Call our team01902 700 111What caravan can
my car tow?
Enter the weights from your V5C, VIN plate or handbook. In under a minute, see your 85% towing guide and matching caravans currently for sale.
Tell us about your car
Choose the exact year, make and model. Engine and gearbox can change towing limits.
Enter your confirmed vehicle weights
Use your own V5C, VIN plate, manufacturer handbook and towbar plate—not figures from another vehicle.
See your towing result and matching caravans from our current stock.
Where to find them: Your V5C may show “Mass in service” in section G and may also include relevant maximum-weight information. Maximum towing weight and gross train weight may instead be on the VIN plate or in the manufacturer handbook. Nose weight may be on the towbar plate. Always use the lowest applicable limit.
Don’t have a V5C?Use your car’s weight plate insteadView the step-by-step guide →Year, make and model identify your vehicle; only the weights you enter are used in the calculation.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers to the questions customers most often ask before matching a car and caravan.
Check how your age, when you passed your test and your licence categories affect what you can legally tow.
Open the licence guide →Where can I find my car’s kerb weight or mass in service?
Your V5C may show “Mass in service” in section G. The manufacturer handbook or official vehicle specification may also give a kerb-weight figure. Figures can vary by engine, gearbox, trim and fitted equipment, so use information for your exact vehicle.
Where do I find the maximum braked trailer weight?
It may be shown on your V5C, VIN plate or in the manufacturer handbook. The gross train weight on the VIN plate can also be relevant. If figures differ, use the lowest applicable limit and confirm it with the vehicle manufacturer.
What does the 85% towing guide mean?
The 85% figure compares the caravan’s MTPLM with the car’s kerb weight or mass in service. It is widely used as a cautious starting point for less-experienced towers, but it is guidance—not a legal limit or a guarantee that a combination is suitable.
Is the maximum braked trailer weight the same as a safe caravan weight?
No. It is the vehicle manufacturer’s maximum permitted braked-trailer figure. Stability, actual loading, nose weight, gross train weight, towbar limits and driving experience must also be considered.
What is nose weight and where can I find the limit?
Nose weight is the downward force the caravan places on the towball. Check both the car and towbar limits and use the lowest figure. This may be shown in the handbook or on the towbar plate. The caravan must also stay within its own hitch limit.
Does this calculator confirm that a combination is legally safe?
No. It provides an indicative match using the figures you enter. You remain responsible for checking the V5C, VIN plate, handbook, towbar plate, caravan plate, actual loaded weights and driving-licence entitlement.
Why do I need to enter the weights myself?
Cars with the same year, make and model can have different weights and towing limits because of their engine, gearbox, trim and optional equipment. Using figures from your own vehicle is safer than relying on a generic database.
What is a caravan’s MTPLM?
MTPLM is the caravan’s maximum technically permissible laden mass—the most it is allowed to weigh when loaded. The calculator compares MTPLM, not the empty weight, against the figures you enter for your car.
Will the tool show caravans currently for sale?
Yes. After calculating a match, the tool shows suitable caravans from The Caravan Place stock based on their MTPLM. Availability should always be confirmed with our sales team.
Can The Caravan Place check my figures for me?
Yes. Call us on 01902 700 111 with your exact vehicle details and the caravan you are considering. Our team can help you review the match before you travel.
Match your tow car and caravan with clearer weight checks
A reliable tow car match starts with figures from your exact vehicle, not a generic make-and-model estimate. Enter your confirmed kerb weight or mass in service and maximum braked-trailer weight, then compare them with the caravan’s MTPLM—the caravan’s maximum permitted loaded weight.
Our calculator shows the widely used 85% matching guide alongside the vehicle manufacturer’s maximum towing figure. The 85% figure is guidance for less-experienced towers, not a legal limit or a guarantee of stability. You must also check gross train weight, nose weight, towbar limits, actual loaded weights and your driving-licence entitlement.
What can my car tow?Caravan towing calculator guide85% towing rule explainedMTPLM, MIRO and payloadCaravan nose weight guideGross train weightElectric-car towingRead your car’s weight plateCheck your UK towing entitlementFind local towbar fitters
Let our caravan team confirm your match.
Send us your registration or exact vehicle details and the caravan you like. We’ll help you check the figures before you travel.