Changes to Towing Laws and Save 17.5% on a New Caravan – for the Next Five Days Only

As of the 20^th April 2010 caravans that measure up to 2.55m wide will be able to be towed behind any normal car in the U.K. and VAT will be payable on caravans up to this width.

Previously caravans measuring more than 2.3m wide had to be towed by a car with a gross weight of over 3500 kg. VAT did not have to paid on any caravan over 2.3m wide. After the 20^th April the standard VAT rate of 17.5% will be resumed on any caravan up to 2.55m wide.

The changes have come about after a challenge from the European commission. The aim of the changes is to bring the U.K. into harmony with regulations across Europe. The changes have been made in the form of amendments to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations of 1986.

What this means for caravanners is that if they purchase a caravan between 2.3 and 2.55m wide in the next seven days VAT will not be payable. This represents a significant saving. However it will not be road legal until the 20^th April if it is to be towed by a regular car.

Reactions from the caravan community have been general positive. A number of commentators have highlighted the benefit of having an increased range of road legal caravans for users with regular cars. Many people have already benefited from what is effectively a VAT suspension on larger caravans which are due to become legal next week.

U.K. tourism will also potentially increase thanks to this legislative change. Many European caravanners have vehicles that can, at the moment, not be driven legally in the U.K., but from April the 20^th they will be able to bring their caravans to the U.K. for holidays, hopefully having a positive impact on the tourism industry.