Hiring a Trailer for a Car: Everything You Need to Know

Hiring a trailer for a car is more straightforward than most people expect, but there are a few things worth knowing before you turn up to collect one. This guide covers everything from choosing the right size trailer and checking your towing capacity, to loading your car safely and understanding the current licence rules.

At Sleaford Trailers, we offer car trailer hire from our workshop in Ewerby Thorpe, just outside Sleaford. We regularly hire to customers from across Lincolnshire, including Grantham, Lincoln, Boston, Spalding, and Newark. Call us on 01529 462188 to check availability.

When do you need to hire a car trailer?

The most common reasons people hire a car trailer are:

• Moving a non-runner or uninsured vehicle from one location to another
• Recovering a vehicle after a breakdown or accident
• Transporting a classic or project car to a show or workshop
• Moving a recently purchased car that can’t be driven away
• Taking a race or track car to an event

In all of these situations, hiring a car trailer for the day is almost always cheaper and more practical than calling a recovery company, and it gives you full control over when and where the vehicle moves.

What size trailer do you need?

For most standard cars, a beavertail car transporter is the right choice. Our 14′ x 7′ beavertail transporter has a 2100kg carrying capacity, a fully boarded floor, and comes with all the lashing straps you need. It handles everything from small hatchbacks to larger saloons and estates comfortably.

Things to check before booking:

• The weight of your vehicle — check the kerb weight in the owner’s manual or on the VIN plate. The trailer’s carrying capacity must exceed this.
• The length and width of your vehicle — a standard 14′ trailer accommodates most cars, but worth checking if you have a longer vehicle.
• Ground clearance — beavertail trailers have a shallow approach angle, which suits most standard cars. Very low vehicles may need a different solution.

If you’re unsure whether your vehicle will fit, call us on 01529 462188, and we’ll advise you before you make the trip for hiring a trailer for a car

Can your car tow a car trailer?

This is the question most people forget to check, and it matters. Not every car has the towing capacity to pull a loaded car trailer.

Your vehicle’s towing capacity is shown on the VIN plate, usually located under the bonnet. The figures you need are:

• Gross Vehicle Weight — the maximum weight of the car itself
• Gross Train Weight — the maximum combined weight of the car and trailer together

Subtract the first from the second, and you have your maximum permitted trailer weight. A loaded car trailer can easily weigh 3000kg or more, so you need a vehicle with a reasonable towing capacity. Most large 4x4s and SUVs are well-suited, but many smaller cars are not.

If you’re in any doubt, check your vehicle handbook or contact the manufacturer. Towing beyond your vehicle’s rated capacity is illegal and invalidates your insurance.

Licence requirements — what changed in 2021?

The rules around towing changed significantly in 2021. The B+E test, which previously required drivers to pass a separate test before towing heavier trailers, was scrapped.

Under the current rules, anyone with a standard car licence (category B) can tow a trailer provided the combined weight of the car and trailer does not exceed 3500kg. This means most drivers can now legally tow a car trailer without any additional test or entitlement.

However, and this is important, scrapping the test does not mean towing is without risk. If you have never towed before, a loaded car trailer is not the ideal place to start. We strongly recommend completing a recognised towing course before hiring if you are new to towing.

For full details of the current rules, see the GOV.UK guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-for-towing-a-trailer-or-caravan-with-a-car-from-autumn-2021

Our policy requires all hirers to have held a full driving licence for at least three years, or to have completed a recognised towing course.

How to load a car onto a trailer safely when hiring a trailer for a car

Loading a car onto a trailer is straightforward once you know what you’re doing, but there are a few important steps to follow.

Before you load:

• Park on flat, level ground where possible
• Make sure the trailer is hitched securely to the tow vehicle, and the handbrake is on
• Check that the ramps are properly secured and won’t move during loading
• Walk the approach angle, make sure there’s enough clearance for your car’s front bumper

Loading the car:

• Drive slowly onto the trailer in a straight line, and avoid steering sharply once on the ramps
• Position the car centrally on the trailer bed; weight distribution matters
• Once loaded, apply the car’s handbrake and leave it in gear or park
• If the car is a non-runner, you may need a second person to help guide it and apply the brakes

Securing the car:

• Attach lashing straps to solid points on the vehicle, ideally the wheel arches or dedicated towing eyes, not bodywork
• Straps should be tight but not so tight that they damage the vehicle
• Use at least four straps, one on each corner
• Double-check everything is secure before moving off

We can supply all lashing straps with our car transporter trailer hire. If you’re unsure how to use them, ask us when you collect; we’re always happy to run through it.

What to check before you set off

Once the car is loaded and strapped down, do a final check before driving:

• Walk around the trailer and check all straps are tight and secure
• Check that the trailer lights are working, brake lights, indicators, and rear lights
• Make sure the number plate is attached to the rear of the trailer
• Check tyre pressures on the trailer if possible
• Test the brakes gently at low speed before joining a main road

Allow extra stopping distance throughout your journey; a loaded car trailer adds significant weight and increases braking distances considerably.

Hiring a car trailer in Lincolnshire

Sleaford Trailers is based in Ewerby Thorpe, just outside Sleaford, and is straightforward to reach from across Lincolnshire and the surrounding area. Our 14′ x 7′ beavertail car transporter is our most popular hire trailer and is available for daily and short-term hire.

We hire regularly for customers from:

• Grantham — approximately 12 miles south of Sleaford via the A153
• Lincoln — approximately 18 miles north via the A15
• Boston — approximately 18 miles east via the A17
• Spalding — approximately 20 miles south-east via the A151
• Newark — approximately 20 miles south-west via the A17

All car trailer hire bookings must be made by phone. Call us on 01529 462188 to check availability and make a booking. A deposit of at least £20 is required at the time of booking, paid by debit card over the phone.

Find out more about our full trailer hire fleet: https://sleafordtrailers.co.uk/trailer-hire/

Frequently Asked Questions

Sleaford Trailers | Car Trailer Hire Lincolnshire White House Farm, Ewerby Thorpe, Sleaford, NG34 9PR Tel: 01529 462188 | sales@sleafordtrailers.co.uk