UK boat trailer for EU use.

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grumpygit

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I am hoping someone may have encountered this and have some knowledge on the predicament.
I have a presumably UK built twin axle boat trailer 2001 with no paperwork. It has Hayling Trailer (who's being defunct since 2012) stickers and plate but all the gear, axles, brakes etc are Knott GmbH.

I have been told that there is a rule that says the trailer is illegal to use in the EU without paperwork unless it's being towed by a UK registered car.
Firstly is this rule correct and secondly does anyone know a way to make the trailer legal or could there an exemption due to it's age being pre directive.
 
grumpygit said:
I am hoping someone may have encountered this and have some knowledge on the predicament.
I have a presumably UK built twin axle boat trailer 2001 with no paperwork. It has Hayling Trailer (who's being defunct since 2012) stickers and plate but all the gear, axles, brakes etc are Knott GmbH.

I have been told that there is a rule that says the trailer is illegal to use in the EU without paperwork unless it's being towed by a UK registered car.
Firstly is this rule correct and secondly does anyone know a way to make the trailer legal or could there an exemption due to it's age being pre directive.
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I guess the first thing anyone would need to know before they could help, is what country is the tow car registered in?
 
Thanks so far I think you all give good pointers. The trailer with it's boat ( which is on the SSR) is in Greece and was here subject to the Withdrawal Agreement. The towing car is now a Greek registered vehicle but I suspect it will be the same rules throughout the EU.
I had seen about registering so this may be an idea in the short term and I agree with it being a mine field at the very least.
 
My experience of Spain, similar to rest of EU. EU car + trailer. Trailer is tested and has own plates. To pass an initial ITV (usually a TuV testing station) test will be pretty difficult as you will need all info from original manufacturer about capacities, plus plates on trailer chassis. If a UK reg car then it’s OK, but be prepared to be stopped, to check trailer capacity and tyre age and condition. The UK is very unique European country in having no trailer testing or registration. I would buy a local trailer, especially with a boat. Or get it shipped by one of the many small transport companies that move between UK and EU. Will the boat sit on a normal flat bed trailer?
 
wallacebob said:
My experience of Spain, similar to rest of EU. EU car + trailer. Trailer is tested and has own plates. To pass an initial ITV (usually a TuV testing station) test will be pretty difficult as you will need all info from original manufacturer about capacities, plus plates on trailer chassis. If a UK reg car then it’s OK, but be prepared to be stopped, to check trailer capacity and tyre age and condition. The UK is very unique European country in having no trailer testing or registration. I would buy a local trailer, especially with a boat. Or get it shipped by one of the many small transport companies that move between UK and EU. Will the boat sit on a normal flat bed trailer?
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Uk not so unique. We have no trailer registration rules either, and I have dragged trailers from France to Poland and back.

I was never stopped but was looked at in terms of having chains and activating link on the drawbar, lights etc. It was an Ivor Williams trailer with plates etc and new tires.

In one service station in Germany I met a Belgian guy with the same 4x4 pulling a similar trailer who had been barred from continuing his journey and fined 300 euros by the police for using the trailer on a Sunday...
Same cops had passed me and had just looked at me...

That was a good few years ago but I think the takeaway is that the outcome of any encounter may be more random than it should be.

I'd be really slow to not obey the rules of the country where the towing vehicle is registered and absolutely ensure that the trailer is fully road safe...
 
wallacebob said:
My experience of Spain, similar to rest of EU. EU car + trailer. Trailer is tested and has own plates. To pass an initial ITV (usually a TuV testing station) test will be pretty difficult as you will need all info from original manufacturer about capacities, plus plates on trailer chassis. If a UK reg car then it’s OK, but be prepared to be stopped, to check trailer capacity and tyre age and condition. The UK is very unique European country in having no trailer testing or registration. I would buy a local trailer, especially with a boat. Or get it shipped by one of the many small transport companies that move between UK and EU. Will the boat sit on a normal flat bed trailer?
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Ireland has no trailer testing or registration, but there are some rules regarding the weights of the towing vehicle and trailer. Here is a link to an article explaining the current situation:
The rules and regulations involved in towing explained
The Gardai have now begun to turn up at equestrian events, farmers' markets, etc., checking whether or not those towing twin-axle trailers are licensed to do so, as a new Driving Licence class has recently been introduced to cover the towing of such trailers by those whose Driving Licenses were issued after a certain date. Having had a Driving Licence since 1973, I automatically qualify for Class BE . (My most recent licence also qualifies me to ride Class A Motorcycles, but I thought it was a damned insult when I discovered that it was restricted to tricycles:( )
 
If I was you I would sell the trailer you have in the UK and buy one in the EU.
When I was living in France I bought a French boat and a brand new French Trailer made by Satellite Trailers.
When I bought the trailer it came without a weight plate, I was expected to take it for a French MOT (Control Technique) . where (presumably) they would issue me with a weight plate and a number for a Number Plate, as I believe that in France trailers have to have their own Registration Number.
I would have preferred to buy a UK SBS Boat Trailer as the wheel bearings are sealed against water whereas the Satellite trailers have a design fault as they have a grease nipple on the hub and when you pump grease through the hub the excess grease discharges at the back of the hub, Ideal you would think but unfortunately the spring loaded ball bearing which the grease passes is chrom and rusts, it then sticks, so when you are pumping grease through, the ball bearing has seased and the seal blows and you are pumping grease into the hub and coating the brake linings with grease.
 
