IMPORTANT - Changes To Caravan Registration Laws In Europe
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I'm afraid you've got it all wrong. By signing and ratifying the agreement, the UK did commit itself to implementing trailer registration for international traffic, and international traffic only. Spain, Ireland and Malta never ratified the Vienna Convention of 1968, so they aren't affected other than through separate EU requirements, but the UK did ratify the agreement, albeit not until 2018. That trailer registration within the UK is not required is beside the point. The Vienna Convention makes no provisions in cases where vehicles don't cross international borders.
The exception for non-commercial trailers towed by EEA- (not only EU-) registered vehicles is covered by a separate internal agreement that has nothing to do with the said Vienna Convention.0 -
Lutz, as I see it you just keep changing the goalposts and your arguments to suit. How can something be ratified by the UK then, as you say, be beside the point is beyond me. Likewise countries sign up then have internal 'agreements' is also beyond me. I can't follow it or your reasoning.
But it's all done and dusted now, people know what to do so it doesn't matter about laws, conventions and things being beside the point or internal agreements going against whatever, just register, pay and tow, and Lauren would say…
At least I won my bet, but I've made another😉
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The issue to which I referred was that was “beside the point” was that of an internal agreement within the EEA that is of no international consequence, just as much as not to have to register a trailer that is only going to be used within the UK is an internal matter of the UK. Neither of those two things are touched on by the Vienna Convention. However, when a country has agreed to abide by international rules then it should follow through with its commitments. This has just taken 7 years to do although it still doesn’t comply with the need to have the trailer registration plate to always be legible from the rear.0
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Yes Lutz, I am sure you know best, but to me you keep changing your arguments to suit, and even that last post is contradictory.
But as I keep trying to say it really doesn't matter anymore. Register, pay and all's well?
Now I'm sure you will want the last word. But I'll leave it there as discussion is getting impossible for me anyway due to your legal and other (blogs to guidelines to basis for how a police force works) twists and turns.
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It would interest me, though, where my previous post was contradictory. Rules concerning travel within the EU don't count as being international. They have the same standing as the UK national requirement to display the towcar's registration on the trailer or not to have to register the trailer itself. I can only presume that is where you saw an apparent contradiction.0
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The whole misunderstanding is as a result of the UK government‘s inability to bring legislation into line with what they agreed to. That’s a recipe for potential problems for those touring the Continent where they will go by the terms of the agreement, not by what UK legislation states. One can understand the reluctance of caravan clubs issuing advice to their members so long as the mess isn’t cleared up.0
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Yes, I posted pointing the finger at the UK Govt nearly 3 weeks ago when CAMC were getting the flack as if it was their fault. We seem to be going round in ever decreasing circles🙁
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Yes +1 @Tinwheeler, the club(s) can only pass on what they read/get/understand from official bodies higher up.
An yes we are. I assumed the advice and post given by Ro upthread would be the end of it?
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I have to wonder if her post was read?🤷🏻♂️
Post #75, page 3.
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I wonder why I have only ever seen one caravan registration plate on a continental based caravan. I travel on the M74 almost daily and there are many foreign caravan tourists there.
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That the caravan has to display the towing vehicle's registration is a UK national requirement that only applies in the UK for UK registered vehicles. It doesn't apply for visitors, just as much as a UK outfit doesn't have to display the towing vehicle's registration on the caravan once it's on the other side of the Channel. Only the caravan's registration plate is required in international traffic (of course, the car's plate can remain on the caravan while abroad, but it's not required). That's part of the international agreement.0
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Have you compared the plate on the caravan with that on the car, Nav? As has been explained to us here, caravans registered in mainland Europe have their own registrations so they wouldn’t bear the car's reg as well as the trailer reg.
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Yes, I often get blank expressions when I come over to the UK with my caravan and want to register my arrival at a campsite. The warden will ask me for the registration number and I say, “Do you want the car’s registration or the one that’s on the caravan?”1
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The warden's always know my number plate in advance as one has to, or at least I do, put that in when booking, in fact many a time they even know my name by looking at it.
Post edit, in fact it is impossible to book in advance without entering in a reg plate.
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I understood that the caravan registration plate was required in the format shown many post earlier - a bit lke the STGO plate - and not the British linear format
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It is not square. I believe it is standard motorcycle plate size at 210 x 130mm.
Colin
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The Club has just sent out an email clarifying the situation. Going abroad? You'll have to register.0
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Update required in line with the email the Club has sent out today.
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Who hasn't read all the thread then?🤣🤣
See Rowena’s post on page 3.
