A driver who passed a car test on or after 19 January 2013 can tow a trailer only if its maximum authorised mass is no more than 3,500kg. Before you book, check your licence entitlement, the trailer's MOT position and the terms that drive the final cost, then confirm each point with the hire company in writing.
Check your licence before you choose a trailer
Your licence decides how heavy a trailer you can legally tow, so start there. The GOV.UK leaflet INF30, Requirements for towing trailers in Great Britain, sets out the entitlements. Drivers who passed a car test on or after 19 January 2013 are restricted to towing a trailer not heavier than 3,500kg, and the shared maximum authorised mass of car and trailer must not exceed 7,000kg. The same leaflet states that the maximum authorised mass of the trailer must never exceed 3,500kg .
If you are browsing options first, you can compare general purpose trailers and note the maximum authorised mass for each one. Ask the hire company for that figure in writing rather than relying on the trailer's appearance or size.
Confirm the trailer's MOT status
Not every trailer falls under the annual test, so the hire company's paperwork matters. GOV.UK's guidance on the HGV, bus or trailer MOT covers trailers with an unladen weight of more than 1,020kg that have powered braking systems, rather than standard overrun brakes. The same guidance also covers semi-trailers and 'A' frame trailers manufactured on or after 1 January 1979.
GOV.UK points readers to Form V112/G for the list of vehicles exempt from the HGV MOT, and it notes that you still might need to get a standard MOT for the vehicle. Trailers subject to the test must usually be tested one year after they were first sold or supplied. Ask for the certificate and confirm that the trailer you collect is the one it covers.
Practical checklist before you book
- Licence: confirm the trailer's maximum authorised mass does not exceed 3,500kg, and check that your own entitlement matches the combination you plan to tow.
- Vehicle limits: look up your towing vehicle's maximum towing capacity in its handbook, and do not rely on the trailer's weight alone.
- MOT: if the trailer is over 1,020kg unladen with powered brakes, ask for the MOT certificate before you sign.
- Load plan: decide how heavy items will sit on the trailer before collection, so the load is secure and balanced.
- Return terms: confirm the collection and return times, fuel terms and what happens if the trailer comes back late or damaged.
- Quote: ask for a written breakdown of everything the figure includes and excludes.
What drives the cost
This article does not publish prices. The figure you are quoted will usually reflect the length of hire, the distance for any delivery or collection, the insurance excess and deposit terms, fuel arrangements and any cleaning or damage charges. Confirm the final figure with the company before you commit.
Local supply and availability also affect what you pay. If you are planning a short job in the capital, you can compare trailer hire in London from several firms and check each quote against the same list of inclusions.
Use GetBrent to find local trailer hire companies by area, then browse trailer hire on GetBrent to compare what each firm offers before you book.
