Caravan Course

For more information on caravan towing and the questions raised below read the articles below.

It is common that in order to tow a caravan you will need either a B or B+E licence, however, if the towing vehicle is over 3,500kgs, you will need a C1+E licence.

The date of which you passed your car driving test (B) will affect the vehicle weight and caravan that you are able to tow. The combinations are set out below:

• If you passed your test before 1^st January 1997, you are allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination with a MAM of up to 8,250kgs.
• If you passed your test on or after 1^st January 1997, you can drive vehicles with a MAM up to 3,500kgs with a trailer up to 750kgs.

A B+E licence will allow you to drive a vehicle with a MAM of 3,500kgs with a trailer. The weight of the trailer you can tow is dependent on the B+E ‘valid from’ date on the back of your licence. If the date it:

• Before 19^th January 2013, you can tow any size trailer (as long as it weighs less than the vehicle you are towing with).
• On or after 19^th January 2013, you can tow a trailer with a MAM of up to 3,500kgs.

The MTPLM stands for Maximum Technically Permitted Laden Mass and is typically listed on a plate near the door frame of the caravan. It can also be found in the owner’s manual.

Our training depots have everything you will need being a DVSA 3a approved testing centres and having dedicated on-site reversing facilities. Having our own on-site reversing facilities gives our students a major advantage compared to other driving schools as they can practice on the same facilities that they are able to complete their 3a testing on. Furthermore, we have fully-equipped classrooms at our Portsmouth, Southampton, Reading and Worthing depots, all of which come with air conditioning.

We have an impressive fleet of driving vehicles, all of which are fully automatic and air-conditioned which helps ensure your training experience is as comfortable as it can possibly be! Also, if you wish to complete your training with your own caravan, we are allowing students to do so!

The two main licence categories needed to tow a caravan are B and B+E.  Sometimes if the towing vehicle is over 3.5Tonnes then a C1+E licence would be needed.  For this guide, we will focus on category B and B+E licences.

Depending on when you passed your licence test for your car (category b) will depend on the vehicle weight and caravan you can tow.  See below for the combinations you can drive:

Category B (Car Licence)

If you passed your test before 1 January 1997

You are usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM)*

If you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997

You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg MAM with a trailer up to 750kg

You can also tow heavier trailers if the total MAM of the vehicle and trailer is not more than 3,500kg.

*MAM – the maximum authorised mass mean:

Maximum authorised mass (MAM) means the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road.

It may also be known at gross vehicle weight (GVW), it may be listed in the owner’s manual or on the VIN plate of the vehicle.

For example,

If you passed your licence before the 1^st January 1997 it is likely that you are able to pull an average caravan weighing in the region of 2,500kg using a towing vehicle of 3,000Kg.  However, it is essential that the weight of the trailer or caravan does not exceed the towing vehicle weight.

If you passed on or after 1^st January 1997 it is unlikely that you will be able to tow the average caravan on this licence. Unless for instance, your towing vehicle is 2,000kg, this would leave you 1000kg to be able to tow.  This is because the MAM of the vehicle and caravan cannot exceed 3500kg.

In this instance, It would be recommended to increase your licence to a B+E to ensure that you are able to tow your caravan with your towing vehicle.

B+E Licence

Once a B+E licence has been obtained you can then drive a vehicle with a MAM of 3,500kg with a trailer.  The weight of the trailer is dependent on the B+E ‘valid from’ date shown on your licence.

If the date is:

Before the 19^th of January 2013 – You can tow any size trailer (providing it weighs less than the towing vehicle)

After the 19^th of January 2013, you can tow a trailer with a MAM of up to 3,500Kg.

By obtaining the B+E licence you will be able to safely drive a standard vehicle and standard caravan.

The towing capacity of a vehicle is the maximum weight that it can legally tow.  However, although it's legal it may not be safe or comfortable, especially if you are new to caravanning.

The towing capacity is usually published in the handbook of the vehicle or on the VIN plate which can be found in a variety of places on the towing vehicle.  To work out the towing weight using the VIN plate you need to take deduct line one from line two and this will give you the towing limit.

This is normally listed on a plate near the door frame and can also be found in the owner’s manual. The manufacturer should also be able to tell you this.

It is recommended that you should place heavier items such as water and tinned food over the axel. Medium items such as luggage on either end and then light items on the top of the caravan such as blankets and cushions.