Caravans and trailers visiting France are required to have their own dedicated number plate

[scotjimland]

I appreciate this is primarily a motorhome group but we also have caravannners and others who tow cars and trailers. myself included.
Apologies if previously posted ..


People bringing caravans from the UK on visits to France must now be aware of new rules which require the caravan to have its own dedicated number plate. In the past, only a duplicate of the car’s plate was used.

This relates to any caravans or other trailers with a gross weight over 750kg – they must now be registered with the UK’s DVLA licensing authority before using them in most European countries.

While this is based on a recent UK law, it is intended to bring practices in line with the usual expectations in countries such as France, and is said to reduce risks of questions from the police, or fines, while travelling outside the UK.

Once registered, the caravan has its own unique number which should be displayed in addition to the car’s plates (see photo, above) avoiding placing the two close together. Putting a copy of the caravan plate on both sides of the caravan (and copy of car plate on the back) is a permitted alternative.

You should also carry the caravan’s registration certificate with you while in France.

Prior to a rule change, leisure caravans did not need to be registered in this way and only had to show the car’s plate.

Reader Martin Daines, 80, who recently went through the process, said the registration was £26 and the additional number plate cost £19.99.


“The production of all number plates is controlled in the UK and should only be made after submitting the correct paperwork.”

French registration rules relating to caravans state that caravans with a maximum laden weight of 500kg or more should have their own plates.

If a UK caravan is left permanently in France, such as being kept at a second home, it should therefore have French plates, even if it will regularly be towed by a UK-registered car.

The French convention is that the car’s plates are only shown on the caravan for small trailers (under 500kg).

Register your trailer to take it abroad

Check if you need to register a trailer to take it abroad, create an account to register your trailer, manage details of registered trailers.

www.gov.uk

 

[G7UXG]

I’ve just done this for a new 1500kg braked trailer. Straight forward enough to do on the .gov website. Trailer number plate bought online (about £18). Just waiting for the registration certificate from DVLA and we’re all ready to go, hopefully at the end of April.

 

[L' Hobo]

Does this also apply if travelling in Southern Ireland now it's part of the EU?

 

[David and Sally]

Thought it was only commercial trailers?

 

[G7UXG]

Thought it was only commercial trailers?

Applies to commercial and non commercial.
This is directly from .gov.uk

 

[G7UXG]

Does this also apply if travelling in Southern Ireland now it's part of the EU?

I think #5 answers this… no you don’t.

 

[Dave and Di 🌞]

I wonder if you need to do the same in the EU when A framing a car as the car is then a trailer? But the car already has a unique identification ie it's own registration which is covered up by the tow vehicles registration.

 

[Odd-no-more]

This was highlighted last year, I've done it for my caravan, simple online process, cost £21 and I got a local HGV dealer to make the number plate.

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[eddie]

I wonder if you need to do the same in the EU when A framing a car as the car is then a trailer? But the car already has a unique identification ie it's own registration which is covered up by the tow vehicles registration.

When I was in France I displayed the RV's registration number on the rear of the car on the quick release number plate holder as normal, and displayed the car registration number plate through the car rear window using an internal number plate holder designed for trade plates I bought on line from Amazon

Like to keep things legal

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

Mr Chrysalis - no idea if this thread may be of interest to you?

 

[NR]

I’ve just done this for a new 1500kg braked trailer. Straight forward enough to do on the .gov website. Trailer number plate bought online (about £18). Just waiting for the registration certificate from DVLA and we’re all ready to go, hopefully at the end of April.



View attachment 1191329

That’s a spectacular machine on the trailer.

 

[G7UXG]

That’s a spectacular machine on the trailer.

Thanks. Can-Am Spyder F3 Ltd.
1330cc Rotax 3 cylinder engine, 115bhp and weighs about 470kg.

After 45 years of two wheels I decided it was time for a change and I love it!

 

[Oldrat]

Obvs you should try to do the right and legal thing.

But if for some reason you don’t, then read on, you might just get away with it if you are lucky.

We belatedly decided to take our pedal cycles to Europe on a bike rack, but hadn’t booked the extra vehicle length on Le Shuttle.

No worries, we’ll just put the bikes and the rack inside the van until we get to Calais.

Later, assembling the rack on the van we realised that we had the wrong number plate on the bike rack, from our other towing vehicle.

We spent a few weeks in France without anyone noticing!

Phew!

 

[L' Hobo]

I thought, under British Law, that as soon as a trailor, or anything else, became attached to another vehicle, it became part of it.

Just like the time on tacho, and other things on a truck etc. doesn't the law of the land WHERE the vehicle is registered take precidence.
(We didn't have to change the time on our tacho's even though there was an hour's difference most of the time between the UK and EUROPE.)

It seems strange that we are still being governed by NEW EU law when we are not part of it?

