Stop and check
this is our second season to caravaning and are looking forward to our longest travel to cornwall for 2 weeks in 6 weeks, the thing that bothers use is if we get pulled over by the police, what do thay want or need, were are the most common areas to get
stopped, we got the correct driving licence and isurance, and crisis reg, just worried we wont have what they want Thanyou in advance
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if you've got all the relevant documents you'll be fine....just as long as the van isnt overweight and all your tyres are legal, etc...
just relax, youve taken all the sensible precautions so dont beat yourselves up.....enjoy......
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The CRIS document isn't a legal requirement - it's not like a DVLA document - and some would say it's not wise to carry it with you in case of theft. In terms of documents you only need your licence, insurance and MOT although all of them are checked online
for validity anyway.Otherwise, simply obey all the laws, rules and regulations.
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What docs are these? Carava insurance isn't obligatory and CRiS is voluntary too. As long as your licence is up to towing what you have on the back of the car and the car is insured &MOTd etc
I've yet to be stopped .....touches wood! ;-)
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The police are only likely to stop you as an individual outfit (as opposed to general roadside checks which are very rare) if they sense there is something wrong with your outfit like lights not working, you are speeding, the outfit looks unstable or overloaded.
They have so much online information now they probably know more about you than you do!!! If you are conscientious about your safety checks before departure then I doubt you have anything to worry about.David
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I don't carry any of my documents these days. As they check it all online, it seems somewhat superfluous. Should I?
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You should also really carry your car V5 and details of your insurance. French vehicles display a 'sticker' in the windscreen which tells the police they are insured, and it's likely to be the one thing you forget.
However, in thirty-five years of touring in France, with and without a caravan, we have never once been stopped and asked for our documents.
We were stopped in Italy and they wanted to see absolutely everything 'official' and still weren't satisfied, so we incurred a huge fine for various 'infringements' which had to be paid in cash and for which no receipt was issued. However, it's not easy
to argue the toss with two gun carrying Italian policemen. We haven't been back to Italy since!0 -
At the West Central Q&A, the copper present said the Police/DVSA will either pull your over because of some visible defect with the van [eg lights, looking overweight], your driving behaviour, or because they are doing a spot check on all caravans. The latter
happens on the A55 entering Wales and from what I hear and see, find the occasional caravan unfit for the road. Mersey Tunnel Police occasionally do spot check to ensure you have switched off the gas before you enter the tunnel. I know spot checks occur on
the M6 near Preston and on the M62 before you climb out of Manchester. Spot checks are usually during peak holiday periods. Don't worry. It's quite reassuring to get the thumbs up when you've been checked out.0 -
At the West Central Q&A, the copper present said the Police/DVSA will either pull your over because of some visible defect with the van [eg lights, looking overweight], your driving behaviour, or because they are doing a spot check on all caravans. The latter
happens on the A55 entering Wales and from what I hear and see, find the occasional caravan unfit for the road. Mersey Tunnel Police occasionally do spot check to ensure you have switched off the gas before you enter the tunnel. I know spot checks occur on
the M6 near Preston and on the M62 before you climb out of Manchester. Spot checks are usually during peak holiday periods. Don't worry. It's quite reassuring to get the thumbs up when you've been checked out.....hence my comments in another thread concerning weight...
a nice weigbridge slip goes down well, as it suggests youve at least bothered to check that all is legal with a caravan or MH.
OK, it wont necessarily be accurate on the day, but it shows good dilligence...
vans can be weighed easily at the roadside with small pads that go under each wheel.....no need, these days, to be 'marched' to a weighbridge...
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In the UK, where the OP is going on holiday, the necessity to carry documents is very different from when travelling abroard where it is a requirement. I always have my driving licence with me although I don't think that is a requirement in the UK. The Police
will usually give to a couple of days to produce that at a local police station. I also carry my insurance certificate just in case of an accident so that I can furnish the other driver with the details. I am sure there must be an App for a phone somewhere!!!David
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In the UK the Police have access to your driving licence, car ownership, insurance, tax and MOT details 'online'. So they don't really need you to have anything in your possession. That said, it's probably sensible to carry your driving licence (as a form
of identification if nothing else) and a copy of your insurance certificate will come in handy in case you're unlucky enough to have a collision, especially if you're on holiday. You will never be required to produce your CRIS document, as it's not a legal
requirement to have one - NEVER leave it in your van or your original V5 (logbook) in your car.The rules abroad are VERY different, so make sure you have everything required for the country(ies) you visit overseas.
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In 30 odd years of towing never been stopped but....a few days ago I realised I was probably breaking the law ...I had driven off a CL and forgotten to put the towing mirrors on! Soon found a bus stop.....was pulling in there and blocking it for 2 minutes
breaking the law too???0 -
The police (in the UK) can check your licence (categories, points etc) via their control room, as well as obviously MOT, Tax & Insurance. You are unlikely nowadays to be issued with the old HORT/1 "seven day producer". If you are driving on some sort of multi car or trade policy not specifically linked to your vehicle it may very well be worth having a copy of your insurance policy with you to avoid a Section 165 seizure....
Oh, and making sure your caravan number plate matches your car helps as well.....
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You should also really carry your car V5 and details of your insurance. French vehicles display a 'sticker' in the windscreen which tells the police they are insured, and it's likely to be the one thing you forget.
However, in thirty-five years of touring in France, with and without a caravan, we have never once been stopped and asked for our documents.
Perhaps I should clarify. I'm talking about in the UK. I carry all the paperwork if abroad.
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If you do not have your driving lic ence you will need some positive proof of identity. The problem with not having your driving licence with you is that they cannot be sure that you are you and could be giving false details of someone you know.
You do not need other documents but should have the phone number and policy number of your insurance for both car and caravan and for any breakdown insurance in case you need to ring them.
I would not carry the CRIS document but do carry the credit card size card they issue but on me so that if there is any query I can show that.
We have never been stopped but we know it can happen, but they seem to be checks mainly at services on caravans that pull in there. I do not think we are a very high priority for most police forces but if the outfit looks wrong then you might be stopped.
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We have a word document ( a legacy of two years where we lived in Greece) that has copies of all our important paperwork.
Bank account details, scanned copies of driving licence/passport, all insurance policy details, etc.
Whenever any of these details are updated the master document is also updated. The document has an obscure name and is password protected. We have a copy on both of our laptops and on our phones.
Its amazing how often it has come in handy.!
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If you do not have your driving lic ence you will need some positive proof of identity. The problem with not having your driving licence with you is that they cannot be sure that you are you and could be giving false details of someone you know. .....
I could still be anyone .... mine's a green/yellow paper licence
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I know the OP asked about UK and his question has been answered. Abroad, as has been mentioned, is very different. I take all documentation, including the CRIS, just in case I am asked to prove that I own/have registered the caravan. We are one of the
few countries that do not require caravans (over750kgs) to be registered. When I lived in France and was registering my old UK caravan, at the final hurdle (registering it was like a marathon with obstacles all the way!) the clerk asked me for my UK caravan
registration document! The CRIS certificate was accepted!0
