New rules for towing trailers with a car or small vehicle

On 19 January 2013, new driving licence rules come into force for drivers of cars/ small vehicles (categories B and B+E) who want to tow trailers. The new rules will apply to you if you pass your test on or after that date. Driving entitlements obtained before this date will not be affected.

Existing drivers

If you already have a licence to drive cars/ small vehicles (categories B and B+E), you will retain the entitlements you obtained when you passed your driving test(s). If you want to check what your towing restrictions are, please see the information on the link below:

• The driving licence you need to tow a caravan or trailer

To tow heavier trailers after 19 January 2013, you will need to follow the rules for new drivers.

New drivers from 19 January 2013

If you pass your test to drive cars/ small vehicles up to 3,500kg (category B) from 19 January 2013, you will be able to tow:

• light trailers weighing no more than 750kg
• trailers weighing more than 750kg, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle (the car/ small vehicle) and the trailer is not more than 3,500kg

To tow a trailer that weighs more than 750kg, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer is more than 3,500kg, you will have to pass a further test to obtain category B+E (small vehicles and trailer) entitlement.

After passing the B+E test, the trailer you tow must not be heavier than 3,500kg and the combined weight must not be more than 7,000kg.

To tow a trailer that weighs more than 3,500kg with a car/ small vehicle (category B), you will need to pass additional tests for category C1E (medium-sized goods vehicles with trailers).