A car transporter trailer can be towed on a standard car licence only if its weight and the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer fall within the limits set by your licence and your vehicle manufacturer. This guide sets out the legal and safety checks that apply before you hitch up, based on the Highway Code and official Northern Ireland guidance. Where the rules differ between nations, the relevant nation is stated.
Licence entitlement comes first
The starting point is your driving licence. Your licence entitlement determines what you can tow. If you passed a car driving test on or after 1 January 1997, the weight of trailer you can tow is restricted by your licence category. Category B+E is the entitlement that covers a car towing a trailer.
Nidirect, the official Northern Ireland government information service, explains that a category B vehicle may be coupled with a trailer over 750 kgs MAM if the two together do not exceed 3,500 kgs MAM.
Weight limits you must respect
Overloading is the failure that causes the most trouble with a transporter, and the Highway Code is clear that you MUST NOT overload your vehicle or trailer.
Weight also affects how the trailer behaves on the road.
Safety and roadworthiness checks
Use this as a pre-departure checklist:
- Tow ball load and trailer weight distribution are within the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Safety chain is attached when you hitch the trailer.
- Any towing mirrors required are fitted and adjusted.
Nidirect adds that if your caravan or trailer is wider than the rear of the towing vehicle, you may need to fit suitable towing mirrors.
Driving with a trailer
Towing changes how the car handles and how much room you need. The Highway Code notes that your stopping distance may increase significantly when towing, and that drivers should consider the swept path of the rearmost wheels when pulling a trailer. Nidirect also reminds drivers that some speed limits are lower than normal when towing, and that caravans, horseboxes or trailers should not be towed in the outside lane of a motorway or dual carriageway. Give other vehicles, especially cycles and motorcycles, plenty of room.
Checking the figures before you tow
Because the rules depend on your licence date, the vehicle and the trailer, the figures in any article or advert are only a starting point. Confirm your own entitlement and limits using the sources above and the manufacturer's handbook. If you are hiring a transporter, ask the provider to confirm the trailer's weight and that it is suitable for your vehicle. For a local option, trailer hire in Maidstone and trailer hire in Daventry are both listed on GetBrent, and any cost should be confirmed directly with the company, since hire rates vary by depot and by the length of hire.
Find local trailer hire companies on GetBrent, the UK marketplace for hiring or buying trailers, tools, plant and vans. Compare suppliers in your area, check their terms, and confirm your towing requirements before you book a car transporter trailer.
