insurance for towing a trailer??

itsme123

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does anyone know if you have to change your insurance to tow a trailer (with a pony in) ??

Also how much weight you can tow (pony + trailer) without taking the trailer test?? I know there is a limit just can't remember what it is.
 
Your normal car insurance will cover the trailer for third party automatically. Check your policy to be 100% sure but i think this is the case most of the time. You would need to get separate trailer insurance for theft etc.
 
You can tow a maximum weight of 3.5t, that must include car, trailer, horse, tack, people etc. You wouldn't be able to do it with a 2 horse trailer but can possibly get away with a single trailer.
But you can tow over 3.5t with 'L' plates and someone who has held their towing license for 3 years or more (I inlisted the help of friends who did even have or like horses, but they took their test before the law changed!)

When I passed my towing test I phoned my insurance company to tell them I'd be towing etc and they didn't even know what I was talking about and just said well anything you tow is only covered third party!

Hope this helps
 
'Car licences obtained on or after 1 January 1997
If you passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 you're limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. You will need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight limits.'

from the regulations. I don't think there are many combinations including a suitable car and trailer which would sensibly allow you to tow without doing the test. But I could be wrong!
 
Thankyou everyone, insurance is fully comp but will just phone and check to make doubly sure.

Yes hoggedmane, it'd be towing the pony in the siggie in a lightweight sheep trailer, he's less than 200kgs and the trailer's only about 300 max.
 
as far as i am aware its illeagle to travel a horse like that. They have to have breach bars etc in the trailer, which a sheep trailer wont...
 
no, deffo not illegal, it;s how the commoners in the new forest travel their ponies, and lots of people at shows do too.
 
Years ago I used to use a cattle trailer ( I suppose it was probably actually a sheep trailer) and my mare was wedged in with her nose at one end and tail at other. Never had any problems and she travelled brill!! (A long time ago!!!)
 
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