Warning to drivers towing a caravan this summer over illegal blunder that could land you with a £1,000 fine

The Sun

a day ago

DRIVERS towing caravans this summer need to avoid making this illegal mistake or could face a hefty £1000 fine.
With summer well underway and warmer days ahead, August marks a great opportunity for caravan owners to hit the road.
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Warning to drivers towing caravans this summer
However, it is important to watch out for this common mistake to avoid forking out a hefty sum if caught.
Before setting off, you must ensure that your car number plate matches that of your caravan or motorhome.
Failure to do so could lead to significant consequences.
The plate on the back of your caravan must match that of the towcar and follow the standard rules of size, colour and spacing, reports Caravan Times.
The other requirements are the number plate must be clearly visible and properly fixed to the caravan, and there are no exceptions for its removal from the vehicle.
In addition to being hit with an eye-watering fine for failure to comply, this can cause also cause significant insurance issues.
Your insurance may be invalidated, especially if you are involved in an accident while not displaying the correct number plate.
Government number plate specifications
According to the Gov.UK official website: "Your trailer must display the same number plate as the vehicle you're towing it with.
"If you're towing more than one trailer, the number plate must be fixed to the trailer at the back."
The website also specifies that all number plates must be made from a reflective material, display black characters on a white background (front plate), and display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate).
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Common caravaner fines to avoid
Caravan Times has also revealed the other common caravaner fines, to help to prevent your trip from taking a sour turn.
The first to look out for, and perhaps the most easy to forget, is speed limits.
While this isn't an issue for smaller vans, if your trailer weighs more than 3.05 tonnes or is longer than 12 metres, you will need to look out for lower speed limits.
While this can be easy to forget when cruising along the motorway, it is important to stick to these limits to avoid another £1000 fine.
The limit is 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways.
Another common mistake to be wary of is weight limits.
This often catches people out due to it being dependent upon when your driving licence was issued.
Steve Noga, campervan expert at Auto Finance, told Caravan Times: 'For driving licences before 1st January 1997, you can usually drive a vehicle and trailer with a combined weight of up to 8,250 kg.
"However, for any driving licences secured after this date, you can tow a trailer up to 3,500 kg.'
Beyond these limits you will need a special category on your licence.
The other three blunders often made revolve around parking, unsafe towing and overseas rules.
While wild camping is legal in Scotland, allowing you to park up outside of official sites, the same rules unfortunately do not apply in England, Wales or Ireland.
This is why it is always advised that you check local bylaws before parking up, whether that be for an overnight stay or just a quick pitstop.
Fines for unsafe towing can also be among the most hefty, reaching up to a staggering £2500.
It is therefore absolutely vital that you take time to secure your rig before hitting the road to protect both your bank account, and the people around you.
The last thing to consider is overseas rules.
It is important that you check the local laws before entering a new country as they will most likely differ to the UK.
Why caravan holidays are so underrated
CARAVAN park holidays are a British staple.
And with the cost of living crisis wreaking havoc on Britain's purses, more of us are turning to them for an affordable break.
Josie O'Brien, Senior Digital Writer on Fabulous, weighs in on why she thinks caravan holidays are seriously underrated...
WHEN I was a child, my mum used to collect the £9.50 holiday vouchers in The Sun.
She'd use them to book a couple of nights away at a caravan park during the school holidays.
As an adult, I fully appreciate the convenience of a humble caravan holiday.
No faffing about with passports, no luggage limits and no bog-standard hotel breakfast of stale toast and grey eggs.
I still love caravan holidays as an adult.
In a world of doing everything for the 'gram, a caravan park brings you back to basics.
There's no obligation to get dressed up, no stress to fit a million picturesque excursions in one week and I don't find myself flustered in tourist hot spots like abroad.
I love going to coastal caravan parks and strolling along the beach parade.
My highlight is always fresh mussels, ice-creams and classic pubs to grab an afternoon tipple in.
And then, of course, there's the cost.
Staying in a caravan is definitely way cheaper than my international trips.
With no expensive hotel bills and the ability to cook my own meals, I'm spending hundreds less than I would abroad.
I've had some of my best and most relaxing holidays in caravans. Maybe I'll buy my own one day.
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