The worst of the pandemic may be over, but widespread flight cancellations and the complications created by Brexit mean that many holidaymakers have opted to stay in the UK.
If you plan to tow a caravan this summer (or indeed a trailer, such as a boat or horsebox), you must check your driving licence to see what you are legally entitled to tow.
The rules differ depending on when you passed your driving test, as explained below.
If you passed your test BEFORE 1 January 1997
In general, if you passed your driving test before 1 January 1997, you can drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM).
Check your licence using this link to confirm.
If you passed your test on or AFTER 1 January 1997
If you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997, you are now able to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM.
These rules were simplified in December 2021 and DVLA will automatically update your driving licence, adding the category ‘BE’ to your record.
The next time you apply for a driving licence, it will show the category ‘BE’. You don’t need to contact the DVLA for this to happen.
Restrictions on motorhomes
The date of 1 January 1997 is also important when it comes to driving a motorhome. If you passed your test before then, you will have category C1 entitlement on your driving licence. This permits you to drive vehicles up to 7,500kg.
Drivers who passed their test after 1 January 1997 can drive a motorhome up to 3,500kg and tow a trailer up to 3,500kg behind it. In order to drive a larger motorhome (up to 7,500kg), you will need to pass an additional driving test. This will add the C1 category to your licence.
Harvey Alexander of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “There’s been a significant rise in the number of people choosing to spend their holidays caravanning.
“Leisure vehicles provide a fantastic way to explore parts of the country you may have never experienced before, and it’s very important to us that we do all we can to help holidaymakers do so safely and legally.”
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