IMPORTANT - Changes To Caravan Registration Laws In Europe
According to a European touring group on Facebook that I’m on, Germany (and potentially other countries in Europe) are now enforcing rules that caravans under 3500kgs need a separate registration plate to the tow vehicle. Of course, this isn’t the law in the UK, but there’s been at least two reports this week of caravanners being stopped in Germany and fined €100 for non-compliance. It seems that our pre-Brexit exemption has finally been overturned.
Registering your caravan separately to the car needs to be done in the UK, but costs between £21-£26 to do so. Driving with the new plate replacing the matching one on your tow vehicle still seems to be a grey area, with people suggesting that you find somewhere to attach the second plate. According to a German police officer, it could be anywhere on the sides or rear of the caravan.
Anyway, just wanted to give you all a heads up. The link to the official UK Government website detailing the changes and information about how to apply for a unique registration plate for your caravan can be found here: www.gov.uk/register-trailer-to-take-abroad
Comments
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The registration applies to:
- commercial trailers over 750kg gross weight
- non-commercial trailers over 3,500kg gross weight
I can’t see how it can apply to touring caravans.
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Hi Cameron, we've seen similar Facebook posts about this recently and would like to clarify that there hasn't been any change to the rules. As per the government website only caravans over 3,500 kg (or all commercial trailers over 750kg) need to be registered so this will most likely exclude all member caravans.
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The caravan only needs to be registered if towed by a vehicle that is registered in a country other than the UK.
In practice this would normally only apply under the following circumstances:
1. If someone from the Continent comes over to the UK to purchase a caravan there and then wants to tow it back to his home country with his foreign registered car.
2. A UK outfit touring the Continent suffers a breakdown or accident and the caravan has to be repatriated separately by towing it back to the UK with a foreign registered vehicle. (However, it’s not too difficult to get around this by loading the caravan on a recovery vehicle).0 -
I think there is a problem with the interpretation of these rules by the German police. There are now a number of apparently legitimate examples of UK citizens being fined in Germany. Unless you are fluent in German you are not going to argue the toss, and probably not even than. It does seem to be the case that German police have very wide powers in regard to stopping motorists. I do hope the CAMC is taking this up with relevant authorities and not just relying on the Gov.uk web site
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It maybe a role for the FIA or other motoring organisation to take on but I don’t think it’s within the club's remit to consult with the German Police.
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It is true that there is a German police blog dated 22 March 2022, which claims that the UK does not benefit from the opportunity to refrain from having non-commercial trailers under 3500kg registered because this exception from normal requirements for trailer registration only applies to EEA states, of which the UK is no longer a member. Obviously some German police officers are applying this practice, although I cannot find any other source which supports the statements made in the blog.
For anyone fluent in German, I am providing a link to the blog to which I refer:
https://ksv-polizeipraxis.de/auslaendische-kfz-anhaenger-im-deutschen-strassenverkehr/0 -
You can make the same enquiries as an individual.
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We met a fellow caravaner in France this summer who had been pulled over and fined by the German police on a previous touring holiday in Germany. He apparently appealed the Euro100 fine on his return to the UK, however his appeal was dismissed and the fine increased to Euro 750. I understand that the CAMC is aware of this and so is the UK Government. Unfortunately the CAMC can only repeat the guidelines given by the UK Government.
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Have caravanned in Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy but always steered clear of Germany. Never liked them. You reinforce my deep seated prejudice.
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Just as a balance I can say that we've met nothing but kindness from Germans on the multiple occasions we've holidayed there. This includes more or less every state in the country, mainly excluding Hamburg as we've not stopped there.
As you steered clear of Germany ET you obviously have not had any chance to change your mind. Rather surprising for such a Europhile.
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Today (26/08/2025) the Government website has been updated to state that ALL trailers over 750kgs now need a registration plate in Europe - with the exception of Ireland, Cyprus, Malta and Spain.
When you begin the registration process, it states that all COMMERCIAL trailers over 750kgs need to be registered, which rules out caravans. But the main page just states “all trailers… including caravans”. It obviously is pretty ambiguous, I feel that for the sake of £26, it’s just worth doing regardless so that you don’t get caught out.
It’s not clear yet if you need a UK plate on display as well as the new registration number, or if the trailer registration number needs to be illuminated.
The updated legislation can be found here:0 -
Yes, this seems to be a work in progress.
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The GOV.UK article regarding registering trailers does indicate that this is " Part of - Transport goods out of the UK by road" Maybe this would apply if you were taking a caravan abroad to a show where you were demonstrating a product and selling the item there and then?
It definitely needs clarification.1 -
It seems CAMC need to catch up. I’m reading criticism elsewhere of their lack of info.🤷🏻♂️
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I know of someone who has successfully registered his caravan.
That screen shot tells you that your trailer needs to be over 750kg which it definitely is.
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Check the update posted above by Cameron. It became effective on 26 Aug.
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The end.
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Looks to me that this is a work in progress. I have noticed the DVLA text change multiple times. It now includes caravans but it's still on a commercial section of the website. Plus the actually IT registration hasn't been changed so despite the "requirement text changes", the "system" at the end says it's not a requirement but you can go ahead anyway.
Another £50 including plate down the pan.
Looks like something got missed in leaving the EU discussions.
I wonder also if they can check the number, or just velcro on any old plate for travelling through Germany!!
Its not as though registration checks anything from the manufacturer...
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I agree it appears to be a work in progress by the Govt.
See-
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Tinners, Press the Green button at the button of this link and apply for to register.
https://www.gov.uk/register-trailer-to-take-abroad0
