Towing Caravan Mirrors and Cameras: See and Be Seen
Towing a caravan has a big impact on how you drive, especially your ability to see behind you and spot potential hazards.
Caravan Towing Mirrors – The legal position
To comply with the law when towing, you must be able to see 20 metres behind you and four metres either side of the towed vehicle. If your caravan is wider than your car, which it almost inevitably will be, you will need additional towing mirrors.
The law on towing mirrors states that all new cars and motorhomes registered since January 2010 must carry the ‘e-mark’, indicating compliance with EU Regulation 2003/97 (in the EU) or UNECE Regulations 46.01 or 46.02 elsewhere. So remember to check the number below the e-mark to ensure that it complies with current legislation.
How to check if your mirrors comply with the law
We advise you to ensure your towing mirrors comply with EU regulations, regardless of your vehicle's registration date. If your mirror is compliant, it will have a label on it similar to one of these below:
EU regulation
• The roman numeral indicates the class of mirror (e.g., small, large or wide angle)
• The lowercase ‘e’ demonstrates that the mirror meets the prior-2010 regulation
• The number following the ‘e’ represents the country that the mirror was tested in - 11 is the UK’s number, but all numbers are accepted by law
• The number below is the approval number and begins with 01, 02 or 03 - 03 is the approval number representing the 2010 compliance, so this is what you need to be looking for.
UNECE regulation
• The roman numeral indicates the class of mirror (e.g., small, large or wide angle)
• The upper case ‘E’ demonstrates that the mirror meets the prior-2010 regulation
• The number following the ‘E’ represents the country that the mirror was tested in - 11 is the UK’s number, but all numbers are accepted by law
• The number below is the approval number and begins with 01, 02 or 03. 02 is the approval number for the 2010 compliance, so that is what you need to look for.
Different types of caravan towing mirrors
Most popular towing mirrors fix onto your existing car mirror using suction, a strap, and a clamp. Some caravanners report a better fit and less vibration with the suction mirrors, although they can also obstruct the view from your existing mirror.
If you’re unsure, ask your local caravan dealer to let you look at different options before you buy.
Do you need a camera to tow a Caravan?
Additionally, rear-view cameras can also be fitted to provide a better view behind the caravan. They can be wired or wireless and involve a camera fitted to the rear of the caravan, with a receiver in the front showing the view.
28% of caravanners said they can remember an occasion when having a caravan towing mirror or camera fitted actively prevented an accident. And because they show what’s directly behind the caravan, in addition to what is either side, cameras can be particularly useful in heavy traffic or when changing lanes.
If you have a camera, you will still need towing mirrors to stay within the law. And remember, if you are at fault in an accident, not having the required vision provided by towing mirrors would render your insurance invalid, and you could be responsible for settling the claim.