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Trailer Regulations
What are the regulations for registering and driving a trailer?
I have a 5-meter sailboat on a boat trailer that is not registered and does not have a plate on it describing its weight maximums. When I bought the sailboat used here in Belgium (in 2012), I was told that the trailer did not need to be registered or inspected because it was only one axle, it does not have brakes, and its capacity is less than 750 kg. I have a light bar with the same license plate as the car pulling the trailer. Am I using the trailer legally?
I am now looking for an all-purpose, platform trailer and I see that most ads say something about a COC certificate that only recently became mandatory. Do I need to have a COC certificate and an inspection of my boat trailer?
COC - Certificate of Conformity - As I understand things not required if your trailer including load is under 750kg capacity (braked or unbraked) -- Above that it requires a COC - seperate registration plate, seperate insurance and an annual controle technique (MOT)test.
Normally your car green card "certificate on insurance" states covers trailers being towed up to 750kg. This is of course if your driving licence allows towing
The link I found - line one - confirmed the max 750kg point --- however -- are you sure that your trailer being 5 metres long with a sailboat on it -- is less than 750kg? -- Might be worth taking it to a public weghbridge and checking -- be a lot less expensive than being stopped by the plod and having the weight checked and being the wrong side of 750kg?
Anyway -- the point is -- under 750kg you don't need a COC and above you do -- Below 750kg the number plate on teh trailer has to match the car -- above it has toi have its own plus the other legal bits (One other thing -- check your car COC for the towing limits -- some cars have very low towing limits on the COC for unbraked trailers -- and that is what the plod willl look at as well if they do a check.
Just a note to say if you have a towing Hitch on your car it needs a yearly inspection regardless if it's a new car and would normal be exempt from control technique
"Just a note to say if you have a towing Hitch on your car it needs a yearly inspection regardless if it's a new car and would normal be exempt from control technique"
No, this is only for towbars for a load of more than 750kg.
The OP's one (like the vast majority of private vehicles) is in the other category, for which you don't need a yearly inspection, you just go the same time as your car one (usually four years for a new car with a towbar).
More info here:
http://www.arval.be/fre/location-longue-duree/votre-vehicule/information...
I agree CM -- my works car had a tow bar inspection at new and it is valid 4 years. My own car is 3 and a bit years old and Ive had a tow bar fitted -- that cert is valid 9 months -- ie up to the cars 4th birthday
