Towing ·
Car hire with a tow bar in the UK: the complete towing guide
Licence rules, speed limits and how to pick a tow car that can actually handle your horsebox, caravan or trailer.
Why most hire cars cannot tow
Most mainstream rental companies do not allow towing at all, and the few that do rarely guarantee a tow bar. That is a problem if you need to move a horsebox, a caravan, a boat or a plant trailer. Specialist tow car hire solves this: you book a vehicle that is rated to tow your trailer's weight, with a tow bar fitted and the right electrics for your lights.
At xDrivee our Ford Ranger Wildtrak, Toyota Hilux, Land Rover Defender 110 and Range Rover Sport can all be supplied with a tow bar, and the pickups are rated to tow up to 3,500 kg braked.
Do I need a special licence to tow?
Since December 2021, anyone who passed their car test in Great Britain can tow a trailer up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) without taking an extra B+E test. You still need to stay within the towing limit of the vehicle and the combined weight limits shown on its plate.
If you hold a licence from outside Great Britain, check the rules for your licence before you book. Always check the trailer's MAM on its plate rather than guessing from its size.
UK towing speed limits
When towing with a car or pickup, the national limits are lower than normal:
- 50 mph on single carriageway roads
- 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways
- No towing in the right-hand (outside) lane of a motorway with three or more lanes
- Lower local limits always apply
How to choose the right tow car
Start with your trailer's fully loaded weight. A large twin-axle caravan or a two-horse trailer with horses on board can easily weigh 2,500 to 3,500 kg. For those loads, a pickup such as the Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux is the safest choice: both are designed to tow 3,500 kg and have low-range four-wheel drive for wet fields and steep slipways.
For lighter loads such as a small boat or a box trailer, a Range Rover Sport or Defender gives you a more refined drive while still towing well. If you also need to carry people, the Defender 110 and the double-cab pickups both seat five.
Checks before you set off
Before every tow, walk round the vehicle and trailer:
- Hitch locked and breakaway cable attached
- Lights and indicators working on the trailer
- Tyre pressures correct on both vehicle and trailer
- Load spread evenly, with the right nose weight on the tow ball
- Mirrors extended if the trailer is wider than the vehicle
Book tow car hire with xDrivee
Choose the 3.5T tow bar extra on our quote form and tell us what you are towing. We will match a suitable vehicle, fit the tow bar and deliver to your door, a yard or an airport. Use the quote form or call 0333 054 0441.