The UK’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has confirmed that new trailer towing rules will not come into effect in the UK on Monday, November 15th, 2021, as it had initially planned.
According to a recent statement, the government will implement these new rules “later in 2021 subject to parliamentary approvals”.
Trailer towing rules
The news comes following concerns relating to road safety. The government advises motorists to “follow the current rules until the law changes”.
Reacting to the latest development, a transport specialist with NFU Scotland, James Smart, said:
“This is the worst of both worlds. Nobody can now obtain a licence to tow with a car or pickup, and you cannot tow without one.
“Regardless of when the rule change comes into force, we continue to urge members to ensure that anybody towing has had adequate training to reduce the risk of accidents and ensure compliance with health and safety legislation around trailers.”
Rules
According to the statement from government, the rules on what you can tow are different – depending on when you passed your car driving test. Also, the new rules will still depend on when you originally passed your car driving test.
As it stands, you can no longer book or take a care and trailer driving test in the UK since September 20th, 2021.
Later this year, when the law changes, if you have passed your car driving test from January 1st, 1997, you will be allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM.
If you passed your car driving test from January 1st, 1997 to January 18th, 2013, you can currently drive either of the following:
- A car or van up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (up to 4,250kg in total)
- A trailer over 750kg MAM, as long as it is no more than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (up to 3,500kg in total)
You have had to pass a car and trailer driving test if you wish to tow anything heavier.
Rules relating to licences issued from January 19th, 2013
If you passed your car driving test from January 19th, 2013, you can currently drive either of the following:
- A car or van up to 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM (up to 4,250kg in total)
- A trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg
Furthermore, the government state you have had to pass a car and trailer driving test if you want to tow anything heavier.
Car and trailer driving tests
The DVLA will automatically update records and add the BE category to respective licences.
Licences issued from January 1st, 1997, to January 18th, 2013
If drivers tow “anything heavier before the law changes”, they face:
- Fines of up to £1,000;
- A driving ban;
- Up to 6 penalty points.
The government added that rules relating to towing are different for those in Northern Ireland.
