Santander ferry - costs with car on trailer

[Mars]

I used to tour with a group of kit car enthusiasts around the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and Europe. In the past we have taken our 7.5 tonne box wagon with us for support but since Brexit it has become difficult to manage the legalities and insurance of that truck abroad. So, for this year's tour I drove my normal car and towed a trailer. This worked out really well (I attended to a rescue on day-1) and we are aiming to do the same again next year.

Next year's tour will start in Santander, so we will take the ferry from Portsmouth.

As I'm towing a trailer, I would like to explore whether it is possible (or not IMpossible) to put one of the cars onto the trailer for the ferry, and maximise costs this way. We will be paying for the trailer on the ferry anyway, so by putting one of the tourers' cars onto the trailer and the occupants in my car with me, we could potentially save about £1000.

Obviously there's no option for this on the booking site, only to declare the length and height of the trailer which makes no difference whether there is a car on the trailer or not.

Anyone know?

[Magooagain]

I’ve not used that route before but used many French /uk crossings with a car trailer. No difference in price empty or loaded with a car.

[Mars]

Thanks. Makes a lot of sense then.

[E-bmw]

As above, I believe all ferry companies just "box off" the dimensions, so it will cost no more unless the car on the trailer is higher than the tow car as you use the highest/widest/longest dimensions when booking.

[Mars]

Thank you.

[Tom8]

Good idea. As an aside are you aware of Spanish rules regarding trailers? They need a separate licence plate and insurance. I think the licence plates are red, but every towed vehicle has to have one I think.

[Mars]

Tom8 said:

Good idea. As an aside are you aware of Spanish rules regarding trailers? They need a separate licence plate and insurance. I think the licence plates are red, but every towed vehicle has to have one I think.

I became aware of this only recently. I'm looking into it now.

[Mars]

Mars said:

Tom8 said:

Good idea. As an aside are you aware of Spanish rules regarding trailers? They need a separate licence plate and insurance. I think the licence plates are red, but every towed vehicle has to have one I think.

I became aware of this only recently. I'm looking into it now.

The results of my research into Spanish trailer laws, based almost entirely on Google's AI and two towbar-sales websites, are:

1. I don't need a red reg plate - this applies to Spanish registered trailers only
2. I don't even need the WHITE plate that trailers over 750Kg are required to have in France (although I need to consider this next time we go into France)
3. I don't need separate insurance for the trailer - applies to Spanish registered trailers only

"Because your towing vehicle and 3,500kg trailer are both registered in the UK, you are bound by UK vehicle insurance laws, not Spain's domestic insurance regulations. Under Spanish law, a domestic trailer over 750kg requires separate registration and its own distinct insurance policy. However, as a temporary foreign visitor, Spain recognises the legal status of your vehicle outfit as it stands in the UK" - Towbar Express

Additionally, there are licencing requirements which I side-step by having B+E on my licence, and once again because the car is UK registered I don't even need certification for my towbar which would be tricky as I fitted it 10 years ago and god-only knows whether I even kept the documents.


So, as long as my car is insured in the UK (it is, and I will notify my insurer anyway as I did when I went to Europe earlier this year), my car is rated to tow the gross mass of the trailer (it is), the total vehicle weight doesn't exceed 7000Kg (it won't), I have a correct UK registration plate on the trailer (I do/will), and a separate UK sticker on the back of the trailer (I do/will), then I'm OK to go "as is".

If I were to transit through France, I would need the additional white trailer reg plate that costs £26 from DVLA.


Thanks for the warnings though. Better to know about them and have answers in advance..!!

[Tom8]

Mars said:

Mars said:

Tom8 said:

Good idea. As an aside are you aware of Spanish rules regarding trailers? They need a separate licence plate and insurance. I think the licence plates are red, but every towed vehicle has to have one I think.

I became aware of this only recently. I'm looking into it now.

The results of my research into Spanish trailer laws, based almost entirely on Google's AI and two towbar-sales websites, are:

1. I don't need a red reg plate - this applies to Spanish registered trailers only
2. I don't even need the WHITE plate that trailers over 750Kg are required to have in France (although I need to consider this next time we go into France)
3. I don't need separate insurance for the trailer - applies to Spanish registered trailers only

"Because your towing vehicle and 3,500kg trailer are both registered in the UK, you are bound by UK vehicle insurance laws, not Spain's domestic insurance regulations. Under Spanish law, a domestic trailer over 750kg requires separate registration and its own distinct insurance policy. However, as a temporary foreign visitor, Spain recognises the legal status of your vehicle outfit as it stands in the UK" - Towbar Express

Additionally, there are licencing requirements which I side-step by having B+E on my licence, and once again because the car is UK registered I don't even need certification for my towbar which would be tricky as I fitted it 10 years ago and god-only knows whether I even kept the documents.


So, as long as my car is insured in the UK (it is, and I will notify my insurer anyway as I did when I went to Europe earlier this year), my car is rated to tow the gross mass of the trailer (it is), the total vehicle weight doesn't exceed 7000Kg (it won't), I have a correct UK registration plate on the trailer (I do/will), and a separate UK sticker on the back of the trailer (I do/will), then I'm OK to go "as is".

If I were to transit through France, I would need the additional white trailer reg plate that costs £26 from DVLA.


Thanks for the warnings though. Better to know about them and have answers in advance..!!

Good news. Only reason I asked is that we were wondering what the additional plates were for on trailers. Interesting to know what you have posted. Have a good trip!