Can you tow a caravan on a B licence?

That moment you spot the perfect caravan, then realise you might be one paperwork box away from being ‘that person’ at the roadside check. If you’ve typed “can I tow a caravan with B licence” into a search bar, you’re not alone - and you’re not overthinking it. UK towing rules used to be a minefield of categories and dates.

The good news is the situation is simpler than it used to be. The slightly less good news is that weights still matter, and not in a “forum argument” way - in a legal, insurance and handling way.

Can I tow a caravan with B licence in the UK?

For most people with a standard UK car driving licence (category B), the answer is now: yes, you can tow a caravan.

A B licence allows you to drive a vehicle up to 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM). And, following the 2021 rule changes, B licence holders can generally tow a trailer (including a caravan) without needing the separate B+E entitlement.

However, “generally” is doing some work there. You still need to be within the limits of the car and the caravan, and you still need to understand what the numbers on the plates actually mean. The law has become less fussy about your licence category, but physics and manufacturer limits remain very fussy indeed.

The bit that still catches people out: weights and limits

If you only remember one thing, make it this: the licence is only one part of the picture. Your car has towing limits. Your caravan has a plated weight. Your actual loaded outfit has a real weight that can be higher than you think after you’ve packed the awning, the chairs, and the “just in case” box of everything.

So instead of getting stuck on licence letters, focus on three weight ideas that actually affect whether you can tow legally and comfortably.

1) The car’s towing capacity

Every tow car has a maximum braked towing capacity set by the manufacturer. This is usually shown in the handbook, the VIN plate information, or the spec sheet.

If your caravan’s actual weight on the day is above the car’s towing limit, you’re outside the car’s permitted use. That’s the sort of thing that can go from “surely it’ll be fine” to “why is the insurance assessor asking so many questions” very quickly.

2) The caravan’s MAM (and why it’s not your packing list)

Caravans have a plated MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass). That’s the legal maximum the caravan is allowed to weigh when it’s hitched up and ready to roll.

Two important points here:

First, MAM isn’t what it weighs empty. It’s the ceiling. Second, you can exceed MAM without meaning to. Water in containers, a mover battery, a full petrol bottle, and a few heavy “this will live in the front locker” items add up faster than you’d think.

3) Noseweight and rear axle reality

Noseweight (the downward force the caravan puts on the towball) is one of those topics that attracts confident opinions. The calm version is this: you need to be within the noseweight limit of the car, the towbar and the caravan hitch - and you want a sensible, stable setup.

Too light can encourage snaking, too heavy can overload the back of the car and lighten the steering, and either way you can end up with an outfit that technically moves but doesn’t feel relaxing at 55mph with a crosswind and an impatient lorry.

This is also where payload catches people out. You can be within the car’s towing capacity yet overload the car itself - especially on the rear axle - once you add people, luggage, bikes, a dog, and that single cast-iron pan you refuse to holiday without.

What about licence dates - do they still matter?

They matter less than they used to, but it’s still worth understanding why people talk about 1 January 1997.

If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997, you may have extra entitlements on your licence already. If you passed later, you’ll typically just have B. Historically, that meant tighter trailer rules unless you took a B+E test.

Since the rules changed, many B licence holders have the entitlement to tow trailers that previously would have required B+E. But you should still check your actual driving licence online or on the photocard categories, because your personal entitlements are what matter at the roadside, not what you vaguely remember reading.

And even when the licence side is fine, it doesn’t override the manufacturer limits we’ve just talked about. The law might say you can tow; your car might say “not that”.

The common scenarios (and how to think about them)

Let’s make this practical, because real life rarely looks like the neat examples.

“I’ve got a small SUV and a 2-berth. Surely that’s fine?”

Often, yes. But check the car’s braked towing limit and the caravan’s MAM. Small SUVs can have surprisingly modest towing limits, especially if they’re petrol or hybrid versions where the drivetrain is tuned for economy rather than pulling a box through the Pennines.

Also check the car’s payload. People buy a bigger-looking car and assume it has endless carrying ability. Some modern cars have payloads that feel like they were designed for a driver, a phone charger and a light salad.

