WHAT LICENCE DO I NEED TO TOW A CARAVAN?

“What licence do I need to tow a caravan?” is a question that pops up all the time on social media and towing platforms.

Put another way the question is “can I tow with my EB (or other code) driver’s licence?”

Let’s see if we can get all the rules together so you can find all the caravan towing information right here.

Your licence code together with the loading mass of the towed vehicle tells you if you can tow the caravan with the licence you hold.

What does the caravan data plate tell us?

South African driver’s licence codes

When you tow an unbraked trailer or caravan

A vehicle may only tow a trailer or caravan of less than 750kg IF the trailer does not have an independent braking system. In this case, the GVM of the trailer must be less than 50% of the towing vehicle’s TARE.

When you tow a braked trailer or caravan

A vehicle may tow a braked trailer or caravan of up to 3500kg if:

• The trailer’s GVM does not exceed the towing vehicle’s TARE.
• The towing vehicle tows a maximum of two trailers provided that the trailer attached to the towing vehicle has an independent braking system.
• The Combined Gross Vehicle Mass (CGVM) of the two trailers does not exceed the towing vehicle’s unloaded weight (TARE) up to a maximum of 3 500kgs.
• The Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of a trailer or the Combined Gross Vehicle Mass (CGVM) of two trailers exceeds the TARE of the towing vehicle or 3500kg, then the trailers AND the towing vehicle must be fitted with one of either a Hydraulic, Pneumatic or Electrical service brake.
• The total length of the tow vehicle and the two trailers is less than 22 metres.
• The driver of the towing vehicle holds at least an EB licence.

Where the CVGM of the two trailers combined exceeds 750kg BOTH trailers must have an operational independent braking system.

Towing a car behind your caravan

Campers often tow a small car behind a caravan or RV.

If you tow your Jimny, Smart Car or beach buggy behind your caravan, the device connecting the vehicles (usually an A-frame) must be such that the steerable wheels of the towed vehicle are controlled by the A-frame.

Alternatively, the rule is that the steerable wheels of the towed vehicle must be carried clear of the ground. (Article 330 of the National Road Traffic Act). Read more.

This means a small car towed behind a caravan by way of an A-frame (the device) is perfectly legal.

Why should I not tow a caravan that is heavier than my licence permits?

There are two reasons namely you can get a fine from a traffic inspector and be prohibited from driving further and secondly you run the risk that your insurance company may not pay in case of an accident.

There is another reason and that is that prescribed weights are calculated on what is safe. If you do not keep to the prescriptions, you endanger yourself and your passengers.

Apart from overloading, a caravan that is not correctly packed (especially small caravans) will make towing a bad experience. Take note of which side of your caravan has the heaviest tents and accessories.

Insurers distinguish between a driver’s licence and a vehicle licence.

Driving without a driver’s licence allows insurers to deny accident claims because the driver’s licence indicates an ability to operate a vehicle safely.

Driving or towing an unlicensed vehicle or caravan does not lead to the automatic refusal of an insurance claim because it indicates that administrative fees have been paid.

It does not affect the risk borne by the insurer. (An insurer may refuse a claim if the towing or towed vehicles were unroadworthy and it led to the accident. In other words, it affected the risk of the insurer) Read more here

We hope this makes it easier for caravanners to understand what they can tow with their driver’s licences.

This is not all you need to know about towing and camping, but it deals with the often-asked question about what campers can tow.

_{Disclaimer: The information in this article was correct at the time of writing.}

Download this article as a pdf.

Sources:

• _{https://www.reambrokers.co.za/overloading}
• _{https://www.santam.co.za/blog/intermediary-advice/safely-and-correctly-towing-trailers-what-clients-need-to-know/}
• _{https://www.caravansa.co.za/feature-towing-regulations/}
• _{https://www.caravansa.co.za/weights-capacities-ratings-is-your-towing-combination-legal}
• _{https://www.carmag.co.za/technical/technical/towing-in-south-africa-heres-what-the-law-says/}
• _{https://www.arrivealive.mobi/towing-of-vehicles}
• _{https://savacancies.co.za/towing-licence-in-south-africa}