2/1/2024 0 Comments Trailer breakaway cable laws![]() If you park your trailer in the street overnight you must not park at parking meters and you must display lights all round.Stopping overnight in a lay-by may be considered an obstruction.See our tyres and tyre care guide for more information. Tyres must be capable of carrying the maximum permitted weight of the trailer and have a tread depth of no less than 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire circumference.Towing vehicles must not use the outside lane of a three (or more) lane motorway even when overtaking, unless signs indicate otherwise or the nearside lanes are blocked by roadworks.You must have a full driving licence to be able to tow, unless you have your B+E provisional licence and a qualified driver is in the vehicle.Passengers are not allowed to travel in a trailer while it is being towed.Your unbraked trailer must have a secondary coupling that will keep the trailer connected to the tow vehicle in the event of it becoming detached.Your trailer must carry a number plate with the registration number of the tow vehicle on it as well as red reflecting trailer triangles.Further detailed information regarding driving licence and the limitations can be found in our guide to driving licences. The trailer has to have a gross weight of no more than 750kg. Assuming you can drive a car legally, no special categories are required on your driving licence to tow an unbraked trailer.It is highly unlikely that any unbraked trailers would fall foul of this. Normal cars (Gross Vehicle Weight not exceeding 3,500kg) may tow a trailer up to a maximum body length of seven metres (not including draw bar) and width not exceeding 2.55 metres.On all other roads the speed limit is 50mph unless lower limits are in force. You may drive up to 60mph on motorways and dual carriageways.Trailers and their towing vehicles should be in such a condition that they cause no danger to other road users.Your car’s insurance will then cover any third party damage while you are towing, but you will probably want separate trailer insurance to cover it and its contents against damage, fire and theft. If you use The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Club Care insurance provider you will automatically be covered, but other companies may make an additional charge. Advice your car insurerĪdding a towbar to a car is classed as a modification that must be declared to the car’s insurance provider. Further information on Towbars and towing electrics are available in our guide here. ![]() The idea of a detachable towbar is that it should only be fitted when needed, and kept in the boot when not in use. The trailer lights must work and the vehicle must have an indicator tell-tail system, which can be in a multitude of forms. Although the towbar now falls within the remit of the MOT you should inspect the tow bracket regularly, checking for cracking or serious rusting and that the bolts are correctly tightened or get it checked out when the car is serviced. It is the main connection between car and trailer. It must comply with EC Directive 94/20EC for vehicles first registered on or after 1 August 1998. Towbar and trailer lightsĪ well fitted and maintained towbar is vital for safety. Further information is available in the matching car and caravan guide. It will also have a limit for a braked trailer, which will be higher. A typical small car like the Nissan Micra can tow an unbraked trailer weighing no more than 350kg. This guide will cover the items you need to consider before taking an unbraked trailer on the road and other considerations while towing.Ĭonsiderations around the tow vehicle and the driverĪ vehicle suitable for towing will be approved by the manufacturer for this purpose and the handbook will provide limits for the gross weight of the unbraked trailer it is capable of pulling. Being able to tow a small unbraked trailer can be useful for camping, allowing extra kit and a large tent to be transported without eating up the passenger space in the tow car. Some trailers and trailer tents don’t have brakes as they are relatively lightweight.
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