UK licence change allows trailer towing up to 3,500kg

Millions of drivers in the UK can now legally tow without any additional training thanks to a recent rule change.

The legislation change, implemented in December 2021, means that fully qualified drivers are no longer required to take additional training in order to be able tow a trailer up to 3,500kg MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass), a rule that had been in place since 1997 and required an additional licence.

Amid the change in law on towing, drivers can still face fines of up to £2,500 if the correct tow bar is not used.

All towbars must meet EU regulations and be designed specifically for the vehicle. Meanwhile, extended mirrors should be fitted for an unrestricted view of the road to avoid an additional £1,000 fine.

Here in Ireland, you can tow a trailer with a Category B licence where MAM is no greater than 750 kg and/or
MAM of trailer exceeds 750 kg but the MAM of the vehicle and trailer combined does not exceed 3,500 kg.

According to Skoda UK research, 83 per cent of drivers there who had not towed before would not be confident to do so for the first time, with 65 per cent claiming reverse parking was their biggest worry.

However, despite the new rules coming into effect in the UK, just 14 per cent of respondents were aware of them.

Of the 39 per cent of drivers that had experience of towing a trailer, more than half (55%) said that the biggest problem when doing so was reverse parking, with 50 per cent also citing general reversing manoeuvres as an issue.

A number of these drivers admitted to hitting items when towing including a gate post, a corner of a building and a lamp post.

The most common item towed by drivers was a caravan, with more than half of those that had towed having done so, followed by a trailer for equipment such as boats and jet skis, and then hauling a trailer tent with their vehicle.

The Skoda Karoq was named Towcar of the Year at the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Awards 2023, while the Karoq and Scala both took top honours at the What Car? Tow Car Awards 2022.

The Karoq was named best in the 1,550-1,699 kg weight category and the Scala in the sub-1,400 kg category.