 

[Oldrat]

I see it more as facilitating. After all the UK aren’t forcing you to register your trailer

 

[scotjimland]

I wonder if you need to do the same in the EU when A framing a car as the car is then a trailer? But the car already has a unique identification ie it's own registration which is covered up by the tow vehicles registration.

see post # 9.. what eddie has done

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[scotjimland]

Like to keep things legal

even when it's illegal ..

 

[gus-lopez]

I think #5 answers this… no you don’t.

I think you'll find "commercial and non commercial including horse box and caravans" means it does.
Very few caravans will be under 750kgs ,certainly not any double Axle ones.

 

[scotjimland]

still being governed by NEW EU law when we are not part of it?

indeed, but this is in preparation for when we re-join

 

[Odd-no-more]

Does this also apply if travelling in Southern Ireland now it's part of the EU?

It's an EU regulation, so yes, but as far as I know, the only people who have been fined for not having it have been in Germany. I should have had one for my Spanish trip last year, no problems in Spain or France. But for the cost it's worth doing, it also links the trailer VIN to the trailer registration, so a bit of extra security.

 

[gus-lopez]

I wonder if you need to do the same in the EU when A framing a car as the car is then a trailer? But the car already has a unique identification ie it's own registration which is covered up by the tow vehicles registration.

You've answered your own question. "Already has a unique identification " therfore cannot be a trailer and why they are illegal in Europe.

 

[hja]

indeed, but this is in preparation for when we re-join

It’s been an EU rule for a long time. Anyone going to the EU will have noticed caravans having a separate number plate to the towing vehicle. Our different rules were just ignored. However recently German police started to challenge UK motorists without separate registration plates on caravans. It was acknowledged that this should apply, hence the clarification from UK agencies.

 

[L' Hobo]

It's an EU regulation, so yes, but as far as I know, the only people who have been fined for not having it have been in Germany. I should have had one for my Spanish trip last year, no problems in Spain or France. But for the cost it's worth doing, it also links the trailer VIN to the trailer registration, so a bit of extra security.

AND another little bit of money, multipled by thousands, that is coming out of the travelers pocket!

PS. According to an earlier post, it doesn't apply to Southern Ireland?

 

[FamWeb]

Obvs you should try to do the right and legal thing.

But if for some reason you don’t, then read on, you might just get away with it if you are lucky.

We belatedly decided to take our pedal cycles to Europe on a bike rack, but hadn’t booked the extra vehicle length on Le Shuttle.

No worries, we’ll just put the bikes and the rack inside the van until we get to Calais.

Later, assembling the rack on the van we realised that we had the wrong number plate on the bike rack, from our other towing vehicle.

We spent a few weeks in France without anyone noticing!

Phew!

Certainly never done this when towing our trailer tent…
Nor had the “where did we last use the number plate” search just as we hook up Scout trailer/ trailer tent/ bike rack

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[Mr Chrysalis]

Mr Chrysalis - no idea if this thread may be of interest to you?

Thanks, yes it has been discussed quite a bit in caravan circles.
I see from this thread that it also applies to Toads ( cars towed on an A frame. However I thought that towing a car on an A frame was not permitted in France and other EU countries.

I have a question about it though: does the second number plate have to be illuminated? If so it will mean drilling holes in the rear of caravans or wiring etc.

 

[L' Hobo]

It’s been an EU rule for a long time. Anyone going to the EU will have noticed caravans having a separate number plate to the towing vehicle. Our different rules were just ignored. However recently German police started to challenge UK motorists without separate registration plates on caravans. It was acknowledged that this should apply, hence the clarification from UK agencies.

I know that foreign truck trailer have had there own registration plate for years BUT in the past, we have just covered the trailer plate with the truck plate or it was illegal.

HAS that rule changed?

 

[L' Hobo]

Thanks, yes it has been discussed quite a bit in caravan circles.
I see from this thread that it also applies to Toads ( cars towed on an A frame. However I thought that towing a car on an A frame was not permitted in France and other EU countries.

I have a question about it though: does the second number plate have to be illuminated? If so it will mean drilling holes in the rear of caravans or wiring etc.

Just use a board that already has these fittings?

 

[L' Hobo]

indeed, but this is in preparation for when we re-join

God forbid, it's hard enough for British Authorities to interpret the law written in their own language with it being.ore complicated!

 

[NR]

Just had this discussion at Tow Bars 2 Tow Cars and they are adamant it doesn’t apply to vehicles visiting European countries, only residents. They may be wrong, they may be right, just relaying their message.

 

[G7UXG]

I have a question about it though: does the second number plate have to be illuminated? If so it will mean drilling holes in the rear of caravans or wiring etc.

I don’t think so because if the number plate can’t be fitted to the rear of the trailer, the regulations allow for one to be affixed to each side of it. I’ve not seen any information to say they must be illuminated wherever they are fixed.