Towing caravan in Spain-Marker Boards

herewith quote from practical caravan

"I am aware that most UK outfits over 12 meters travelling from the UK down through France to Spain, fit the boards in the UK and leave them fitted all the time.
Technically these outfits are not complying with UK law whilst on the UK segment of their journey.
However I have never heard of any driver being warned or prosecuted for this"

been pulled over once with caravan in the UK for routine check, but nobody said anything about my boards being illegal, to me they provide that little bit of extra security and you are more visible especially at night as they are reflective. 

I use a full size board attached to the bike rack fitted before I get on the ferry and removed before coming back to the UK.

The EU rules state that if there is a rearwards extension on a caravan etc, such as a bicycle rack, then the marker board must be attached to the extension so that it cannot be obscured. This is much like the rules for fitting an extra rear number plate on a car with a rear-mounted cycle rack.

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

It's not an EU rule but a purely Spanish one. However, the Italians have a similar rule but their marker boards are slightly different.

Hi

As Lutz states, it's a Spanish law only. AD's photo above shows perfectly what is required, especially when carrying cycles.

JK

AD thanks for the photo , I’ve ordered and received the boards from HGV Direct and the rear of my van is identical to your picture. So that’s how I will fix the boards. 

Much cheaper from eBay. I use 2 ‘U’ bolts on each plate and clamp them to the rear grab handles fitting them at the last stop before Spain and then removing them at the first stop outside Spain.

Yes it is technically illegal to travel with them on  in France as far as I am aware. We always attached them at the last overnight stop in France before crossing the border, and removed them similarly on the way back.

Ours were attached with tie-wraps + pipe lagging to the rear handles for at  least 6 trips, and never got stopped (but agree, its not correct, but didn't want to mark caravan)

 

I've got the Spanish board permanently attached to my caravan and travelled with it all over Europe without anyone objecting to it.