Tools › Tow-Car Matcher
Towing & Caravans
Tow-Car Matcher
Can your car safely and legally tow that caravan? Enter the weights and get the full picture at once — the 85% stability rule, your car's towing limit, noseweight, gross train weight and the UK licence position.
Advanced (optional) — noseweight & train weight
How to check if your car can tow a caravan
A safe, legal match has to clear several separate limits — passing one doesn't mean you've passed the others. This tool checks them together:
- Towing capacity (the hard limit). Your caravan's loaded weight must not exceed the car's maximum braked towing capacity. This is a legal and technical limit — exceeding it can invalidate insurance and is unsafe.
- The 85% guideline (stability). The loaded caravan should ideally weigh no more than 85% of the car's kerb weight. This is about stability, not the law.
- Noseweight. The download on the towball must stay within the lower of the car's and towbar's limits, and is best around 5–7% of the caravan's loaded weight.
- Gross train weight (GTW). The fully laden car plus the caravan must not exceed the car's gross train weight.
The 85% rule explained
The 85% figure compares the caravan's fully loaded weight (its MTPLM) with the car's kerb weight. At or below 85% the outfit is at its most stable and forgiving — the recommended zone, especially for newer towers. Between 85% and 100% is widely considered experienced-only territory, and a caravan heavier than the car (over 100%) is strongly discouraged. It is a guideline, not a legal limit, but it's a good first filter when caravan shopping.
Towing capacity is the limit that's actually the law
Don't confuse the 85% guideline with your car's towing capacity. The maximum braked towing mass on the VIN plate and in the handbook is a fixed engineering and legal limit you must never exceed — even if the caravan is well under 85% of the kerb weight. Both tests must pass.
Noseweight
Too little noseweight invites instability and snaking; too much overloads the car's rear axle. Aim for roughly 5–7% of the loaded caravan weight, and never exceed the lowest of the car's noseweight limit, the towbar's rating and the towball's rating.
Driving licence rules (Great Britain)
Since 16 December 2021, drivers with a standard category B car licence can tow a trailer or caravan with a Maximum Authorised Mass of up to 3,500 kg. Above that you need a B+E or C1+E entitlement. Drivers who passed before 1 January 1997 generally retain wider (B+E) grandfather rights. Northern Ireland rules differ — check your own entitlement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 85% towing rule?
A safety guideline (not the law) that the loaded caravan should be no more than 85% of the car's kerb weight. At or below 85% is ideal; 85–100% is for experienced towers; over 100% is strongly discouraged.
Can I tow on a normal car licence?
In Great Britain, since 16 December 2021 a category B licence allows towing a trailer up to 3,500 kg MAM. Above that needs B+E / C1+E. Always also stay within the car's towing capacity and gross train weight.
What noseweight should I aim for?
Around 5–7% of the caravan's loaded weight, capped at the lowest of the car's noseweight limit and the towbar/towball ratings.
Is the 85% rule the law?
No. The legal/technical limits are the car's braked towing capacity, gross train weight, axle limits and (for licensing) the 3,500 kg trailer MAM for a category B licence. The 85% rule is a stability guideline on top of those.