Straight answers to practical questions about driving, travelling, parking and getting around Northern Ireland.
Rectangular signs are mainly used for information, directions and route guidance rather than a single universal instruction.
Triangular signs in Northern Ireland are warning signs used to alert drivers to hazards ahead.
Blue circular signs generally give positive instructions or indicate a mandatory route or movement.
Red circular signs generally give prohibitions or restrictions; the exact symbol or wording tells you what is forbidden.
An A-frame used to tow a car in Northern Ireland can bring the towed car within trailer construction-and-use rules, so legality depends on the equipment, braking, weights and way the combination is used.
A broken-down car can be moved by tow rope in limited circumstances, but Northern Ireland guidance describes rope towing as potentially dangerous and recommends professional recovery.
Towing mirrors are required in Northern Ireland when the normal mirrors do not give an adequate view behind the trailer or caravan.
Caravan nose weight is the downward load the trailer applies to the tow ball; it should stay within both the caravan and towing vehicle manufacturer limits.
Yes. Poor trailer load distribution can make a towing combination unsafe and can contribute to a roadworthiness or dangerous-driving issue in Northern Ireland.
Cars towing trailers in Northern Ireland are generally limited to 30 mph in built-up areas, 50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways unless a lower signed limit applies.
If a trailer starts snaking on a Northern Ireland road, ease off the accelerator and reduce speed gently; do not accelerate, steer sharply or brake hard.
A car towing a trailer or caravan must not use the outside lane of a Northern Ireland motorway with more than two lanes unless other lanes are closed.
Warning markers are required for certain projecting loads in Northern Ireland; the Highway Code shows projection markers where a load or equipment overhangs the front or rear by more than two metres.
A load must never project from a trailer in a dangerous way in Northern Ireland, and longer projections trigger specific marking and special-load rules.
For a trailer towed by a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes, nidirect gives a general maximum trailer length of 7 metres in Northern Ireland.
The general maximum trailer width for a car-towed trailer in Northern Ireland is 2.55 metres.
Check your motor policy schedule and wording, then ask the insurer to confirm that towing the specific trailer or caravan is covered in Northern Ireland.
A separate insurance policy for a small private trailer is not automatically required in every Northern Ireland case, but you must confirm that your motor policy covers towing and the liability created by the trailer.
An ordinary touring caravan does not normally have its own annual DVA vehicle test in Northern Ireland in the way a car does.
Most light trailers used privately behind cars in Northern Ireland do not have a separate annual DVA test, but heavier and commercial trailers can fall into the trailer testing system.
A trailer towed by a car in Northern Ireland should display the registration mark of the towing vehicle on a compliant rear number plate.
A trailer used on Northern Ireland roads must display the lights and reflectors required for its type, size and date of use.
A trailer over 750 kg normally requires a working braking system for road use in Northern Ireland.
As a general rule, an unbraked trailer used behind a car in Northern Ireland must not exceed 750 kg MAM, and the towing vehicle may impose a lower unbraked limit.
Gross train weight is the maximum permitted combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer when both are loaded.
Maximum authorised mass (MAM) is the maximum legally permitted laden weight of a vehicle or trailer, including its load.
Towing above a vehicle’s permitted weight in Northern Ireland can make the combination illegal and unsafe and can lead to enforcement action.
Check the category codes and validity dates on your Northern Ireland driving licence to confirm your towing entitlement.
What you can tow on a normal Northern Ireland car licence depends on the categories and dates shown on your licence, so check the actual entitlement rather than applying GB rules from memory.
Passengers should not ride unsecured in the open load bed of a pickup on Northern Ireland public roads.
