Before booking a horse trailer, several critical checks must be made to ensure the trailer is roadworthy, safe for your animals, and compatible with your towing vehicle. Hiring the wrong trailer or overlooking essential safety matters can result in legal liability, animal welfare breaches, and costly damage.
Roadworthiness and Legal Requirements
Any horse trailer used on UK roads must comply with the regulations enforced by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and the Highway Code. The trailer must have valid MOT certification if it is over 40 years old or built to modern standards. Check that the hire company can produce proof of the most recent MOT test; if they cannot, the trailer should not be hired.
The trailer must also display a registration plate, and the hire company should provide a copy of the V5C registration document or confirmation of registered ownership. Verify that the trailer's tare weight (the unladen weight) and maximum authorised mass (MAM) are clearly marked on the chassis. This information is essential for calculating whether your vehicle can tow it legally.
Ask the hire company to provide a specification sheet detailing the trailer's age, construction type, and any recent repairs or maintenance. If the trailer has been in an accident or has structural damage, this must be declared upfront.
Towing Capacity and Vehicle Compatibility
Your car or vehicle has a maximum towing capacity set by the manufacturer. This limit is the weight the vehicle can legally and safely tow, and it is usually found in the vehicle's handbook or on the logbook. The trailer's MAM must not exceed your vehicle's towing capacity.
Check your driving licence category as well. If you passed your test after 1997, you may be restricted to towing trailers of a certain weight unless you hold category BE or have taken an additional test. The DVSA provides clear guidance on licence categories and towing limits in the Highway Code.
Confirm with the hire company that they will provide a compatible coupling—either a ball hitch, A-frame, or drawbar—that matches your vehicle's towing bracket. Mismatched couplings can be dangerous and may invalidate insurance.
Safety and Mechanical Condition
Inspect the trailer in person before you commit to the hire. Check the following:
- Brakes: Horse trailers of more than 750 kg MAM must have working brakes. Ask the hire company to demonstrate the brake system and confirm when brakes were last serviced. Request a service certificate if available.
- Lights and electrical: All lights—dipped headlights, brake lights, side lights, and indicators—must function correctly. Test them in daylight and darkness. The number plate light must also work.
- Tyres: Examine tread depth (minimum 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre) and check for cracking, bulges, or uneven wear. Tyres more than ten years old should not be hired.
- Structure: Look for rust, dents, sharp edges, or protruding bolts inside the trailer that could injure a horse. Check the floor for rot or soft spots, particularly in timber trailers.
- Ventilation and safety features: The trailer must be well-ventilated to prevent overheating and stress in horses. Check that there are no obvious gaps that could trap a leg and that partitions are secure if the trailer is designed for multiple animals.
- Ramp and door: Test the ramp for stability and smooth operation. Hinges and bolts should be tight. Doors must close and latch securely without pinching.
Insurance and Liability
Confirm that the hire agreement states who is liable for damage to the trailer, damage caused by the trailer to other road users, and injury to animals during transport. Most hire companies require you to hold your own horse transit insurance or public liability insurance. Check your existing home or vehicle insurance policy—many do not cover hired horse trailers, and you may need to obtain a temporary policy.
Request a copy of the hire company's own public liability insurance certificate. This protects you if the trailer has a defect that injures someone or causes an accident.
Documentation and Practical Checks
Before you leave with the trailer, the hire company should provide a signed condition report documenting any existing damage. Photograph or video the trailer inside and out, including the lights, coupling, and tyres. This protects you against being charged for pre-existing damage when you return it.
Confirm the hire duration, mileage limits if any, and the cost of fuel or servicing if the trailer requires it during your hire period. Ask how breakdowns are handled and whether the company provides roadside assistance or towing.
When you return the trailer, walk through the condition report again with the hire company to ensure you are not liable for new damage you did not cause.
Finding a reliable local horse trailer hire company is straightforward when you search GetBrent's trailer hire directory. Filter by location and trailer type to find verified hire companies in your area that can provide all the documentation and assurances outlined above.