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There are still a couple of open issues that need to be clarified by the DVLA.
Firstly, the government website states that a trailer registration plate may be fixed to both sides of the trailer if it cannot be displayed at the rear. That conflicts with the international requirement that the UK government agreed to that the plate must be legible from the rear.
Secondly, there is no mention in the gov.uk website that the trailer registration plate must be illuminated. Foreign authorities could object to having a plate where that is not the case. Anyway, that needs to be sorted out, too. (As from July 2026, trailers over 3500kg have to have provisions for two illuminated registration plates, but that requirement doesn't apply to trailers under 3500kg. It would therefore need clarification which of the two plates have to be illuminated on a trailer under 3500kg).0 -
This is the mail. Perhaps the first line tells us only those with overseas holidays booked through the club are receiving it.🤷🏻♂️
We’re contacting you about your upcoming European holiday.On 26 August 2025, we became aware of updated guidance on the gov.uk website advising UK trailer owners, including caravanners, to register their trailers before traveling to most European countries.
This changes the long standing practice by which UK leisure trailers including caravans, have been able to travel throughout Europe without requiring individual registration for the trailer itself. As the information on the actual registration process on the government website remains unchanged and with conflicting advice, we have used our industry and governmental contacts to seek clarification on the exact situation.
We have now been advised by a senior DVLA official that:
A 'small number' of British caravan owners have facedenforcement action in Germany for not having separate registration plates and certificates for their caravans. (Whilst the UK differentiates between commercial and non-commercial trailers, many EU countries require all types of trailers over 750kg to be registered.)
As a result of that, DVLA now advises that caravan and trailer owners register their trailers over 750kg to avoid any difficulties in Europe. This can be done via this link here. Registration will cost £26, a certificate will be issued and the applicant will need to get a trailer registration plate to display on the caravan.
The current online registration process shows that registration is not necessary but DVLA have confirmed that they are in the process of changing this.
The advice applies if you plan to drive to or through most countries in Europe, apart from Ireland, Cyprus, Malta and Spain.
UK authorities will not be enforcing this requirement, but there is a risk of local enforcement abroad.
We remain in discussion with other parties on this issue and we will update with further information should it become available.Please note:
In this context, 'registration' means certification via the government UK Trailer Registration Scheme and not registration via any other scheme, such as CRiS, operated by the National Caravan Council.
For clarity, there is no requirement to register touring caravans, or other trailers up to 3,500kg, for use solely within the UK.HOW TO REGISTER YOUR CARAVAN TO TAKE IT ABROAD
Go to
Complete the voluntary registration and pay the fee which is £26 for first time registration or £21 for a new certificate if the ownership changes or £10 for a replacement certificate. (Note: currently this process will show that registration is not necessary but the DVLA are in the process of getting this changed)
A certificate will be issued with a unique trailer registration number which should be carried when travelling abroad
The certificate should be taken to a registered number plate issuer, see list here: (note not all suppliers make trailer plates)
The registration plate should be placed on the rear of thecaravan at the top right or top left, far away from the towing vehicle registration plate. See exact rules here:
Both registration plates (towing vehicle and trailer) should be displayed when travelling in Europe and trailer plates can remain on caravans when in the UK.
For any other queries, the DVLA can assist.
For more information and to check the latest information before you travel please seeMany thanks
The Caravan and Motorhome Club team
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Thanks Tinwheeler, that clarifies my understanding. If you dig into the DVLA documents INF291, as against the web page, the wording is very much inline with the your email:
“Although not mandated in the UK, most countries
expect trailers over 750kg gross weight driving
to or through their country, apart from Ireland,
Cyprus, Malta and Spain, to be registered and they
may take enforcement action if the trailer is not
registered. This applies to commercial and
non-commercial trailers (for example, a caravan
or horsebox).
You must register any trailer over 750kg gross
weight to drive to or through most countries in
Europe, to avoid the risk of enforcement action
when using your trailer outside the UK.”
The key bit i believe is the UK legislation differentiates between commercial and none commercial while the EU legislation doesn’t. As per the email some countries may not even enforce this requirement but it’s probably not worth the risk especially if you are crossing other borders0 -
I understand now that the DVLA website and information has now been updated to reflect the new regulations that were introduced at the end of August. From reading various social media posts I note that many people still do not (or refuse) to accept the need to register their caravans for use on the continent. With this in mind, can or will the club now publish a definitive statement to clarify the position.
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Have you seen Rowena's post #75 on page 3?
I’m not sure it’s the club's role to convince people of the need to register when it’s clear on the DVLA website🤷🏻♂️
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