC and most towing experts. It is not a legal limit. The legal limit is your car's braked towing capacity.
The formula:
Your car's kerbweight multiplied by 0.85 gives the recommended maximum caravan MTPLM.
Example: car kerbweight 1,600kg multiplied by 0.85 gives 1,360kg. Your caravan's MTPLM should ideally be 1,360kg or less.
Under 85%
Confident towing
85 to 100%
Legal but demands experience
Over 100%
Not recommended
6. Noseweight: why it matters for stability
Noseweight is the downward force the caravan applies to the towball. Aim for roughly 5 to 7% of your caravan's laden weight, and never exceed the lowest of: your car's towball limit, your towbar's rating, or your caravan's coupling head limit. Too little noseweight encourages snaking. Too much lifts the car's front wheels and reduces steering grip. Use our noseweight calculator to check your target range.
7. Actual loaded weight vs plated weight
Plated figures (MTPLM, GTW, MAM) are legal maximums set by the manufacturer. Actual weight is what the vehicle weighs on the day, fully loaded with people, fuel, water and kit. The legal test is the actual weight on a public weighbridge, not the plated figure. A caravan or motorhome can be perfectly legal on paper and still be overloaded once the family, water tank and awning are aboard.
Practical check:
- Weigh the loaded car at a public weighbridge before a long trip
- Then weigh the loaded caravan separately
- Add the two and compare against your car's GTW
8. Insurance, speed limits and mirrors
Insurance: tell your car insurer that you tow, and consider dedicated caravan insurance for theft, accidental damage and contents cover. Driving over a legal weight limit can void cover.
Speed limits when towing: 50mph on single carriageways, 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways. Caravans and trailers are not allowed in the outside lane of a motorway with three or more lanes. Confirm current limits on GOV.UK.
Mirrors: if your caravan is wider than the back of your tow car, the law requires extended towing mirrors that give a clear view down both sides. Towing without them when needed is an offence.
9. Common mistakes
- Using a generic kerbweight from the brochure instead of the variant's actual figure on the V5C.
- Forgetting that water, gas, awning and bedding all eat into payload.
- Treating the 85% rule as the only safety check and ignoring GTW.
- Loading heavy items high in the caravan instead of low and over the axle.
- Forgetting extension mirrors on a wider caravan.
- Assuming a partner can drive the outfit without checking their actual entitlement on GOV.UK.
10. Buyer checklist before you sign
Run the 85% check
Car kerbweight multiplied by 0.85 should be at or above caravan MTPLM
Check towing capacity
Caravan MTPLM at or below the car braked towing limit
Check GTW
Loaded car weight plus caravan MTPLM should not exceed car GTW
Check payload
MTPLM minus MIRO equals available payload (aim for 150kg or more)
Confirm licence entitlement
Use the GOV.UK licence checker, then read the C1 vs Category B explainer
Get a damp check
Essential for any used caravan
Check service history
Annual habitation checks and damp reports
Related caravans for sale
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The 85% rule is a widely recommended safety guideline promoted by The Caravan and Motorhome Club and the NCC. The legal limit is your car's braked towing capacity. However, staying under 85% provides a significant stability margin, especially for less experienced towers.
On single carriageways the limit is 50mph. On dual carriageways and motorways the limit is 60mph. These limits apply regardless of your car's normal speed limit. Always confirm current limits on GOV.UK before a long trip.
If you passed your driving test on or after 1 January 1997, recent changes mean a standard Category B licence now lets you tow most car-and-caravan combinations up to a combined 3,500kg MAM. Heavier combinations need C1 or B+E entitlement. Always check the latest DVLA rules on GOV.UK before relying on this.
Gross Train Weight (GTW) is the maximum combined weight of your tow car plus your fully loaded caravan or trailer. It is set by the car manufacturer and shown on the VIN plate. Even if you pass the 85% rule and are within your towing limit, you must not exceed GTW.
You risk a fixed penalty notice, your insurance is invalidated, and the vehicle becomes harder to handle, especially under braking and in crosswinds. In serious cases the police can prohibit the vehicle from continuing its journey until weight is removed.
Yes. If your caravan is wider than the back of your tow car, UK law requires extended towing mirrors to give a clear view down both sides of the caravan. Driving without them when needed is an offence and can attract a fine and licence penalty points.