towing in europe

[pmitic]

We are hoping to tow on a trailer a Smart car. What is the legal consequences of this throughout europe.

[takeaflight]

All I can say is that we haved towed for the last two years and as long as you stay within weight and speed limits you wont have any problems

 

[w1ntersun]

Hi,

 

I am posting this from Conil de la frontera in Spain.

 

We have towed an A-frame with a Yaris on the back down to here last week.

 

France we were pasted by motorcycle police and passed road vehicle checks , no problems.

 

Spain we were pasted by traffic police 3 times and motorcycle police no problems.

 

We keep to the speed limit and have the car correctly signed with triangle etc.

 

JUst to make you sick the temp is 18C and sunny

 

 

 

[Brian Kirby]

Provided you adhere to trailer law and relevant speed limits for each country, and are correctly insured, there are no consequences.  A trailer is a trailer, irrespective of what it carries.

[Mel E]

Even trailer towing (as opposed to A-frame) isn't that simple, unfortunately. However, the info is now easily available.

 

Get a copy of the Caravan Club's 'Caravan Europe' - there will be a new edition about now and it's in 2 volumes. Vol 1 covers France, Spain, Portugal and Vol 2 every where else in Europe. As well as camp sites, it has up-to-date towing rules and speed limits for each type of road in each country. These differ widely so you must have this info. They also depend on the Maximum Allowed Mass (MAM or GVW) of the towing vehicle.

 

Second, check with your motorhome insurer that the trailer and contents are covered by the Third Party element of your motorhome insurance (they should be, but some insurers may regard a car on a trailer as exceptional). And check with your car insurer that they will maintain the comprehensive cover on it while it is being towed on the trailer. And if the trailer is valuable, get cover for it too.