How it works
Every match runs three checks in order: the hard towing limit, the noseweight limit, then the 85% weight ratio guideline.
MTPLM vs kerb weight
MTPLM is the heaviest your caravan is allowed to be once loaded — it is stamped on the van's weight plate. Kerb weight is what the car weighs ready to drive. Matching compares the caravan's MTPLM (not its empty weight) against the car, because that is the worst case you can legally tow.
The 85% guideline
Long-standing towing advice is to keep the caravan's MTPLM at or below 85% of the tow car's kerb weight. It is guidance, not law, but the ratio is the best simple predictor of stability. We mark anything at or under 85% as comfortable, and 86–100% as experienced towers only. Above 100% we do not recommend the pairing at all.
Braked towing capacity
Every car has a maximum braked trailer mass set by the manufacturer. Exceeding it is illegal and invalidates insurance. Electric cars vary enormously here: some efficient saloons are rated at 750–1,000 kg, while large electric SUVs reach 2,000–2,500 kg.
Noseweight
The downward load the hitch applies to the tow ball has its own limit, typically 75–100 kg on an EV. A caravan can be well inside the towing limit yet still overload the tow ball, so we check it separately and exclude any pairing that fails.
Train weight matters too
Gross train weight caps the combined car plus caravan mass. On some EVs the heavy battery means the train weight is reached before the towing limit, especially with a full car. Check yours on the V5C before booking a trip.
Licence categories
If you passed your car test in Great Britain from 1 January 1997 you can now tow up to 3,500 kg combined on a category B licence. Drivers who passed before 1997 generally hold B+E rights already. Northern Ireland still requires a B+E test for larger combinations.
Expect a range hit
Towing a caravan typically cuts an EV's range by 40–60% depending on speed, frontal area and terrain. Plan charging stops at pull-through or trailer-friendly chargers, and remember most bays are not designed for a car plus caravan.