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But they can be used legally here, just with a vehicle, not necessarily a commercial vehicle, with a GVW of 3501 kg or more.  They aren't doing anything illegal, it is up to the consumer to ensure they are buying something they can legally tow with their vehicle and not Hobby.

Ali

"Ah but the foreigners can tow them quite legally.  Whenever you go to another country it is the rules of your country that count.  So on the continent it is legal to tow this size of van with a car or 4 X 4 so providing they meet their own legislation, they can come here quite legally."

Foreigners are required to comply with UK regulations and if caught driving a wide body caravan with a vehicle less than 3001kg they will face the same penalty as UK nationals. This info given to me from Sec. of Transport via my MP.

Quote: Originally posted by azusuk1 on 20/8/2009

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Foreigners are required to comply with UK regulations and if caught driving a wide body caravan with a vehicle less than 3001kg they will face the same penalty as UK nationals. This info given to me from Sec. of Transport via my MP.

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Yep concur with Geoff, if you think about it how could anybody take their unit to another country if other countries imposed different regs and most of your travelling was in your home country?  You can't adhere to one set of rules in one and one in another or else you could end up requiring different size caravans and cars to satisfy home and abroad.

Ali

There are a great deal of conflicting opinions on this thread and the following might help to clarify what the correct ruling is:

Letter from from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, signed by Jim Fitzpatrick, Dept.of Transport 5 Mar. 2009:

"The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 as amended (C&U) set down the permissable widths and lengths of trailers in Great Britain. If the gross weight of a vehicle is 3.5 tonnes or less then the maximum width of the trailer it is permitted to tow is 2.3 metres and the maximum length is 7metres. If the gross weight of a vehicle is over 3.5 tonnes the maximum width of the trailer is 2.55 metres and the maximum length is 12 metres. While certain exemptions apply to visitors from the continent who bring in caravans, they are NOT exempted from these dimensio regulations. Anyone who does tow a vehicle wider than one permitted under Regulation 8 of C&U is committing an offence (and is also possibly not covered by his motor insurance policy). Towing regulations are not yet harmonised across Europe. While some EU Member States permit vehicles with a gross weight of 3.5 tonnes or less to tow trailers which are over 2.3 metres wide, we have no plans to follow suit."

(signed) Jim Fitzpatrick

The Department of Transport have published a fact sheet "Requirement for Trailers" and the following are excerpts from that document:

.....we  (UK) provide visiting vehicles an exemption from the construction, equipment and mainenance of vehicle requirements specified in Part 1 of C&U but not from the requirements of Regulations 7, 8 and 10 which relate to length, width and height respectively.

....The UK is permitted to refuse to admit vehicles into the UK if the dimensions exceed limits fixed by the domestic legislation, Annex 1 (1).

.....This Fact Sheet provides our view of the current situation but should be taken as definitive legal advice as this is a matter for the courts.

I should mention that the Fact Sheet, issued by the Department of Transport, provides guidance on other matters connected with Trailers/Caravans such as Brakes, Lights, Coupling Devices. (TTS.enquiries at dft.gsi.gov.uk(  Driving licence enquiries are handled by the DVLA.(drivers.dvla at gtnet.gov.uk)

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A Member State may not reject or prohibit the use in its territory, in international traffic, of vehicles registered or put into circulation in any other Member State for reasons relating to their weights and dimensions, ...

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1. This Directive applies to:
(a) the dimensions of motor vehicles in categories M2, M3 and N2 and N3 and their trailers ...

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I stand corrected but equally would say that it seems the UK turn a blind eye.

Ali

The regulation as applicable in UK is totally incomprehensible. There is no logical reason for it such as road widths being too narrow etc and it is shown to be a complete nonsense when continentals are allowed to tow 2.5m caravans with family cars throughout Europe. The reason for this is as stated previously - UK caravan manufacturers do not want to convert to producing 2.5m vans for whatever reason and they have successfully lobied their MPs to block their legal use in UK. If caravanners wish to change this regulation then they too must register their views with the various caravan clubs and with their MPs. I have written to mine and await their response.

I am not aware of any police prosecutions of people flouting this stupid and unfair regulation but I have been advised by one police officer that if a prosecution were to be successful the fine could be as much as £3000. As Mr. Dickens once said - the law is an ass! Get your pens out (or PC's) and smack it to your MP.

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1. Category M : Motor vehicles having at least four wheels, or having three wheels when the maximum weight exceeds 1 metric ton, and used for the carriage of passengers.
   • Category M1 : Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat.
   • Category M2 : Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, and having a maximum weight not exceeding 5 metric tons.
   • Category M3 : Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, and having a maximum weight exceeding 5 metric tons.


2. Category N : Motor vehicles having at least four wheels, or having three wheels when the maximum weight exceeds 1 metric ton, and used for the carriage of goods.
   • Category N1 : Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum weight not exceeding 3.75 metric tons.
   • Category N2 : Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum weight exceeding 3 75 but not exceeding 12 metric tons.
   • Category N3 : Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum weight exceeding 12 metric tons.

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