What you need to know about horsebox weight restrictions

If you’re looking to drive a horsebox, it’s vital that you know and understands the weight restrictions. Ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law, and not knowing when your vehicle is too heavy could result in legal repercussions if you’re stopped. The most important thing to remember is that the total weight of the vehicle you’re driving, plus the horsebox, can’t be more than the maximum ‘train weight’ specified by the towing vehicle’s manufacturer.  This means that the maximum permitted weight for a combination of the vehicle and horsebox has already been calculated by the vehicle manufacturer, and you need to take responsibility for staying within that weight when you add the horsebox into the equation.

While this might seem like an added hassle for you when you’re getting ready to go out onto the road, it’s meant to protect you, your vehicle, your cargo and the infrastructure of the streets you’re taking your vehicle out onto. Overloading can result in damage to all of the above, as well as to your licence and wallet.

If you’re not sure how to calculate the maximum weight, take a look at your vehicle’s ministry plates which are likely to be inside the passenger door. Here you’ll find the maximum weight details, detailing the highest weight of the vehicle alone, and the maximum weight it can be when an additional load such as a trailer is added.

All weights also include the driver, passengers, fuel and anything being carried in the vehicle or trailer. If you’re pulled over and the vehicle is taken to be weighed, you could be facing a fine of several thousand pounds if it’s found to be over the weight limit. Overloading horseboxes is a serious problem, and a recent poll of more than 2,000 horsebox drivers found that more than half were driving vehicles with a combined weight that exceeded the maximum allowed weight.

All of these drivers would have been fined, were they to have been pulled over and weighed by police. The poll suggested that, far from deliberately flouting the law, most drivers were simply unaware of what the weight limits were and how to interpret the maximum permitted weights of their vehicle. So make sure you know what your maximum train weight is every time you go out with your horsebox in tow, and don’t take the risk of being pulled over while accidentally driving a combination that’s too heavy.

If you’re unsure which Horsebox licence you need please get in touch. Our friendly team is always happy to help you with all the information you need.