Trailer Towing Lessons
Sally’s Driving School provides trailer towing lessons to any driver with a full UK driving licence.
Towing Trailors | Horse Box Towing | Towing Caravans
The licence requirements for towing a trailer in the UK are as follows:
- If you passed your UK practical driving test before 1 January 1997, you are entitled to drive a vehicle towing a trailer with some restrictions.
- If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you’re now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM.
Driving a car and trailer for the first time
It’s recommended by the DVLA that you take training from a qualified driving instructor before you start driving a car and trailer.
Before embarking on your trailer towing lesson, it is a good idea to have a short towing assessment with a Sally’s trailer trainer. This will minimise wasted time and money.
Trailer training courses at Sally’s will give you skill and confidence when towing a trailer.
Our courses are suitable for anyone considering:
Towing trailers
Towing horse boxes
Towing your caravan
How much does it cost?
Sally’s trailer courses are conducted using our own trailers and towing vehicles unless other arrangements have been agreed.
Please note:
- Trailer towing course fees are made direct to your driving instructor
- Important – In order to tow a trailer, you must already have a full driving licence.
Trailer Specifications
- Must be non-laden
- Suitably braked
- At least one tonne maximum authorised mass
- Trailer must be boxed in and at least as wide and as high as the towing vehicle
- Visibility to the rear should be possible only by use of external rear-view mirrors fitted to the towing vehicle.
Please check vehicle suitability with the DVSA.
The Vehicle
Some vehicles have limited vision, especially to the sides and rear and will not be suitable. Vehicle requirements include:
- Must be legal and roadworthy
- No warning lights showing
- Must be four wheeled vehicle less than 3,500kg maximum authorised mass
- Capable of at least 62.5mph (100km/h)
- Passenger seatbelt and head restraint
- Interior mirrors for the examiner’s use
- A speedometer giving speed in mph and km/h
- L-Plates on front and rear of vehicle
- Must be fitted with externally mounted nearside and offside mirrors
- Fitted with an audible or visual device to show the correct operation of the trailer indicators.
- Fitted with a coupling arrangement suitable for the weight and braking of the trailer.
The Practical Test Includes:
- A reverse manoeuvre
- Uncoupling and coupling trailers
- Driving on dual-carriageways and one-way systems
Vehicle Safety Questions
The vehicle safety questions concern basic safety checks to ensure the vehicle and trailer are safe for use. Example questions in the style of the practical driving test ‘show me, tell me’ might include:
- How to check brake fluid levels
- How to check engine coolant levels
- Direction indicators function check
- Securing a load safely
- How to check for tyre defects
- How to check brake light function
- Ensuring head restraints are properly adjusted
- A serious driving fault will be recorded if you answer all five questions incorrectly.