outandaboutlive.co.uk
YOUR FIRST
11
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A GUIDE TO
TOWING AND THE LAW
Road light requirements
MOT tests for
caravans
There is currently no legal
requirement for caravans to
be subjected to an MOT test
in the UK. However, Britain
is out of line with most of
the rest of Europe on this
one and the situation could
change. Recent proposals
from Brussels would, if
enacted in UK law, require a
first test at four years old and
further tests every two years
after that.
If buying a used caravan,
the best way to make sure
it is fit for the road is to
get it serviced by an NCC-
approved workshop or NCC-
approved mobile fitter.
The new logo for the CRiS scheme. Look out for it at dealers and shows
Does my caravan have to be
registered like a car?
Unlike most of Europe there is no legal requirement to register
a caravan bought in the UK. However, since 1992, the NCC
has been operating the Caravan Registration and information
Scheme, better known as the CRiS scheme.
When a new caravan is sold, the dealer registers it to the new
owner using the CRiS scheme. When buying a used caravan,
ask to see the CRiS registration document that should be with
it. The Notification of Sale or Transfer section at the bottom of
the document should already have been filled in by the previous
owner and sent to CRiS.
If you are unsure about the ownership of any caravan, or
want to discover if it has outstanding finance against it, or even
if it has ever been an insurance write off, CRiS can help. The
check costs £14.95 and can be made by ringing 0203 282 1000
and quoting the caravan’s VIN number.
If you’re planning to take your caravan abroad you are
advised to take a copy of the CRiS certificate with you as you
may need it to prove ownership. Never leave this
document in your caravan as it could help a
thief to sell it.
MOT tests for caravans could
become compulsory in the
future even though the
Department for Transport is not
convinced that the costs would
outweighed by the benefits in
terms of reduced accidents
UK law says the back of
a caravan must be fitted
with two red stop triangular
red reflectors in addition to
side, brake and indicator
lights. Caravans built after
30 September 1990 must
also have front reflectors
and front position lights.
Reflectors can sometimes
drop off, so it is worth
checking they are present
and correct when buying a
used caravan.
If you decide to fit a
protective front cover to
your caravan for travelling,
you must ensure that the
cover doesn’t obstruct the
lights and reflectors.
Reflectors can become dislodged by objects such as pitch marker
posts so it pays to check they are present before buying a caravan
