Caravans And Trailers Under 750 Kg - Legalities And Obligations

Practically everyone you will ask or even specialised forums that will come up if you do online searches, will tell you that trailers and caravans under 750 kg do not have to pass ITV, but when going to back to the source, the DGT ´Regimen Juridico de Trafico – tema 21´ (written in 2011) this will inform us as follows – I changed the original order of the articles, as thought more comprehensive this way:

6) REMOLQUES: REQUISITOS PARA SU CIRCULACIÓN 

Semirremolque: Vehículo no autopropulsado diseñado y concebido para ser acoplado a un automóvil, sobre el que reposará parte del mismo, transfiriéndole una parte sustancial de su masa.

Semirremolque: vehicle without motor that is designed to be attached to a towing vehicle, over which part of the trailer will be weighted, so that a substantial part of its weight will be transferred to the towing vehicle.

Caravana: Remolque o semirremolque concebido y acondicionado para ser utilizado como vivienda móvil, permitiéndose el uso de su habitáculo cuando el vehículo se encuentre estacionado.

Caravan: trailer or semi-trailer designed to be used as mobil home, of which the use as such is permitted when it is parked/stationed.

6.3 Requisitos administrativos / Administrative requisites

La tarjeta de inspección técnica

Todos los remolques incluidos los remolques ligeros (de masa máxima autorizada igual o inferior de 750 kg) y las caravanas deben estar provistos de una Tarjeta ITV.

The ITV certificate.
All trailers, included those classed as ´ligeros´ (up to 750 kgs maximum authorised weight) need to have their ITV certificate in place.

El seguro obligatorio del automóvil
El propietario de todo vehículo matriculado debe suscribir un seguro obligatorio, por ello también los remolques deben estar asegurados. Se exceptúan de la obligación de suscribir seguro a aquellos remolques que por tener una MMA igual o inferior a 750 kg no se matriculan. En este caso al suscribirse el contrato de seguro del vehículo tractor deberá incluirse como objeto asegurado junto con este vehículo tractor la posibilidad de llevar un remolque enganchado.

The obligatory insurance of the vehicle
The owner of all vehicles with licence plates must take out obligatory insurance, thus trailers must also be insured. Those trailers with MMA up to 750 kgs can be included on the insurance policy of the towing vehicle, but the possibility to tow a trailer must be mentioned on the insurance policy of the towing vehicle.

4.3 La Tarjeta de Inspección Técnica de Vehículos

Resumiendo / Resumen:
El conductor de un vehículo queda obligado a estar en posesión y llevar consigo, así como a exhibir ante los agentes de la autoridad que se lo soliciten, los siguientes documentos:
• El permiso de circulación
• La tarjeta de inspección técnica
• En los conjuntos de vehículos formados por automóvil que arrastran remolques o semirremolques cuya masa máxima autorizada sea inferior o igual a 750 kilogramos, llevará la tarjeta ITV del automóvil en cuyo reverso figurará que lleva instalado un sistema de acoplamiento compatible con el del remolque y además llevará la ficha de inspección técnica del remolque ligero.
• El permiso de conducción que habilite a conducir estos vehículos

The driver of a vehicle is obligated to carry and to show to the Guardias if they so require, the following documents:
– Permiso de circulación
– ITV certificate
– For combinations of vehicle-trailer or semi-trailer up to 750 kgs MMA, the driver must carry the ITV certificate of the towing vehicle, where on the backside will be confirmed that the vehicle is equipped with a towbar that is compatible with the trailer as well as the ITV certificate of the light trailer itself. To add, the towbar must be fitted by an accredited workshop.
– Driving licence that enables you to drive the vehicle – vehicle-trailer combination.

Estos documentos deben ser originales o bien fotocopias debidamente cotejadas por fedatarios públicos, por la Dirección General de Tráfico y sus Jefaturas Provinciales, por los Ayuntamientos o por las fuerzas de vigilancia.

These documents must be the originals, or copies, certified by either notaries, officials from Trafico offices, Town Halls or Guardia officers.

This information from the DGT about the necessity of an ITV certificate for trailers is confirmed by the ITV Manual that mentions a specific category ´light trailers´ as category O1 with the relevant tests to be carried out. To my knowledge there is no obligation as yet to take the trailer periodically for ITV testing, like there is for motorised vehicles.

Further information from the DGT.
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As a light trailer or caravan doesn´t have its own licence plate, so is not registered in your name anywhere. You need to be able to prove that you own the trailer, so carry a compraventa contract if you bought it through a private sale, or the original bill from the dealer.

Last but not least, in order for the ITV technicians to be able to verify data, you must also have the original technical certificate from the manufacturer of the trailer, or, for older trailers, a short version of the ´ficha technica´. In practice, if not in place, most ITV stations will offer the services of a ´perito´ to have it drawn up for you.

Please note: The information provided is based upon our understanding of current legislation. It is not legal advice but is provided freely to enable you to be properly informed. We recommend that if you are considering taking action, you should seek professional advice.