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The rules on what you can tow are different depending on when you passed your driving test.

You can get training on how to tow a trailer safely, including caravans or horse boxes.

Check what you can tow and find training providers.

Checks before you tow

Carry out the basic safety checks shown in this video to make sure that your vehicle and trailer are safe and legal.

Tow ball and connections

Check that:

• the trailer is correctly coupled to the towball or pin - follow the manufacturer鈥檚 advice
• the coupling height is correct
• the 7 or 13 core cable and plug is not damaged

Breakaway cable

Use a breakaway cable or secondary coupling. This engages the trailer鈥檚 brakes (if fitted) or stops the trailer if it becomes detached from the car.

Check that:

• the cable is not worn or damaged
• there鈥檚 enough slack in the cable so that it does not accidentally apply the brakes
• the cable will not drag on the ground when you鈥檙e driving

Follow the manufacturer鈥檚 advice to make sure it鈥檚 connected correctly.

Wheels and tyres

Check that the tyres on both the car and trailer:

• do not have any cuts or bulges
• are inflated to the manufacturer鈥檚 specification for the load being carried

Check that each tyre has a tread depth of at least 1.6mm:

• across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread
• around the entire circumference of the tyre

Check that the wheel nuts and bolts are .

Check that mudguards are fitted to the trailer and they鈥檙e secure.

Lights and indicators

Check that there鈥檚 no damage to the lights, and that they鈥檙e all working correctly.

Load and weight limit

Check that:

• the trailer is not overloaded
• the load is distributed evenly
• the load is secure

Find your car鈥檚 weight limit

The vehicle manufacturer鈥檚 plate gives information about weight limits for your car. Check the car鈥檚 handbook if a plate is not fitted.

Weight	Description
Weight 1	Maximum weight of the car on its own
Weight 2	Maximum weight of the car and trailer combined
Weight 3	Maximum weight for the front axle of the car
Weight 4	Maximum weight for the rear axle of the car

The maximum weight includes passengers, other loads, and fuel.

Trailer with no braking system

The loaded trailer:

• must not weigh over 750kg
• should not weigh more than 50% of your car鈥檚 weight

Trailer with braking system

The car and loaded trailer must not weigh over the second weight shown on the car manufacturer鈥檚 plates.

When you鈥檙e driving

You must not drive faster than the speed limit for the type of road you鈥檙e on.

If the trailer starts to snake or swerve, ease off the accelerator and reduce your speed gently. It鈥檚 a sign that either:

• you鈥檙e going too fast
• the trailer is loaded incorrectly

Do not brake harshly on a bend, as it makes the trailer unstable. Reduce your speed in plenty of time when approaching any hazard.

Motorways

You must not drive in the right-hand lane of a motorway with 3 or more lanes.

Get a free safety check

You can get a free safety check for a trailer up to 3,500kg through the National Trailer and Towing Association鈥檚 (NTTA) free safety checks scheme.

The check will highlight issues that you need to address.

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More information

For more information you can:

• check what you can tow and find training providers
• check the detailed
• check the