One easily forgotten detail about traveling with a caravan is the speed limits when towing your caravan. This is easy to forget as people usually assume it is the same limit that applies to everyone else on the road however this is not always the case. The weight of the caravan, as well as the total weight of the things inside the caravan, have to be taken into consideration and therefore the speed limit is generally lower when towing a caravan.
In this blog post, I will be looking at the different speed limits for towing a caravan within the UK as well as giving you some extra safety tips for towing a caravan. The table below highlights the speed limits for towing a caravan in the UK.
| Built up areas | 30mph |
| Single carriageways | 50mph |
| Dual carriageways | 60mph |
| Motorways | 60mph |
In this blog post, I will be discussing the following:
Caravan towing speed limits
I have already listed the speed limit for UK roads in the table above, however, let’s take a look at each one in more detail to understand why these speed limits have been set. As you can see from the table, the speed limit for built-up areas is 30mph. This is the same speed limit as those who are not towing a vehicle. the speed limit here doesn’t change if you’re towing a caravan. This is because 30mph is already a very safe speed limit, regardless of what the vehicle is. If the posted speed limit on the road signs says 50mph, 40mph, 30mph, or 20mph, then that’s how fast you’re allowed to drive when you’re towing a caravan on these built-up areas.
Single carriageways
On single carriageway roads, the speed limit for cars is 60mph, however, the limit for a car towing a caravan is 50mph. The general rule is that if you’re towing a caravan, then you have to drive 10mph below the speed on the road signs unless you’re on a built-up area, where you follow the speed on the road signs. Many caravan users often find this rule a little frustrating, especially if they feel that their towing vehicle can easily tow their caravan at 60mph and prevent them from holding up traffic behind them. Despite this, it’s still important to abide by the law and stick to 50mph. If you are towing a caravan or driving any other larger vehicle where you have to drive slower, you should pull over and let the traffic past if you see a queue forming behind you.
Dual carriageways
If you are towing a caravan on a dual-carriageway, the maximum speed is 60mph. This is the same for wherever there is a 70mph speed limit for cars. However, if there is a lower posted limit, then that is the limit you should follow. If the speed limit on a dual carriageway is less than 70mph, then you don’t need to drive 10mph slower. For example, if the posted limit on the dual carriageway is 60mph or less, the same maximum speed applies to a car that is towing a caravan.
Motorways
The speed limit on the motorway is 70mph for a solo car, however, just like on a dual carriageway, you will need to drive slower if you’re towing a caravan. Again this will be 10mph slower, which means a car towing a caravan needs to drive at 60mph on the motorway. Although it might seem like you’re driving too slow, it is still important to follow these laws as it helps to keep your caravan and towing vehicle steady on the motorway. When it comes to towing a caravan on the motorway, there is another rule to follow. While towing a caravan, you’re not allowed to drive in the third lane. This rule has been set to ease the flow of traffic and to make sure that the third lane isn’t filled with slow-moving vehicles. If the motorway has two lanes, then this rule doesn’t apply and you are free to use any lane as long as you return to the first lane once you have overtaken the vehicle in front of you.
Tips for towing a caravan
Now that I have explained the speed limits for towing a caravan in the UK, here are some more helpful tips to keep you safe on the road when towing a caravan:
- The tow bars must meet the EU regulations and must be designed for your car specific. This ensure that the hitching is done correctly and safely
- You should be giving yourself more time and space for driving, especially when going around sharp corners.
- Always make sure to check your car and caravan’s tyres before setting out on a trip.
- Never exceed 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways.
- Never carry passengers in the caravan when you’re towing it, all passengers should be sat in the towing vehicle.
- Your number plate must show your car’s registration number.
- If your caravan weighs over 750kg, including its load, then it must have a working brake system.
- Try to keep the caravan as light as possible with the heavier items low down and as close to the axle.
- If you find that your caravan is snaking, try using stabilisers.
Speed limits for European countries
On of the many perks of having a caravan is the freedom it gives you when traveling, such as the ability to drive to other European countries. If this is something you are thinking of doing, then it’s important to know the speed limits of the countries you wish to visit. The table at the start of this blog post, the table below lists the speed limits for other European countries.
| Country | The combined weight of under 3.5t on the motorway (mph) | The combined weight of over 3.5t on the motorway (mph) | The combined weight of under 3.5t on non-motorway roads (mph) | The combined weight of over 3.5t on non-motorway roads (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 62 | 50 | 50 | 44 |
| Belgium | 74 | 56 | 56 | 56 |
| Croatia | 56 | 56 | 50 | 50 |
| Czech Republic | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Denmark | 50 | 44 | 44 | 44 |
| Germany | 62 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| France | 81 | 56 | 56 | 50 |
| Hungary | 50 | 50 | 44 | 44 |
| Ireland | 50 | 50 | 37 | 37 |
| Italy | 62 | 50 | 50 | 44 |
| Luxembourg | 81 | 56 | 56 | 47 |
| Norway | 68 | 50 | 50 | 68 |
| Portugal | 62 | 62 | 44 | 44 |
| Slovenia | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Spain | 50 | 50 | 44 | 44 |
| Sweden | 56 | 56 | 44 | 44 |
| Switzerland | 50 | 62 | 50 | 62 |
| The Netherlands | 56 | 50 | 50 | 50 |