As we gear up for the 2026 summer touring season, there is one crucial piece of admin every caravanner and trailer owner needs to check before heading to the ferry port. Following updates to the DVLA's official guidance (INF291), the rules for towing in Europe have changed.
At Towsure, we’ve been equipping UK holidaymakers to tow safely since 1967. Over the decades, we've seen plenty of rules come and go, but this new international trailer registration scheme is one that still catches many drivers out. To cut through the legal jargon and help you avoid fines at the border, we’ve put together this straightforward guide on the new European trailer registration rules.
📌 The Quick Answer (TL;DR)
Do I need a separate number plate for my caravan in Europe?
If you are towing a caravan or trailer weighing over 750kg (gross weight) through most European countries, yes. You must register your trailer with the DVLA and display a separate white trailer registration plate alongside your standard yellow towing vehicle plate. Unbraked trailers (under 750kg) and motorhome A-frames are exempt.
The Standard Yellow Plate vs. The New White Trailer Plate
The most common point of confusion we see at Towsure is understanding which plates are actually needed.
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The Standard Yellow Plate (Still Required): You must always display a yellow number plate on the rear of your caravan or trailer that perfectly matches the registration number of the car towing it. This UK rule has not changed, and still applies abroad.
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The New White Trailer Plate (The New Rule): Under the new international rules, certain trailers must now be registered in their own right. When registered, the DVLA issues a unique trailer registration number. This must be displayed on a separate white number plate fixed to the rear of your trailer, positioned as far away from the yellow towing plate as possible.
Who Needs a Separate Trailer Plate? (The 750kg Rule)
Do all trailers need to be registered? No. The DVLA scheme is based strictly on the gross weight of what you are towing.
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Braked Trailers & Caravans (Required): If your caravan, horsebox, or heavy goods trailer exceeds 750kg, it must be registered and display the new white plate for international travel. Almost all standard touring caravans fall into this category.
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Unbraked Trailers (Exempt): By UK and European law, unbraked trailers are legally capped at a maximum gross weight of 750kg. Because the international registration scheme only applies to trailers over 750kg, unbraked camping or utility trailers are completely exempt. You only need your standard yellow matching plate.
Motorhome Towing: Dollies, A-Frames, and Car Transporters
Motorhomers towing a small runabout car (like a Smart Car or Fiat Panda) often ask us how these rules apply to their setup. The answer depends entirely on how you tow:
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Towing Dollies (Illegal for Leisure): Using a towing dolly (where the front wheels of the towed car are off the ground) for a leisure runabout is illegal in the UK and most of Europe. Dollies are strictly for the emergency recovery of broken-down vehicles. You cannot legally use this setup for touring, so trailer registration does not apply.
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A-Frames (Exempt): If you use an A-Frame (all four wheels on the ground, with mechanically linked braking), the towed car is legally acting as a braked trailer. However, official DVLA guidance explicitly exempts A-Frames from the trailer registration scheme. You do not need a white plate.
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Flatbed Car Transporters (Required): If you load your runabout car onto a purpose-built flatbed trailer, the total gross weight will easily exceed 750kg. Therefore, this flatbed trailer must be registered and display the white DVLA trailer plate.
Which Countries Require the DVLA Trailer Plate?
If you are travelling to most popular European destinations—including France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands—the white trailer plate is a strict legal requirement.
However, the DVLA has confirmed a few specific exemptions. You do not need to register your trailer if your journey is strictly limited to:
- Republic of Ireland
- Spain
- Cyprus
- Malta
Towsure Top Tip: Even if your final destination is Spain (exempt), if you are driving your caravan through France (required) to get there, you must have the white plate fitted for the French leg of your journey!
How to Get Your DVLA Trailer Plate
Getting your caravan road-legal for Europe is a simple two-step process:
Step 1: Register Online
Head to the official Gov.uk Trailer Registration portal. You will need the manufacturer's name, chassis number (VIN), and gross weight of your caravan. Once paid and registered, the DVLA will email you a secure electronic number plate authorisation certificate known as an eV948/2.
Step 2: Have Your Plate Made by an RNPS
Because number plates are legally controlled items, you cannot print one yourself. By law, you must use a Registered Number Plate Supplier (RNPS) to manufacture your physical plate. That’s where Towsure comes in.
Order Your Trailer Plate Online at Towsure
As an official, long-standing DVLA Registered Number Plate Supplier, Towsure can manufacture your fully compliant white trailer plate and deliver it straight to your door.
⚠️ Important Ordering Information:
To comply with UK law, we must verify your DVLA documents before we can print your plate.
Ordering Online: Ordering is quick and easy. When adding the trailer plate to your basket below, you will be prompted to upload a digital copy of your valid eV948/2 Trailer Number Plate Authorisation Certificate (this is the document emailed to you by the DVLA immediately after registering). We cannot legally process your order without this uploaded file.
Has your 5-day authorisation window expired? DVLA eV948/2 authorisation certificates are only valid for 5 days from the moment of registration. We cannot accept expired certificates for online orders.
However, all is not lost! If your 5-day window has passed, you must wait for your physical Trailer Registration Certificate to arrive in the post from the DVLA. Once you have it, you can visit our Sheffield Superstore in person. You will need to bring your physical Trailer Registration Certificate, along with ORIGINAL proof of ID (such as a driving licence) and proof of address (such as a recent utility bill). Please note: Our in-store team must physically verify the original documents; photocopies or digital images on your phone cannot be accepted.
Don't leave your holiday admin to the last minute. Get road-legal for Europe and order your trailer plate below today!
Self-Built and Older Trailers
What if I have an older or self-built trailer with no VIN or chassis number?
Most self-builds are unbraked trailers under 750kg but those with older trailers or self-built trailers above this weight will still need to register with the DVLA.
If you have a historic or older DIY trailer (built before October 29, 2012) that has never had a chassis number stamped on it, you cannot use the standard online registration portal right away. You must apply to the DVLA for a unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) first.
Because your trailer was built before 2012, it is legally exempt from modern IVA safety testing, but the DVLA still needs to verify it isn't a stolen trailer before issuing a new number. Here is what you need to do:
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Step 1: Contact the DVLA: Reach out to the DVLA directly to request a new VIN allocation for a historic self-built trailer.
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Step 2: Provide Proof: You will need to supply a written declaration of the trailer's history (e.g., "Built by my grandfather in 1975"), along with clear photographs of the trailer and its blank chassis to prove it is a genuine, unnumbered DIY build.
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Step 3: Stamp Your New VIN: Once satisfied, the DVLA will issue a unique 17-digit VIN. You must permanently stamp or engrave this number into the metal drawbar or chassis of your trailer.
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Step 4: Register for Europe: With your newly allocated VIN physically stamped on the trailer, you can finally log onto the Gov.uk trailer registration portal. Select "Manufacturer not listed" (entering "Self-built"), and use your new VIN to get your eV948/2 authorisation certificate and order your white trailer plate!