Jim@sea said:
If I was you I would sell the trailer you have in the UK and buy one in the EU.
When I was living in France I bought a French boat and a brand new French Trailer made by Satellite Trailers.
When I bought the trailer it came without a weight plate, I was expected to take it for a French MOT (Control Technique) . where (presumably) they would issue me with a weight plate and a number for a Number Plate, as I believe that in France trailers have to have their own Registration Number.
I would have preferred to buy a UK SBS Boat Trailer as the wheel bearings are sealed against water whereas the Satellite trailers have a design fault as they have a grease nipple on the hub and when you pump grease through the hub the excess grease discharges at the back of the hub, Ideal you would think but unfortunately the spring loaded ball bearing which the grease passes is chrom and rusts, it then sticks, so when you are pumping grease through, the ball bearing has seased and the seal blows and you are pumping grease into the hub and coating the brake linings with grease.
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I can sort of see the logic but at the moment with the cost of transportation and a replacement here is not a reality. There is nothing wrong with the trailer or it's hubs, it was built especially to fit the boat so I need to looking in to a cheaper option even if I do have to jump through hoops. I was just hoping someone else had done the process to give some guidance.
 
grumpygit said:
I can sort of see the logic but at the moment with the cost of transportation and a replacement here is not a reality. There is nothing wrong with the trailer or it's hubs, it was built especially to fit the boat so I need to looking in to a cheaper option even if I do have to jump through hoops. I was just hoping someone else had done the process to give some guidance.
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Unfortunately that is just what I had to do. I built a trailer to carry my Lomax, in UK prior to Brexit. Used it in Spain and France behind my UK registered motorhome. Moved to France just before Brexit. Found it was not possible to register the trailer in France because all-up weight greater than 500 kg, although less than 750 kg. Main reason no homologation. Had to sell it and buy another.
 
Homologation is the key. It's possible to get home built trailers tested & certified in the UK but really difficult to find a centre that can do it, there seems to be a shortage of testers.
I'd be very surprised if the same system doesn't exist in Greece. ie. The ability to have a trailer tested & certified locally, they must have home builders too.
 
Kilo said:
Homologation is the key. It's possible to get home built trailers tested & certified in the UK but really difficult to find a centre that can do it, there seems to be a shortage of testers.
I'd be very surprised if the same system doesn't exist in Greece. ie. The ability to have a trailer tested & certified locally, they must have home builders too.
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As far as I'm aware there is no home building in Greece. If you look for axles or indespension units I doubt you will find anything to buy. At the moment it only has to do a round trip of 8km twice a year but the issue arises if I wish to sell here rather than towing in back to the UK and it does help that I now don't have a UK registered car that can legally tow it.
Oh shoot!!
 
It does sound v frustrating.
I used to see a Greek guy on a welding forum & the DIY tinkering mentality exists the world over but just may not be as visible to expats? Of course he may have been using a predominantly UK forum because there weren't many like minds closer to home.
I'm sure you've already asked the question of your Greek friends but maybe going at it from a different angle will elicit more fruitful avenues of exploration? They may not know enough about trailers but do know someone who tinkers in his garage.
This may all be way too much bother but welding suppliers might be able to give you pointers, ditto Greek forums.
Either way I wish you the best, getting a homebuilt trailer sorted in the UK in my first language was enough to make me lose the will.
Final idea, if you can find a local enough trailer builder & yours is in reasonable condition with good components maybe they'd px it for one that has the right plate. Or dismantle it yourself, sell the parts (crazy prices here in the UK atm) & put the proceeds towards the next one?
Good luck though.
 
I live in EU (Latvia) and I was told when I asked about bringing a UK boat on a trailer - that according to EU rules (Latvia follows sort of !! ) .... there was a grace period to tow it without registration regardless of what nationality car towing it.
It meant that I could buy a trailer in UK .. tow it by UK or EU based car / van and then after so many days in EU - would present trailer to the relevant registration authorities (CSDD in Latvia) for them to inspect / classify and issue registration along with its own number plate.

I know various who actually buy boats on trailers outside EU - particularly UK and do just this ... then register trailer .. boat .. sell here.

That's now ... prior to UK Brexit - the rule as I was informed was that a UK trailer as long as it was only towed by a UK car due to trailers non-registration was OK up to 6 months and then would have to leave EU ... same with the car. But it could be used with non-UK car as long as Registration authority was informed and insurance taken out.

No doubt someone will now tell me I'm wrong.

Note - I am answering the TITLE "uk-boat-trailer-for-eu-use" not the later greater detail of Greece location.

I would be very surprised if there is not possibility to have Vehicle Registration Dept inspect and register the trailer. All it needs is to go and ask ...

I recently bought a mini Excavator for keeping my boat channel clear ... it has a tow hitch fitted, but no lights or registration. I trotted along to Vehicle Registration (CSDD) who told me straight : 40km/hr max ... daylight only. No registration needed. But others I know in transport trades - told me hitch was only for non-road use !! Just illustrating that the real people to answer are the Registration people themselves.
 
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So what would be the situation for a trailer from Ireland which has no trailer registration but is an EU member state touring France or Spain?
 
Neil said:
So what would be the situation for a trailer from Ireland which has no trailer registration but is an EU member state touring France or Spain?
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If that trailer came to Latvia - then it would be subject to the period of grace as any other. I would assume that Ireland not having registration of trailers is as a consequence of NI + RoI being same 'Island' ... and EU accepting RoI exception.
Note that when UK was in EU ... I had already said what was situation then ... I would suggest RoI is in same 'boat' ... towed behind RoI car as part of a touring package ... problem also is that until recently RHD vehicles were not possible to re-register in Latvia ... so the 6 month rule on the vehicle was applied to both car and trailer.
 
I'm guessing that a couple of weeks touring wouldn't be an issue if the car and trailer both had the same registration plate, though I can imagine that if the trailer was manufactured in the UK, questions might be asked? inspections by officious types? Maybe judicious removal of manufacturer's marks?
 
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