For that reason it's important to understand the various weights that relate to caravans and make sure you don't inadvertently overload it. This article will help new caravanners understand the various terms used.

Weight banding

You'll find that different caravan insurance companies have different weight bands, so there's a chance that you'll get a cheaper premium from one company compared to another if your caravan just happens to be inside a lower weight range.

If you suspect this might be the case, when getting a quote using our system, you can change the weights to see if it has any effect - it may move one insurance company above another. However, only use this as a guide - if you misrepresent your caravan's weight on your policy then you will have claims refused, because that's against all insurance companies' regulations.

Different weights

So what are all the different weights that are talked about when it comes to caravans? Here's our quick guide for new caravanners, in plain English.

• Kerb weight - this is just the weight of the car or van that's going to be towing your caravan. It won't include people or luggage but will include a full tank of fuel. You should be able to get this from the car's handbook or the manufacturer.
• MTPLM (maximum technically permissible laden mass) - this is the total weight that your caravan is allowed to reach, including the stuff you put in it. The manufacturer will specify this and you should find it on a plate on the chassis of your caravan, but it could also be called Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM), Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) or Maximum Gross Weight (MGM).
• MIRO (Mass in Running Order) - This is the weight of the caravan as it left the manufacturer. Also known as "Mass in Service". (Note that the way MIRO is calculated changed a few years ago and caravans made after 2010 will have an allowance for fresh water toilet water and a gas bottle included, so will be about 50kg more than the MIRO for a similar caravan made before 2010.)
• User Payload - This is the weight of the things you add to your caravan when towing such as awnings, picnic furniture, clothes etc, and any optional extras you've attached to it since it was manufactured. Sometimes referred to as Personal Effects Payload (PEP) or simply Personal Effects.
• ALW (Actual Laden Weight) - The total weight of the caravan and its contents whilst it is being towed. This can be arrived at by adding User Payload to MIRO, and it must be less than the MTPLM.
• Gross Train Weight (GTW) - the most that your towing vehicle and caravan are allowed to weigh in total, when fully loaded.

Using weights practically

In day-to-day use the most important of the weights we've explained above are kerb weight and ALW. There are different implications - for a start there are tighter GTW restrictions on driving licences issued after 1997 unless the holder takes an extra test.

It's quite possible that a family caravan with a medium-sized 4x4 will go above that new weight limit and the driver will be breaking the law. We are not however, at the time of writing, aware of any circumstances where this has caused an insurance claim to be refused.

From a safety point of view it's important not to overload your rig, of course. Caravans can be tricky to control in a number of situations, high winds on motorway bridges for example, and that's made more difficult if the caravan and towing vehicle are overloaded or improperly balanced (that's a topic for an article all on it's own).

Keep checking.

Be aware that your weights might change too. If you add a significant extra to your caravan, like a caravan mover or solar power set-up, you'll need to re-check. If you already know your weights you can just add the manufacturers' weights of the new bits to those, but it might be easier and more accurate to take it all to a weighbridge to find out exactly how much it all weighs - you could be in for a shock!

To find your nearest public weighbridge, have a quick google or, as weighbridge operators have to be licensed by local councils, they may be able to give you details.

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