ALTEA 492 LU

Three figures from the vehicle registration documents are always taken into account: the weight of the towing vehicle, the weight of the caravan (trailer) and the weight of the entire combination. With a Category B licence, you can tow any trailer weighing up to 750 kg with a towing vehicle weighing up to 3,500 kg. In the Czech Republic, you can also drive with a ‘B’ licence for trailers over 750 kg, provided the combination does not exceed 3,500 kg – but this only applies within our territory. For standard Adria caravans (1,200–1,800 kg) combined with a family SUV or estate car, this means you need either a B+E licence (trailer 750–3,500 kg) or a B96 extension (combination up to 4,250 kg). Please note – you must not exceed the “tongue weight”.

The key figure is found in the registration document of the towing vehicle, in the field marked ‘maximum permissible weight of a braked trailer’. For standard Adria caravans, you’ll need a towing vehicle with a permitted trailer weight of at least 1,500 kg, ideally 1,800–2,000 kg (Aviva, Adora, Alpina). However, we also offer caravans weighing up to 750 kg, which can be towed by almost any vehicle. 

A detachable tow bar is sufficient; this is the most common option today. In the Czech Republic, both fixed and detachable tow bars (manual and automatic) are permitted. For a caravan, you’ll need a 13-pin socket (for charging the service battery and powering the caravan’s lights whilst driving) – if you have a 7-pin one, it can be converted. We also recommend a tow bar stabiliser or electronic trailer stabilisation, which improve road safety. 

In terms of fees, a caravan is considered a separate vehicle – it must have its own third-party liability insurance (typically CZK 400–800 per year), its own registration number and pass its own MOT test. A motorway vignette (or toll for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes) only needs to be obtained for the towing vehicle; there is no need to arrange one for the trailer. As for servicing and warranty inspections, that is entirely up to you, but we strongly recommend adhering to the prescribed intervals. 

In the Czech Republic, a combination of a passenger car and a braked trailer weighing up to 3.5 tonnes is subject to a speed limit based on the lowest maximum permitted speed of the vehicle combination. In practice, this means: the towing vehicle has a maximum speed of 160 km/h, the trailer has a maximum speed of 140 km/h = I can drive at a maximum of 140 km/h, provided the law allows it. Of course, the general Road Traffic Act takes precedence, limiting the speed on motorways to 130 km/h (up to 150 km/h on some sections), on expressways to 110 km/h, on district roads to 90 km/h and in built-up areas to 50 km/h. Legislation may vary from country to country, and you must comply with the local laws in force. Always check the rules for your destination – fines can be steep.

Braked trailers weighing between 750 and 3,500 kg (which includes all our caravans) must undergo an MOT at the same intervals as a passenger car: the first time four years after initial registration, then every two years thereafter. A caravan has its own registration number, its own registration certificate and COC certificate. For a new caravan, we can arrange the registration with the authorities (transport administration) and provide you with a complete set of documents.

Winterising a caravan is simpler than with a motorhome: drain all water systems (fresh and waste water tanks, boiler, taps, shower, toilet cassette), clean the fridge, disconnect the service battery (or charge it regularly) and carry out a leak test at the recommended intervals. Ideally, park your caravan on a hard surface, not on soft grass, which gets waterlogged in winter. 

Yes. From a financing perspective, a caravan is treated in the same way as a car – you can get a loan or finance lease with a deposit starting from 0%, a repayment term of 24–84 months, and interest rates comparable to those for a car. For businesses, consider finance leasing due to tax depreciation. Caravans are typically cheaper than motorhomes (prices range from around CZK 320,000 for a new Aviva Lite to CZK 1.8 million for an Astell), so the monthly repayment is usually pleasantly low. We will prepare a specific calculation for you once you have chosen a model.

The main advantages of a caravan: a significantly lower purchase price than a comparable motorhome, no ‘idle’ running costs when you’re not driving (you use the car as normal), lower insurance costs, simpler maintenance (no need to worry about the engine), and once you arrive at your destination, you can unhitch the caravan and use the car for day trips. Disadvantages: you need a towing vehicle, a B+E or B96 driving licence for heavier models, and it is slightly more demanding to drive (reversing, towing on hills, long combination). A caravan makes the most sense for families who go on longer stays (1–3 weeks) in one place.

Adria caravans come as standard with a Truma S 3004 or Combi 4 gas heater (combined with a water heater), or an Alde hot-water heating system, insulation in the walls, floor and ceiling, double-glazed windows and underfloor heating in some models. In summer, users will appreciate the large number of windows for effective ventilation. Air conditioning is available as an optional extra, but it is not always necessary in a well-insulated Adria caravan.