What do you need to drive a caravan in Europe?

Buying a caravan is an exciting experience, and no doubt you can already see yourself hitting the road and getting ready to drive to your very first mobile home. But before you jump in your car and start playing your holiday playlist, you need to make sure you have the right equipment. If you've never towed a caravan before, it's important to know the basic equipment you need before leaving your driveway, garage, or the curb in front of your house.

Visible license plates

We know it might seem like a ridiculous statement to anyone who already drives, but it's important to have license plates on both your car and your caravan. Make sure the license plate on your caravan is the same as on your towing vehicle and is clearly visible to drivers behind you. Are you going to rent a car in The Hague to hit the road with a caravan? You will then need to buy an extra license plate which you then place on the caravan.

Extra mirrors

Caravans are wide; we've all been stuck behind them on the highway enough to know that. So it makes sense that if you're towing a caravan, you'll need a helping hand to see the road behind you on both sides. With the help of wing mirrors, you can see well past your trailer. And besides being useful for your safety and that of others on the road, they are also legally required.

Legally, you must ensure that you can see at least four meters on either side of your trailer and 20 meters behind the back of your caravan. The same applies to towing a tiny home or a pop-up trailer. If you take away only one thing from this segment, remember that you can get a hefty fine if you don't have these mirrors properly installed. Moreover, you can also get a fine if you leave them on while driving without a trailer. Your car might look cool, but your bank balance won't if you forget to take them off!

Breakaway cable

As far as essential items go, you can't get cheaper than the price of a breakaway cable. This small cable costs less than €10 and is crucial if you're towing anything behind your car. We know you don't want to think about an accident on the road, but should the worst happen and your caravan detaches from your tow hitch, the breakaway cable will activate your caravan's brakes, bringing it to a stop. Tip – Before you leave, check that the carabiner of the breakaway cable is securely fastened in a hole on your tow hitch or properly wrapped around the tow hitch and clipped to itself. It's a small check that only takes a few seconds, but it can save lives!

If you buy and use these three items, you can be sure that you are legally allowed to explore European roads with your car and caravan.