New Rules for Towing from Autumn 2021!

In the next few months, new rules will be implemented about towing a trailer or caravan with a car ​​allowing drivers to tow heavier trailers without taking an additional test. These new towing laws might make your next UK staycation a lot easier. Keep on reading to find out if the changes are applicable to you…

 

Below you’ll find the rules as they stand now:

 

Licenses issued before 1 January 1997

 

At the moment, those who passed their car driving test before the 1st of January 1997 are allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination from up to 8,250kg MAM. The maximum authorised mass (MAM) is the limit on how much the vehicle can weigh when it’s loaded. If you are in this category, you never had to take a trailer test and could drive larger trailers and caravans without any issues.

 

Licenses issued from 1 January 1997 to 18 January 2013

 

If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997 to 18 January 2013, you can currently drive a car and trailer combination from up to 4,250kg in total. However, your trailer could only be over 750kg MAM if it’s no more than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (up to 3,500kg in total). Up to now, you’ve had to pass a car and trailer driving test if you want to tow anything heavier.

 

Licenses issued from 19 January 2013

 

If you passed your car driving test from 19 January 2013, the legislation changed slightly if you want to tow a trailer over 750kg MAM. You were allowed to do this only as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg. You’ve also had to pass a car and trailer driving test if you want to tow anything heavier.

 

Upcoming changes

 

The new rules mean drivers who passed their car test after January 1st, 1997, will now also be able to tow a trailer from up to 3,500kg. While previously, only those who passed their test before January 1, 1997, would be able to tow without a car and trailer test. At the moment there’s no official date as to when these changes will be implemented.

 

When the time comes, DVLA will automatically update your driving license record to show that you’re allowed to tow trailers. You’ll get category BE added to your driving license when you get a new photocard driving license.

 

As car and trailer tests will no longer be required, these will be automatically cancelled from 20 September 2021 onwards. If you still have a test booked before this date, you can choose to cancel it and get a refund.

 

UK staycations

 

Rumour has it the changes are being implemented after this summer’s staycation boom. As many more UK residents are deciding to holiday in their own country, there’s a need for more flexible towing laws. ​​The current rules are still applicable, so you can still be fined up to £1,000, be banned from driving and get up to 6 penalty points on your driving license if you tow anything heavier.

 

Undoubtedly, these new changes will cause a healthy boost in sales when it comes to pods, trailers, and caravans around the country. PF Jones is here to navigate you with purchasing the right towbar for your vehicle, from initial consultation to full installation. Visit our webshop to browse through all our tow bars: https://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bars.html