Do I need a special licence to tow a car trailer?

Most drivers who passed a car test can now tow up to a combined 3,500 kilograms without an extra test. Check the category codes on the back of your licence to confirm your entitlement.

What speed can I drive while towing?

50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways, and you may not use the outside lane of a three lane motorway.

Is it legal to tow a car with a rope?

In limited circumstances on ordinary roads, with a driver in the towed car, a visible rope no longer than 4.5 metres and working steering and brakes. It is not permitted on motorways.

Does a trailer need its own brakes?

Trailers over 750 kilograms gross generally require a braking system and a breakaway cable. Lighter trailers may be unbraked within the towing vehicle's rated limit.

Are towing mirrors compulsory?

They are required whenever the trailer or load is wider than the towing vehicle and your standard mirrors do not give an adequate view of the road behind.

UK Towing Laws Explained: Licences, Weights and Rules

Licence entitlement

Since the rules were relaxed, drivers who passed a car test after 1 January 1997 can generally tow a trailer up to a combined maximum authorised mass of 3,500 kilograms without an additional test, where previously a B plus E test was required. Drivers who passed before that date usually hold broader entitlement up to 8,250 kilograms. Entitlement is printed on the back of the photocard licence as category codes, and checking yours takes a minute on the DVLA website. Beyond those limits you are into C1 plus E or larger goods vehicle territory, which requires proper testing and, for commercial use, operator licensing.

Weights that actually matter

Three figures govern any towing job. The gross vehicle weight is what the towing vehicle may weigh fully loaded. The maximum towing capacity, braked and unbraked, is set by the manufacturer and printed on the VIN plate. The gross train weight is the maximum for vehicle and trailer combined. Exceeding any of them is an offence and invalidates most insurance policies. Nose weight matters too: too little and the trailer snakes at speed, too much and the towing vehicle's steering goes light. Loading heavy items low and slightly ahead of the trailer axle is the practical fix.

Speed limits and where you may drive

When towing a trailer, national speed limits are reduced: 50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways, against 60 and 70 for a solo car. You must not use the outside lane of a motorway with three or more lanes while towing, other than where lanes are closed. These limits apply to any trailer, including a car transporter trailer, and they are enforced. Braking distances increase substantially with a loaded trailer, so the legal limit is often faster than the sensible speed in poor weather.

Lighting, plates and equipment

A trailer must display a number plate matching the towing vehicle, and it must show working side lights, rear lights, brake lights, indicators, a red triangular reflector at each rear corner and, where required by age, a rear fog light. Trailers over 750 kilograms gross generally need a functioning braking system, and most also require a breakaway cable that applies the brakes if the trailer detaches. Towing mirrors are a legal requirement whenever the trailer or load is wider than the towing vehicle and your normal mirrors do not give an adequate view behind.

Rope and rigid bar towing between two cars

Towing a broken down car with a rope or pole is legal in limited circumstances but is heavily restricted and widely misunderstood. The towed vehicle must display a number plate, its steering and brakes must work, and it must have a competent driver at the wheel. The distance between the vehicles must not exceed 4.5 metres, and if it exceeds 1.5 metres the rope must be made clearly visible with a marker. Crucially, you must not rope tow on a motorway. Modern cars with electric power steering, electric parking brakes or automatic gearboxes are frequently unsuitable, and many manufacturers prohibit it outright.

Why professional recovery is usually the right answer

A roped tow places an unbraked or partially braked vehicle behind yours, with no servo assistance on the towed car once the engine is off, which means the steering is heavy and the brakes need enormous pedal pressure. Add a driver who is not used to it, and any distance beyond a few hundred metres becomes a genuine hazard. Professional recovery on a flatbed or spec lift removes those risks, protects the transmission on automatics and four wheel drive vehicles, and is legal everywhere including motorways.

Insurance and business use

Check that your motor policy covers towing, because some do not, and that any trailer or the vehicle being carried is separately insured where relevant. Trade and business towing brings further obligations, including tachograph rules once combinations exceed certain weights, operator licensing for hire and reward recovery work, and safe loading responsibilities that sit with both the driver and the operator. If you are moving vehicles for a garage, dealership or fleet, using a properly licensed and insured recovery operator moves that liability where it belongs.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a special licence to tow a car trailer?: Most drivers who passed a car test can now tow up to a combined 3,500 kilograms without an extra test. Check the category codes on the back of your licence to confirm your entitlement.
What speed can I drive while towing?: 50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways, and you may not use the outside lane of a three lane motorway.
Is it legal to tow a car with a rope?: In limited circumstances on ordinary roads, with a driver in the towed car, a visible rope no longer than 4.5 metres and working steering and brakes. It is not permitted on motorways.
Does a trailer need its own brakes?: Trailers over 750 kilograms gross generally require a braking system and a breakaway cable. Lighter trailers may be unbraked within the towing vehicle's rated limit.
Are towing mirrors compulsory?: They are required whenever the trailer or load is wider than the towing vehicle and your standard mirrors do not give an adequate view of the road behind.

Need help now? We are based in Oldbury and dispatch 24/7 across the West Midlands.

Call 07402 666 687

UK towing laws and regulations explained