The Towing Laws Are Changing!

How do the new towing laws effect you?

The UK laws on what you can tow will be changing. The laws were meant to come into effect on the 15th November 2021, but have been postponed to later in the year. Towing laws in the UK are different depending on when you passed your car driving test. The new laws coming into effect later in 2021 will still depend on when you originally passed your car driving test.

What You Can Currently Tow

Most drivers who passed their test before 1 January 1997 have licence categories allowing them to drive vehicle and trailer combinations weighing up to 8.25 tonnes MAM.

If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997 will only be allowed to:

drive a car or van up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM.

tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg.

You have to pass the car and trailer driving test if you want to tow anything heavier.

*MAM – Maximum Authorised Mass (permitted maximum weight).

What Will Change With The New Laws?

If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you’ll be allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM when the law changes.

DVLA will update your driving licence record to show that you’re allowed to tow trailers. You’ll get category BE added to your driving licence when you get a new photocard driving licence.

You do not need to contact DVLA for this to happen. It will be done automatically.

For more information on the current UK towing laws and how these will be changing, visit the Government website here.