Towing a Trailer in France

Taking vehicles on trailers into the EU

Many members take their vehicles to France on a trailer - if you are planning to do this, there are extra regulations that apply:

There have been many changes to the regulations and advice about trailering vehicles to France.

We advise that members err on the cautious side and ensure they

register trailers that require a separate registration (see below)
carry the necessary CERFA Form (see below) for all vehicles including motorcysles that are trailered or taken in another vehicle.
carry OGEL exemption paperwork (see compulsory paperwork section ) for th evehicle being trailered.

Please note that you should check your own individual circumstances with the current regulations before travelling and be aware of others' experiences. We have done our best to ensure that the information on this page is current and accurate but please check official sources to ensure your individual circumstances are covered.

Registering your trailer to take it abroad

If you are taking a trailer abroad and the GROSS WEIGHT (maximum permissible weight) is over 750kg, whether it is commercial or private, you must register it and display 1 or 2 plates, depending where they can be fixed.

This will apply to most trailers our members use to trailer vehicles to go abroad as well as some trailers towed by MVs, so it is important for us to understand what is required and to share it with our members.

Summary:

To register you need to have a government gateway account and log in. (the same one as you use for HMRC/Companies House etc.)
You have to log in and create a second TRAILER ACCOUNT (name address email)
Then you can register your trailer to that account, a process which requires you to give the 17-digit chassis number and a declaration that you are the keeper. (non-commercial process)
It costs £26 to register first time (and £21 to transfer ownership of a trailer) and you have to get plates made up with the number you get allocated, at a registered supplier who need to see the paperwork provided by the trailer registration process AND original documents that prove your name and address. You can use one of the following identity documents: driving licence/utility, Council Tax or rates bill from the last 6 months/bank or building society statement from the last 6 months/national identity card which confirm your name only AND /bank or building society debit or credit card/police warrant card/armed forces identity card

You must display ONE correctly formatted plate on the rear of your trailer or if this is not possible, ONE EACH SIDE of the trailer. The trailer’s normal registration plate must also be displayed along with a UK sticker.

See the source .gov.uk documents including INF291
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trailer-registration-numbers-and-number-plates-inf291/trailer-registration-numbers-and-number-plates-inf291

All trailers must be fitted with their own lights.

Insurance

The minimum requirement is public liability, then the type of insurance you need will depend on the weight of what you are towing.
Trailers less than 500kg will be covered under liability only by the insurer. All you need is to notify your insurer. For most insurance providers, it does not need to be declared on your car insurance policy.
Trailers of more than 500kg and less than 750 kg have to be declared to the insurer and will automatically be covered for 3rd party liability. They can also be covered for damage and theft. They will have their own “carte grise” and plate numbers.
Trailers of more than 750 kg have to be declared to your insurance and have to have their own registration document. They can be covered for liability and damage. Please note that they have to have their own braking system and a parking break.

From https://frenchinsuranceinfrance.com/towing-a-caravan-or-trailer-in-france/

CERFA Form 1

Vehicles (including motorcycles) on trailers or taken inside another vehicle (as in the case of motorcyles etc) can be regarded as cargo and should be declared at customs.

In June 2024, the customs in Normandy stipulated that if a vehicle is trailered into Normandy from the UK, a CERFA form should be used. Although enforcement of this procedure was not consistently enforced, we strongly recommend that members download and fill in the following forms and attempt to get them processed by Customs on entry to the country.

The additional form required for trailered vehicles is called a CERFA and should be filled in and given to the authorities on arrival at a port. You should exit the port in the red "goods to declare lane" and offer the completed CERFA form to officials. They will take the first part and stamp and return the second for your return journey. Failure to do so could attract a fine and a hefty fee based on their approximation of the vehicles value - which can amount to almost £1000 for a jeep. If the douanes wave you through and do not process the CERFA, you are advised to note the exact time that you were waved through, for reference on your return if you are challenged - although this is unlikely.

Fill in the French version - the second page autofills and the translation is for guidance only

cerfa_15678-01-2.pdf
File Size:	132 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Trailer speed limits

The maximum speed for a car towing a caravan or trailer depends on their total weight:

	Motorways	Priority roads and dual carriageways	Other roads	Built up areas
Under 3.5t	130 km/h	110 km/h	80 km/h	50 km/h
3.5t to 12t	90 km/h	90 km/h	80 km/h	50 km/h
Over 12t	90 km/h	80 km/h	60 km/h	50 km/h

If the weight of the trailer exceeds that of the car, the speed limits are lower as follows:

If the excess is less than 30%: 65 km/h
If the excess is more than 30%: 45 km/h

In these cases, a disc showing maximum speed must be displayed on the rear of caravan/trailers. They may not be driven in the fast lane of a 3 lane motorway.