Do Caravans Need an MOT?
You may be interested to learn that caravans don’t require an MOT by law. After all, they share many similarities with other vehicles which do require one. However, it remains the duty of the owner to ensure that their caravan is roadworthy and safe to travel in.
In addition to the pure motoring aspects of a caravan, owners have the extra responsibility of making sure that other aspects of the vehicle - such as its gas, electrical and water systems - are also in sound working order. As such, regular servicing and maintenance are essential.
How is servicing different from an MOT?
It’s quite common for services and MOTs to be confused with one another. Indeed, many people book their car in for a service and MOT at the same time, simply because of the convenience. However, they are very different. An MOT exists solely to test for aspects of a vehicle which will make it unsafe (and illegal) to use on the roads. For example, issues with brakes, tyres or lights which are deemed serious will cause a car to fail its MOT, rendering it illegal to drive until the issues have been fixed.
Services, on the other hand, offer a more in-depth assessment and can be beneficial in helping to identify potential problems early on, as well as maintaining the value and lifespan of any vehicle.
If you’re looking to buy a vehicle second-hand, the chances are that you would prefer to buy one with a full service history so that you know it’s been looked after. And where caravans are concerned, it could be the only history you have to feel confident that it’s been cared for.
At Protyre, we pride ourselves on being the local garage you can trust, so if you’d like to learn more about services for your caravan, and what’s involved, please feel free to get in touch with one of our friendly team members.
Changing your caravan tyres
In addition to the usual requirement that tyres should provide good grip on the road, it is vital that caravan tyres are strong enough to cope with the additional weight of a fully-loaded caravan. This means that for a single-axle caravan, each tyre must be strong enough to support at least half of the entire caravan on its own. Therefore, it’s important that you choose the right tyres for your specific needs.
Very often, a caravan may be stationary for long periods, only being used in brief, short bursts of time. This can cause tyres to deteriorate, with 'flat spots' being a particular problem. So, even if your caravan isn’t clocking up the mileage, tyres should be replaced every 5-7 years.
It’s important to remember that you can’t buy tyres which are made specifically for caravans. It is normal practice to buy models which are intended for vans, or which are made to be extra strong. For advice on choosing the tyres you need, our tyre professionals are available to guide you. As stockists of many leading brands such as Pirelli, Sumitomo, Falken and Bridgestone, we’re confident we’ll have the tyre to suit your needs and budget.
