Fit to tow
Caravan
Large Trailer
Small Trailer
The driving licence you need to tow a caravan or trailer
The ability to tow a caravan or trailer will depend on the driving licence you hold. The category entitlement on your driving licence will determine the type of trailer you can tow.
Maximum authorised mass (MAM)
In this article reference is made to the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of vehicles and trailers. This should be taken to mean the permissible maximum weight, also known as the gross vehicle weight.
Car licences held before 1 January 1997
All drivers who passed a car test before 1 January 1997 retain their existing entitlement to tow trailers until their licence expires. This means they are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. They also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.
Drivers who hold subcategory C1+E – limited to 8.25 tonnes MAM, may apply for provisional entitlement to the new subcategory C1+E, in order to take and pass the test which will increase their combined vehicle and trailer entitlement to 12 tonnes MAM. It is not necessary to gain subcategory C1 entitlement first but drivers have to meet higher medical standards, and pass both the category C theory test and the subcategory C1+E practical test.
Large goods vehicle and passenger carrying vehicle licences held before 1 January 1997
Since 1 January 1997 all drivers who hold category C or D entitlement have been limited to trailers up to 750kgs MAM; Category C+E or D+E must be held in order to tow trailers in excess of this.
Car driving licence first obtained since 1 January 1997
Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E and all larger vehicles. In addition to the new driving tests, drivers of vehicles which fall within subcategories C1, C1+E, D1 and D1+E also have to meet higher medical standards.
Upgrading entitlement for trailers
In general, an additional driving test is required for each category or subcategory of entitlement. But there are certain exceptions to this where drivers have already passed one test which involves trailer entitlement for a larger or equivalent sized vehicle.
This means that passing a test for subcategory C1+E or D1+E upgrades category B entitlement to B+E. A test pass for subcategory C1+E upgrades subcategory D1, if held, to D1+E. But a test pass for subcategory D1+E does not upgrade subcategory C1 to C1+E because the trailer size required for a subcategory D1+E test is smaller than that required for a subcategory C1+E test.
Passing a test for category C+E upgrades category B entitlement to B+E and also confers entitlement to subcategory C1 and C1+E and, if category D or subcategory D1 is held, these are upgraded to category D+E or subcategory D1+E. A test passed for category D+E upgrades category B and subcategory D1 to category B+E and subcategory D1+E respectively. But it does not upgrade category C or subcategory C1 entitlements because the trailer size required for a category D+E test is smaller than that required for a category C+E or subcategory C1+E test.
Provisional trailer entitlement
Since 1 January 1997 drivers are no longer able to sit a test in a heavy vehicle/trailer combination (eg category C+E or D+E) unless they have first passed a test and obtained a full licence in the corresponding rigid vehicle (eg category C or D).
This means that although drivers may have been driving a vehicle and trailer combination legitimately, under ‘L’ plates, they are not permitted to sit a trailer test using such a combination until a test has been passed in a rigid vehicle and a full licence obtained for that category.
This information is not intended to be a definitive statement of law.
Car and trailer or caravan practical driving test
If you passed your car driving test on or after 1 January 1997 and you now want to tow a caravan or certain trailers, you may have to take another driving test. Find out about the different parts of your driving test.
The rules about who has to take the test
You can find out if you can tow a trailer or caravan with your existing licence by clicking on the link below. If you cannot tow with your existing licence, you will need to take the test.
How to book and manage your test
You don’t need to take a theory test as you’ll have already passed a car theory test. You can book and manage your practical test online. The test can only take place at test centres for lorries and buses, where there is a manoeuvring area.
What you need to bring to your test
Find out what documents you need to bring by clicking on the link below.
Rules for the car you use for your test
The car that you use for your test must meet certain rules. You can read these rules by clicking on the link below.
Mirrors
The vehicle must be fitted with externally mounted, nearside and offside mirrors for use by the examiner
Extra rules for the car and trailer or caravan combination
The combination of the car and trailer or caravan must be:
- a car not carrying any goods or burden
- a trailer or caravan not carrying any goods or burden, with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of at least one tonne
The examiner may ask for evidence of the trailer’s MAM - for example, the manufacturer’s plate.
What the vehicle must be fitted with
The vehicle must be fitted with:
- externally mounted, nearside and offside mirrors for use by the examiner or any person supervising the test
- a device that shows that the trailer indicators are working correctly – this could be something you can see or hear
Brakes and coupling
All vehicle combinations must:
- have appropriate brakes
- use a coupling arrangement suitable for the weight
Cargo comparment of the trailer
The cargo compartment of the trailer must:
- consist of a closed box body
- be at least as wide and as high as the towing vehicle
The trailer may be slightly less wide than the towing vehicle. However, the view to the rear should only be possible by using the external rear-view mirrors of the towing vehicle.
Before you start the driving ability part of your test
Before you start the driving ability part of your test, you’ll have an eyesight check and be asked five vehicle safety questions.
The eyesight check
The examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a parked vehicle to test your eyesight. You can find out how the eyesight check works by clicking on the link below.
Vehicle safety questions: ‘show me, tell me’
You’ll be asked five vehicle safety questions – they’ll be a mix of:
- ‘show me’ questions, where you’ll have to show how you’d carry out a vehicle safety check
- ‘tell me’ questions, where you’ll have to explain how you’d carry out the check
A driving fault will be recorded for each incorrect answer to a maximum of four driving faults. If you answer all five questions incorrectly, a serious fault will be recorded.
The driving ability part of your test
Your test
Your test will include:
- the reversing exercise
- general driving ability
- independent driving
- a controlled stop
- uncoupling and recoupling
The test is designed for you to prove to the examiner that you have the skills required to tow a trailer or caravan safely.
The reversing exercise
The reversing exercise will usually take place before you leave the test centre. You’ll have to show that you can manoeuvre your car and trailer in a restricted space and stop at a certain point.
Your general driving ability
During your test the examiner will give you directions which you should follow. You’ll drive in various road and traffic conditions. This will include, where possible:
- dual-carriageways
- one-way systems
- motorways
You will not be asked to:
- do an emergency stop
- reverse around a corner
- reverse park
- turn in the road
Independent driving section of the driving test
Your driving test will include around ten minutes of independent driving.
Uncoupling and recoupling
You’ll normally be asked to uncouple and recouple your car and trailer at the test centre at the end of the test.
The examiner will ask you to:
- stop where there is safe and level ground
- uncouple your car from the trailer or caravan
- park the car alongside the trailer or caravan
- realign the car with the trailer or caravan and recouple them
Your driving test result
Your result
You’ll pass your test if you make:
- 15 or less driving faults
- no serious or dangerous faults
When the driving test has ended the examiner will:
- tell you whether you passed or not
- explain how you did during the test
The different types of faults that can be marked
There are three types of faults that can be marked:
- a dangerous fault – involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property
- a serious fault – could potentially be dangerous
- a driving fault – not potentially dangerous, but if you make the same fault throughout your test it could become a serious fault
The pass mark for the driving test
You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test. If you make 16 or more driving faults, you won’t pass your test.
If you make one serious or dangerous fault, you won’t pass your test.
Taking another test if you don’t pass
If you don’t pass your test, you can take another after ten working days. Working days include Saturdays.
When driving tests are cancelled or stopped
Sometimes DSA has to cancel or stop driving tests because of things like bad weather or vehicle problems. Find out what happens if your test is cancelled or stopped, and what you need to do when there’s bad weather.
