What driving licence do I need to tow a caravan or trailer?

What size caravan can I tow on a car licence?

For all GB standard driving licences (i.e. England, Scotland and Wales), you can drive:

Towed Outfits (BE): All GB licensees now have BE entitlement.*  If you have had this entitlement from before 19 February 2013 (e.g. all pre-1997 licensees and those passing the BE test before the 2013 date), you can tow any weight of caravan or trailer within the limits of your towing vehicle. If you gained BE entitlement on or after 19 February 2013, you can tow a caravan or trailer with a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of up to 3,500kg within the limits of your towing vehicle.

Rigid motorhomes with a trailer (BE): The above rules apply to towing vehicles up to 3,500kg MAM. That covers the majority of campervans and motorhomes as well as cars.

Rigid motorhome with a trailer (C1/C1E): Motorhomes over 3,500kg and up to 7,500kg MAM need a C1 licence. Pre-1997 standard car licensees have this entitlement by default, but others will need to take an additional test. The basic C1 licence only allows for a trailer up to 750kg, however. For heavier caravans and trailers, C1E entitlement is required. Again, pre-1997 licensees have this entitlement by default (up to a combined MAM of 8,250kg), but others will need to take an additional test (which gives entitlement up to a combined MAM of 12,000kg).

For the small proportion for motorhomes over 7,500kg MAM, you will need a category C licence (caravan or trailer up to 750kg) or CE licence (caravan or trailer over 750kg). This requires an additional test for all drivers with a standard car licence.

For Northern Irish licensees:

As above, other than for BE entitlement. At the time of writing, the Northern Irish Assembly has not implemented the same change as was made in December 2021 in Great Britain. While pre-1997 licensees have BE entitlement by default, those passing their car test later than this will still have to pass the separate BE test if they wish to tow an outfit with a combined MAM in excess of 3,500kg (unless the trailer weighs no more than 750kg).

*If you passed your car test before pre-1997, BE was applied to your licence by default. If you passed your car test after 1 January 1997, BE category was added to your driver record held at DVLA in December 2021, if you hadn't already gained it by doing an additional test. This entitlement will be shown on your physical licence when it is next updated e.g. for a name or address change or upon a 10 year renewal.

What licence do I need to drive a motorhome?

All drivers can drive campervans or motorhomes weighing up to 3,500kg MAM, which covers most models.

For vehicles over 3,500kg and up to 7,500kg MAM, a C1 licence is required. Pre-1997 car licensees have this entitlement by default, but later licensees will need to take an additional test. For the small proportion of motorhomes over 7,500kg MAM, you will need a category C licence. This requires an additional test for all drivers.

What happens when I turn 70?

Your driving entitlement for Categories B and BE remains on your licence.

If you have a C1 entitlement by default (pre-1997 licensees), when you reach 70 years of age and your driving licence expires, you’ll need to pass the D4 medical test and the required standard eyesight test to retain your entitlement. This entitlement will need to be renewed every three years. 

The above also applies to more recent C1 licensees who have passed the C1 test too, but these licensees will have additional periodic requirements to pass the medical tests (on initial application, every five years from age 45 then every year from age 65).

Updated September 2024