The ridiculous towing laws in the UK

[spandit]

I passed my driving test in 1997. All car licences issued after 1st Jan 1997 restrict the amount you can legally tow. It's done in a mind blowingly stupid way:

The maximum combined MAM of the towing vehicle + the trailer must be less than 3500kg. This means that my Pinzgauer, with a MAM of 3040kg, can only tow a trailer with a MAM of 460kg

However, my 2 wheel drive estate car, a Ford Mondeo, has a MAM of about 1800kg, which means I could use it to tow 1700kg behind me.

If you're looking for an American example, a Mazda Miata (MX5 in the UK) weighs about 1100kg. Now, the rules state that the trailer can't be heavier than the towing vehicle, but this still means I could legally tow over twice the weight (i.e. 1100kg) with a lightweight sportscar than with a Pinzgauer, or Land Rover 110 (MAM 3050kg)

To be legally able to tow decent weights, I'd have to pass another test. The standard car driving test costs about £65 ($101) but the trailer test is £115 ($180). Livid doesn't describe it...

[milesdzyn]

Even thou the laws are a little strange, You should be glad that people have to take a trailer test in the UK. Here in the states any Idiot can tow a trailer with no instruction or clue as to propper techniques. I have witnessed some of the most bizzar and down right stupid things involving trailers, I wish they gave tests here in the USA. Of course once you exceed a set wheight limit one does need a endorsement, but any licensed driver can do the following: Operate any cars, vans, pickups, mopeds, and other vehicles with a GVWR of 26,000 pounds or less; allows towing of a trailer with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less not to exceed 70 feet in length. Thats a combined GVWR of 36,000 pounds at 70 feet long a person, that just got their standard C class license, can drive around at 70 MPH on a freeway.

Miles

[spandit]

Actually, I wasn't strictly correct. I can tow a trailer with a MAM of 750kgs. This graph illustrates the maximum...