“I want a big family caravan, but I’ve only got a B licence.”

The licence is less likely to be the blocker now. The more typical blockers are:

You need a car with the right towing limit, enough kerbweight for a stable match, and enough payload to carry the family and kit without exceeding axle limits.

If you’re upgrading the caravan and keeping the car, this is the moment to pause and do the sums rather than trusting the salesperson’s cheerful nod.

“My car can tow 2,000kg, so I’m golden.”

You’re only golden if the caravan is within that limit when loaded, you’re within MAM, your noseweight is within all stated limits, and you haven’t quietly exceeded the car’s Gross Vehicle Weight with passengers and luggage.

Towing capacity is one number. The legal and safe setup is a set of numbers that all have to agree.

A quick, sensible way to check your setup

You don’t need a spreadsheet that looks like it belongs in an accounting exam. You do need a method.

Start with the car: find its maximum braked towing capacity, its maximum noseweight (often stated by the towbar, sometimes the car), and its Gross Vehicle Weight. Then look at your caravan’s MAM and hitch noseweight limit.

Once you’ve got those, be honest about how you load. If you tend to travel with full kit, a mover battery, an awning, and you treat the caravan like a holiday cupboard, assume you’ll be closer to MAM than you think.

If you’re unsure, a public weighbridge visit can be the most calming twenty minutes you’ll spend in caravanning. It turns guesswork into facts. Facts are boring, but they’re also wonderfully anxiety-resistant.

Do I need extra training if I can tow on a B licence?

Legally, not always. Practically, it’s a brilliant idea if you’re new, nervous, or stepping up to a longer or heavier outfit.

The point of training isn’t to turn you into a towing ninja. It’s to remove the “what if I do something stupid in front of everyone” fear. A decent instructor will sort your mirrors, your posture, your observations, your speed management, and your reversing approach - and they’ll do it without the theatre.

If you don’t fancy formal training, at least practise somewhere quiet. Reversing into a pitch is not the right moment to discover your steering inputs are the opposite of what your brain expects.

The myths that make this feel harder than it is

Towing attracts myths because it sits at that awkward intersection of law, mechanics and ego. Here are a few calmer truths.

One is the idea that there’s a single perfect car-to-caravan ratio that everyone must follow. Ratios can be helpful as a comfort guide, especially for beginners, but they are not the only measure of safety. Wheelbase, suspension, tyres, loading, and driver behaviour matter too.

Another is that if you’re legal, you’re automatically safe. Legal just means you’re within stated limits. A poorly loaded but technically legal caravan can still feel awful.

And finally, some people talk as if towing confidence is something you either “have” or you don’t. Confidence is mostly familiarity plus good habits. It builds. Quietly. Mile by mile.

If you want more practical, experience-led help on weights, loading, and towing without the drama, CaravanVlogger has a solid set of guides at https://caravanvlogger.co.uk.

FAQs that are actually worth answering

Can I tow a caravan with a B licence and an automatic car?

Yes. The transmission type doesn’t change the licence category. What it can change is how the car behaves under load, particularly on hills and when manoeuvring. Check the towing limit for your exact model and engine.

Can I tow a caravan with a B licence if I passed my test after 1997?

In most cases, yes - but check your licence entitlements to be sure, and then focus on car and caravan limits. The date is less of a blocker than it used to be.

Do I need caravan insurance to tow?

You should have appropriate insurance in place for the caravan and the car, and you should understand what your policies cover. The key point is that being outside stated limits can create nasty complications if something goes wrong.

What if I’m close to the limits - is that okay?

It depends. Operating near limits isn’t automatically illegal, but it reduces your margin for error. That might mean you drive more slowly, load more carefully, and choose conditions and routes that suit your experience. There’s no medal for towing at the edge of what’s possible.

Towing on a B licence doesn’t need to feel like a trick question. Get the numbers from the plates and the handbook, load with intention rather than hope, and give yourself permission to learn at a pace that keeps the whole thing enjoyable - because that’s the point of owning a caravan in the first place.