Towing trailers with a car or lorry

​​​​​​What you can tow

You can tow trailers of up to 750kg authorised mass with your car driving licence.

If you want to tow heavier trailers or tow trailers with a different vehicle, you need a driving licence for trailers. This includes minibuses, coaches, and medium goods vehicles or lorries.

You'll need to:

1. apply for a provisional licence
2. take a trailer practical test for the category of vehicle you want to tow behind
3. apply for a new driving licence that includes trailers for the category of vehicle you will be towing with
   

You must have your lorry licence (category C) for at least 12 months before you can learn to tow trailers.

Towing with motorcycles

You cannot tow a trailer behind a moped or light motorcycle.

In some circumstances you may be allowed to tow behind a heavy motorcycle. For more information about towing a trailer behind a heavy motorcycle ​email dvsinfo@gov.je.

How much it costs

The provisional licence costs £30.

You can apply for a Jersey provisional driving licence on My Parish Online.

The trailer practical test costs:

• £58.50 for cars, minibuses or medium goods vehicles
• £110 for coaches or lorries

After you pass your practical test you have to apply for a new full driving licence that includes trailers. The licence costs £70, less the remaining balance of your existing full licence. Contact your parish for more details and to apply.​

Find your parish on Comité des Connétables.

Book your trailer practical test

Book your test using the online form below.

You’ll need:

• your valid provisional licence for the relevant category
• theory certificate number
• a debit or credit card

If you take your test in a vehicle with an automatic transmission you’ll only be allowed to tow a trailer behind an automatic vehicle.

Book your trailer practical test

Change or cancel your booking

You can change or cancel your practical test using the online booking form.

If you do this at least 3 full working days in advance the change will be free or your cancellation will be refunded.

After your test

You can drive with a trailer for 7 days after you pass your test. You'll receive a pass certificate which you should keep with you when driving.

To continue to drive with a trailer, you must apply for a new driving licence within 7 days. You have up to 5 years to apply without having to repass your test.

Parishes issue driving licences. Contact them for more details and to apply.

Find your parish on Comité des Connétables​.

If you fail your driving test you can do the test again after 7 days. You'll be able to drive whilst being supervised using your provisional licence.

On the day of the test

Your test will start and finish at Driver and Vehicle Standards​ La Collette.

You should:

• arrive 15 minutes early. If you arrive after your booking time you will not be allowed to take the test. You’ll need to re-book and pay again
• have a suitable vehicle for the test
• show us your theory certificate
• show us your provisional driving licence for the relevant category
• have your glasses or contact lenses if you require them to drive
• ​sign a declaration that you are insured to drive the vehicle before taking your test​

• ​​if doing a motorcycle test, have your CBT certificate
  

You'll have to sign a declaration that you're insured to drive or ride the test vehicle.

You may need to display a different Windshield Insurance Disc (WID) if you’re using someone else’s vehicle.

​During the test you need to show you can:

• drive safely along a route taking in a variety of road conditions and features
• do a hill start
• move away safely
• reverse around a left and right hand corner
• safely uncouple and recouple the trailer

Training to tow a trailer

You can get training on how to tow a trailer safely, including caravans or horse boxes. Find training providers on our list of approved driving instructors (ADIs).​

You can be supervised by family or friends when practicing. They must:

• be aged 21 or over
• have held a full Jersey driving licence for 3 years for the type of vehicle you’re learning to drive including trailer
  

Vehicles and trailers you can take your test with 

A Learner 'L' plates must be displayed on the front of the towing vehicle and the rear of the trailer during your test.

The vehicle must be capable of towing a trailer of the required weight.

All trailers must:

• display a L plate at the back and the same registration number plate as the car or lorry
• have a maximum width of 2.3 metres
• have brake lights, rear lights, direction indicators and reflectors fitted at the back.
  
• be equipped with mud guards or similar to catch mud or water from the wheels
• not be carrying a load

If the trailer is towed by a car, minibus or coach, it must also:

• have a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of at least 1,000kg for cars and 1,250kg for minibuses and coaches
• have a maximum length of 6.7 metres, excluding the draw bar
• be fitted with an overrun brake
• be fitted with either:
• a device to stop the trailer automatically in case it separates
• a secondary coupling that keeps some steering and stops the drawbar from touching the ground

If the trailer is towed by a lorry it must also be:

• an articulated goods vehicle with a maximum weight of at least 18 tonnes and an overall length of at least 11 metres, or
  
• a C category vehicle and a trailer of at least 4 metres in length, with combined maximum weight of 18 tonnes and an overall length of at least 11 metres​