Towing a UK caravan in the UK with a Spanish Car

[kmitc78787]

We are a retired British couple living in Spain. Each summer we return to the UK to visit family and friends. We would like to buy a UK caravan to use while we are here and keep it in storage in the UK when we return to Spain.

The question is - Can we legally tow a UK caravan (in the UK) with a Spanish Registered left hand drive Car?

Help would be most appreciated

kmitc78787

[Graham-W]

I don't see why not.
Plenty of European tourists bring their own caravans from the continent to the UK and vice versa.
Just make sure you have some good extension mirrors to see behind the 'van.

[Graham-W]

Just a thought.....
Get a rear numberplate made up in Spain before you come across. It may be difficult to get a Spanish plate made up over here.

[kmitc78787]

Hi Graham

Many thanks for your advice. I suppose my concern is that it would be a "mis-match" outfit, i.e. a UK caravan with a foreign left hand drive car. Apparently my Spanish car insurance can be extended to cover the caravan for third party risks and I would need to take out additional insurance for contents, theft, etc.

We have already thought about the number plate issue and we have had a new Spanish one made up already.

Ken

[Ratty2E]

The only difference I can think of could be electrics. If you have the towbar fitted in Spain then the electrics socket may not be compatible with the plug if it's an older van. I think newer models now have a european standard, in any case it can be changed. As Graham has said people from europe tow vans round the UK all the time and as far as I know there aren't specific caravans for right/left hand drive cars, so I can't see any problems in that respect.

[Graham-W]

Ken. As Rattyratgirl says, most European 'vans have a single 11 pin plug for the electrics and most British 'vans have two* seven pin plugs. You can buy adaptors to convert both ways at any good caravan dealership.
As to the door being on the "wrong" side, I know a few British owners who have German vans in the UK with the door on the "wrong" side and they find no real problem.