A standard UK car licence (category B) issued after 1 Jan 1997 allows towing a trailer up to 3,500 kg, but a digger plus trailer is heavy and can exceed your car's towing limit. Most people have the machine delivered instead, from around £35 each way.
Key takeaways
- Post-1997 category B drivers can now tow up to 3,500 kg MAM (rules changed late 2021).
- Always check your vehicle's towing limit and the combined weight — not just the licence.
- A small digger plus trailer can get heavy fast.
- For most people, delivery is easier and safer — from around £35 each way.
Option 1: tow it yourself
If you have a suitable vehicle and trailer, you can collect and tow a mini digger yourself. Before you do, three numbers matter: the weight of the digger, the weight of the trailer, and your vehicle's maximum towing capacity. Add the first two together and they must sit comfortably within both your licence entitlement and what your car is rated to pull.
Towing licence: cat B vs BE
The rules changed in late 2021. If you passed your driving test on or after 1 January 1997, your standard category B licence now allows you to tow a trailer up to 3,500 kg MAM (maximum authorised mass), provided your vehicle is rated for it. Drivers who passed before 1997, in contrast, generally already hold wider towing entitlements.
Category BE is the dedicated trailer entitlement for heavier combinations. Even with category B's expanded allowance, the licence is rarely the binding limit — your car's towing capacity usually is. Check your V5C and towing plate before you commit.
Watch the combined weight
This is where DIY towing catches people out. For example, even a small 0.8–1.5 tonne digger weighs 800–1,500 kg, and a plant trailer adds another 400–750 kg. Add buckets and attachments and you're easily into the 1.5–2.5 tonne range fully loaded — close to, or beyond, what a typical family car can safely and legally tow. Overloading, therefore, is both dangerous and illegal.
Option 2: have it delivered (recommended)
For the vast majority of hires we recommend delivery, and it's why our pricing includes it as standard. There's no trailer to hire, no weight calculations and no licence worries. The digger arrives on a properly rated vehicle, the driver unloads it safely, and it's ready to work the moment it's on the ground. We collect it again when you're done.
Delivery typically starts from around £35 each way, depending on distance. Consequently it is often less hassle, and not much more cost, than fuelling a vehicle and hiring a trailer yourself. See the full price guide for delivery costs by machine size.
Bigger machines need bigger plans
The 3, 5 and 8 tonne machines sit well beyond car-towing territory and travel by plant lorry. Furthermore, this is another reason delivery makes sense as you size up. Compare machines on the digger sizes page, and if you'd rather not handle the machine at all, consider hire with a driver.