UK cars, vans & motorbikes
Towing Capacity Check by Reg
Use our towing capacity checker to see what your car, van or motorbike can tow. Enter your registration number and you'll get the basic vehicle details straight away, then your full towing report by email.
How the towing capacity check works
Enter your reg
Type in the registration number of the car, van or motorbike you want to check. You'll also see this called a number plate.
See your vehicle details
We show the make, model, year, fuel and engine size so you can confirm we've found the right vehicle.
Get your full report
Pop in your email and our team will prepare your towing figures and the rest of the report, then email it to you. It's done by hand, so it isn't instant.
What you get
Straight away, no email needed
- Make, model and year
- Fuel type and engine size
- Colour, body type, kerb weight and MOT status, where we have them
In your full report, by email
- Braked and unbraked towing capacity
- Maximum noseweight
- Gross train weight, kerb weight and maximum authorised mass (MAM)
- Vehicle specification, MOT and tax status
Towing capacity by reg: what it can and can't tell you
Checking towing capacity by registration is quick. Your reg tells us which vehicle you've got, and we then work out the manufacturer's towing weight figures for that make, model and engine.
A towing capacity by reg result is a good starting point, but it isn't the last word. Two cars that look the same can have different limits because of the engine, gearbox, year or trim. Modifications can change things too.
So treat our figures as a guide. The official numbers are on your vehicle's VIN plate and in the handbook. If you want to know where to find them, our guide on how to find your car's towing capacity shows you.
Towing capacity is only part of the picture
A car's towing limit doesn't tell you whether you're allowed to tow a particular trailer. You also need to think about:
- Your driving licence. If you passed your car test on or after 1 January 1997, you can tow a trailer up to 3,500kg MAM. GOV.UK calls this category BE. Before that date, you can usually drive a car and trailer combination up to 8,250kg MAM. See our UK towing licence rules.
- The trailer's weight. Look for its MAM on the plate. A loaded trailer over 750kg needs working brakes.
- The gross train weight. That's the most the fully loaded car and fully loaded trailer can weigh together. It sits on the VIN plate next to the gross vehicle weight, and it must not be exceeded.
- Stability. If you tow a caravan, the Caravan Club suggests beginners keep it to 85% of the car's kerb weight. That's guidance, not law. We explain it in our caravan matching guide.
What can my car tow?
So, how much can my car tow? The short version is that it depends on whether the trailer has brakes.
- Braked trailer: the car and the loaded trailer together must not weigh more than the gross train weight on the VIN plate. The trailer also mustn't go above your car's braked towing limit.
- Unbraked trailer: the loaded trailer must not weigh over 750kg. GOV.UK also says it shouldn't weigh more than 50% of your car's weight.
If your VIN plate doesn't list a gross train weight, GOV.UK says you shouldn't use that vehicle for towing.
Cars, vans and motorbikes
Cars
Most cars list a towing limit in the handbook. Hybrids and electric cars often tow less than their diesel cousins, so don't assume. Your towbar has its own limits too, so check its plate.
Vans
Vans often tow more than cars, but they come with their own weight limits and payload to think about. Read our van towing capacity guide.
Motorbikes
You can tow a small trailer with a motorbike of 125cc or more, but the rules are tight. The loaded trailer can't weigh more than 150kg or two thirds of the bike's kerbside weight, whichever is less. More in our motorbike trailer towing guide.
What's in your full towing report
It's free. Our team prepares each report and emails it to you, so it isn't instant. What you get depends on the data available for your vehicle.
Towing
- Braked towing capacity: the most your vehicle can pull with a braked trailer or caravan.
- Unbraked towing capacity: the limit for trailers without brakes.
- Maximum noseweight: how much downward weight your towball can take.
- Gross train weight: the most your loaded vehicle and loaded trailer can weigh together.
- Kerb weight: your vehicle's weight with fluids and fuel but no load.
- Maximum authorised mass (MAM): the legal weight limit of your vehicle when loaded.
- Caravan guideline weight: a quick 85% of kerb weight figure, from Caravan Club guidance (a guideline, not law).
Vehicle details
- Make, model, variant and year
- Engine size and fuel type
- Transmission
- Body type, colour, doors and seats
- CO2 emissions and Euro status
- Date of first registration
MOT and tax
- MOT status and expiry date
- MOT history: past tests, results and advisories.
- Mileage readings recorded at MOT tests.
- Vehicle tax status and due date
Extras
- "What can I tow?" summary: a plain-English summary of your figures, with a reminder of the licence rules.
Report contents depend on the data available for your vehicle. Some items may show as "Not available". The report is a guide and isn't legal, safety or insurance advice.
Towing guides
How to find your car's towing capacity
Three ways to find it: by reg, on the VIN plate or in the handbook.
UK towing licence rules
What your licence lets you tow, including the December 2021 change.
Van towing capacity
Payload, gross train weight and what a van can pull.
Caravan towing weights and the 85% rule
Matching a caravan to your car, and where the 85% guideline fits.
Motorbike trailer towing rules
The weight, width and engine-size limits for towing behind a bike.
Towing capacity check FAQs
How do I check towing capacity by registration?
Enter your reg in the towing capacity checker. We'll identify the vehicle and show its basic details straight away. Our team then prepares your full towing report and emails it to you, so it isn't instant. Treat the result as a guide and confirm it on your VIN plate or in the handbook, because those are the official figures for your vehicle.
What can I tow on a standard UK car licence?
If you passed your car test on or after 1 January 1997, you can tow a trailer up to 3,500kg MAM. Before that date, you can usually drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg MAM. Your car's own towing limit and gross train weight still apply. Since 16 December 2021, you don't need a separate B+E test to tow up to 3,500kg.
What's the difference between braked and unbraked towing capacity?
Braked towing capacity is how much your vehicle can pull when the trailer has working brakes. Unbraked is for trailers without brakes, and it's lower. GOV.UK says a loaded unbraked trailer mustn't weigh over 750kg, and it shouldn't weigh more than 50% of your car's weight.
What is gross train weight?
Gross train weight is the most that your fully loaded vehicle and fully loaded trailer can weigh together. It's on the VIN plate, and it must not be exceeded. If your VIN plate doesn't list a train weight, GOV.UK says you shouldn't use the vehicle for towing.
Where can I find my car's towing limit if I haven't got the handbook?
Look at the VIN plate, usually under the bonnet or inside the driver's door, for the gross train weight. The handbook or specification sheet normally gives the towing limit. You can also check by reg here, or ask a main dealer to confirm the figures for your exact vehicle.
Is the towing capacity check free, and what do you do with my email?
Yes. Checking a reg and seeing the basic vehicle details is free, and so is the full report we email to you. Our team prepares each report manually, so it arrives by email rather than on screen. We use your email to send your report. We don't sell it. See our privacy policy.
How accurate are the figures?
They're a guide. We match your reg to the towing data for that make, model and engine, but modifications and variants can change a vehicle's real limits. The VIN plate and handbook on your own vehicle are the final word, so check them before you tow.
About this service
Our towing capacity checker is run by BEN SKY LIMITED. We built it because working out what you can tow shouldn't mean digging through a handbook in a cold driveway. You can check towing capacity by registration in a few seconds. Read more about us or get in touch.
Quick reminder: the figures here are a guide, not legal or safety advice. Always check the VIN plate and handbook to stay safe, and make sure your licence and insurance cover what you're towing. You'll find more information in our guides.