How do you know if a used car can tow what you need it to?

Quick answer: Find the car's towing limits first, then check your licence. The handbook or the plate on the car shows its maximum towing weights, and if the plate shows no train weight, GOV.UK says the car should not be used for towing. If you got your licence from 1 January 1997, you can usually tow a trailer up to 3,500kg MAM on a car licence, but the car's own limit still applies. Then check the towbar, the electrics and the clutch, and tell the seller what you plan to tow before you buy.

Whether it is a caravan for next summer, a horsebox, a boat or a small trailer for autumn garden clear-ups, towing puts real demands on a car. Plenty of good used cars around Barnsley, Sheffield, Wakefield and Rotherham can do it well. Some cannot do it at all.

At anycolourcar.com we sell quality used vehicles from The Old Garage on Genn Lane in Worsbrough, and our own technicians prep every car and van at our Stairfoot service centre. This guide is what we would want any buyer to know before buying a car to tow with, whoever they buy from.

Looking for your next car or van? Start on car search or call sales on 01226 574410.

Step one: find out what the car is allowed to tow

Every car that is approved to tow has published towing limits. GOV.UK explains that the maximum towing weight is usually listed in the handbook or specification sheet.

The car's "gross train weight" may also be on the vehicle identification number (VIN) plate. That is normally under the bonnet or inside the driver's door. The gross train weight is the fully loaded car plus the fully loaded trailer, and it must not be exceeded.

Here is the line that catches people out. If the VIN plate does not list a train weight, GOV.UK says you should not use that vehicle for towing.

DVSA's towing safety checks guidance explains the weights on a typical manufacturer's plate:

Weight 1: maximum weight of the car on its own
Weight 2: maximum weight of the car and trailer combined
Weight 3: maximum weight on the front axle
Weight 4: maximum weight on the rear axle

Those maximums include passengers, luggage and fuel, not just the empty car.

Braked and unbraked trailers

The type of trailer changes the limit.

DVSA says a trailer without its own braking system must not weigh over 750kg when loaded, and should not weigh more than 50% of your car's weight. For a trailer with brakes, the car and loaded trailer together must not weigh more than the second weight on the car's plate.

GOV.UK also says your trailer must have a working brake system if it weighs over 750kg when loaded. Most touring caravans and horseboxes fall into that braked category, so the braked towing limit is the number to compare.

The handbook will usually also give a maximum nose weight, which is the downward load the trailer puts on the tow ball. Check it against your trailer or caravan before you commit.

What your driving licence lets you tow

Your licence and your car have separate limits. You need to stay within both.

According to GOV.UK:

If you got your licence from 1 January 1997, you can tow a trailer that weighs up to 3,500kg MAM. This is known as category BE. If BE is not yet shown on your physical licence, DVLA will add it the next time you renew.
If you got your licence before 1 January 1997, you can usually drive a vehicle and trailer with a combined weight of up to 8,250kg MAM.

MAM means maximum authorised mass. It is the most the vehicle or trailer can weigh when fully loaded, and it is normally shown on a plate or sticker on the vehicle or trailer.

A licence that allows 3,500kg does not mean your car can pull 3,500kg. Many family cars are rated well below that. Always go back to the car's own figures.

You can view your driving licence information online to see which categories you hold.

Checks to make on a used car you plan to tow with

Work through these before you agree a price.

Read the towing figures for that exact car. Engine, gearbox and trim can change the towing limit, even on the same model. Check the handbook or plate, not a figure from another version.
Look at the towbar label. GOV.UK says a towbar on a car first used from 1 August 1998 must be type approved. Type-approved towbars carry a label with an approval number and details of the vehicles it is approved for.
Check the tow ball and brackets. Look for heavy wear, damage, cracks or rust around the mountings. If the towbar is detachable, make sure the neck and any key come with the car.
Test the electrics. DVSA's checks mention the 7 or 13 core cable and plug. Look for a damaged or corroded socket, and ask if you can test the lights with a trailer or a test board.
Check the latest MOT. Towbars are part of the MOT inspection. The MOT inspection manual tells testers to remove tow ball covers, check detachable towbar brackets even when the ball is not fitted, and reject tow balls that are obviously excessively worn.
Test the clutch on a manual. The RAC's used car checklist suggests accelerating up a hill at low revs in a high gear to check for slipping, and trying a quick getaway to feel for judder. Regular heavy towing can be hard on a clutch.
Ask what it has towed. A small trailer now and again is very different from a heavy caravan every weekend. There is no right or wrong answer, but it helps you judge the clutch, brakes and suspension.

If a car has a towbar but the seller is vague about what it has pulled, take your time on the test drive.

Tell the seller what you want to tow

This is the step most buyers skip, and it matters.

Business Companion, the government-backed guidance for traders, explains that when a buyer makes a particular purpose known and the trader agrees the vehicle will meet it, the vehicle must be reasonably fit for that purpose. It uses towing a caravan as its own example.

So when you buy from a business, say clearly what you plan to tow and roughly how much it weighs. Ask for the answer in writing on the invoice or by email.

Private sales do not carry the same Consumer Rights Act protections, so check the figures yourself even more carefully if you are buying privately.

Towing rules worth knowing before your first trip

Once you have the right car, a few rules from GOV.UK and DVSA are worth having in your head.

Speed limits are lower. When a car is towing a caravan or trailer, GOV.UK's speed limits are 50mph on single carriageways, and 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways, unless signs show a lower limit.
Keep out of the right-hand lane. You must not drive in the right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes while towing.
Fit towing mirrors if you need them. If your trailer or caravan is wider than the back of your car, you need suitable towing mirrors. GOV.UK says you can be fined up to £1,000 and get 3 penalty points for towing without proper towing mirrors.
Use a breakaway cable or secondary coupling. It is there in case the trailer comes away from the car.
Match the number plate. Your trailer must show the same number plate as the car towing it.
Check sizes. For a car with a MAM of 3,500kg or less, the trailer cannot be longer than 7 metres, and the maximum trailer width is 2.55 metres.

DVSA also points to a free safety check for trailers up to 3,500kg through the National Trailer and Towing Association's scheme, and GOV.UK lists towing training providers if you are new to it.

Taking a trailer to the tip in Barnsley

If your towing is more garden waste than caravan, there is a local rule to know.

Barnsley Council says you need a vehicle pass to visit a household waste recycling centre with a car towing a trailer. The trailer must be single axle with no high sides, and the pass allows up to 12 visits a year. You upload proof of vehicle ownership, such as the V5C, when you apply.

Twin-axle trailers, horseboxes and livestock trailers, and commercial or high-sided trailers are not allowed.

If you have just changed your car and are still waiting for the V5C, the council says you need to make a one-off booking instead until you can apply for the pass.

What we do before a vehicle leaves us

Every car and van at anycolourcar.com is prepared by our own technicians at our Stairfoot service centre in Barnsley.

If you are buying to tow, tell us what you plan to pull when you enquire. We will go through the car's published towing figures with you, so you know where you stand before you commit.

Every vehicle we sell comes with a brand-new 12-month MOT, booked and paid for by us at a local DVSA-approved testing station, plus 6 months' warranty and 12 months' AA breakdown cover on every retail sale.

We do not pay sales commission, so you get straight answers and no pressure. Part exchange is welcome. If you cannot get here in daylight, we can send a walk-around video.

Check the car's towing figures, then your licence. Look hard at the towbar, the electrics and the clutch. Tell the seller what you plan to tow before you buy, and get the answer in writing.

FAQ

Can I tow a caravan on a normal car licence?

Usually, yes. If you passed from 1 January 1997, GOV.UK says you can tow a trailer up to 3,500kg MAM. The car must also be rated to tow that caravan, so check its own limits as well.

How do I find out how much a car can tow?

Look in the handbook or specification sheet, or check the gross train weight on the VIN plate under the bonnet or inside the driver's door. If the plate shows no train weight, GOV.UK says the car should not be used for towing.

Does a towbar get checked at the MOT?

Yes. The MOT inspection manual covers towbars and couplings, including worn tow balls, insecure mountings and towbars that block the number plate or lights.

Is it bad to buy a used car that has been used for towing?

Not automatically. Plenty of towing cars are well looked after. Ask what it towed and how often, check the service history, and pay close attention to the clutch, brakes and suspension on the test drive.

Can I take a trailer to the tip in Barnsley?

Yes, with a vehicle pass from Barnsley Council, using a single-axle trailer with no high sides. Twin-axle and high-sided trailers are not allowed.

In short

Buying a car to tow is about matching three things: what the car is rated for, what your licence allows, and what you actually plan to pull. Check the plate or handbook first, look closely at the towbar and clutch, and tell the seller your plans before you pay.

For the wider buying process, use our used car buying checklist for Barnsley and our used vehicle test drive checklist. If something goes wrong after you buy, our guide to used car consumer rights in Barnsley explains where you stand.

Ready to look? Browse car search or call sales on 01226 574410.

Hero image: photo of a caravan coupled to a car by Holger Jakobs, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and placed beside our own graphic.

anycolourcar.com · The Old Garage, Genn Lane, Worsbrough, Barnsley S70 6TF · Sales 01226 574410

Buying a used car for towing in Barnsley: weights, licence rules and checks