Can I use an Intack vehicle to tow my caravan?

To be honest, the very short version is probably not. There are a couple of reasons for that, but the answer itself is set out very clearly in our terms and conditions:

“You must also not use the vehicle or let someone else use it to tow or push any vehicle, trailer or other object without our written permission.”

Even someone tempted to ignore them might find the job quite difficult, as our vehicles don’t have a towbar for this very reason. We’re not unusual in this – if you’ve done any sort of looking around so far, you’ll probably find that a lot of companies have the same policy when you contact them to hire a car or van. So, you may be wondering, why is it such a widespread policy? Here are the most pressing reasons!

The risk of immediate damage to the vehicle

Let’s start with the obvious – not all cars and vans are built with towing capabilities in mind, and forcing a car to perform a function it wasn’t designed for can cause lasting mechanical damage. Towing places a great deal of extra strain on key components such as the engine, transmission, brakes, and suspension. These parts are designed to handle the normal wear and tear of everyday driving, but pulling a heavy load places them under significantly more strain.

All that means if the vehicle is not designed for the task (say if it’s a smaller city car), this stress can lead to premature breakdowns, increased maintenance requirements, and costly repairs. Not only does that cause an issue for you in the short term, but it can sometimes the vehicle unsafe or out of action for an extended period – and the cost of that kind of extended downtime can be really significant for rental companies.

It may shorten the car’s overall operational lifespan

While vans and minibuses are often better suited for the rigours of towing than smaller cars, they’re still not immune to the long-term effects. A rental car or van that is repeatedly subjected to towing will wear out far more quickly than one used solely for regular driving – especially if the vehicle in question was not designed for the job. The extra weight places more stress on the engine and other key systems, meaning the car must work harder than it was designed to.

Over time, this added strain can reduce a car’s reliability and efficiency. Keeping the vehicle in operational condition can therefore start to have a major impact on the balance books of most rental companies in the long term, and of course when any kind of vehicle fails completely, it can be expensive to replace. It’s a particularly vital reason why most car hire firms prohibit towing, as it leads to faster degradation and higher maintenance costs.

Safety concerns

Towing seems like a very simple job in theory – after all, the car or van is doing most of the work – but it actually requires a specific set of skills, and it’s easy to underestimate exactly how demanding these are. It’s not just a case of attaching a caravan and setting off – factors like weight distribution, braking distances, and turning radius all change dramatically when towing. A driver who isn’t used to towing may find it difficult to control the car, especially at high speeds or in bad weather conditions.

Caravans can be particularly unpredictable – if a caravan is not properly secured, it can become unstable, causing dangerous swaying or even detaching from the towing car. All of which poses a serious risk to the driver, passengers, and other road users.

Liability concerns

You may well have already noted that with pretty much all of the scenarios above, the ultimate liability for anything going wrong would generally rest with the rental company (in this case, us here at Intack Self Drive). This can range from financially challenging – such as the risk of damage to the car – all the way up to serious ethical and legal complications, as often happens if someone is endangered (or even seriously injured) in the event of something going wrong during towing.

The matter of liability is a broad-ranging one, and this issue alone is reason enough why the vast majority of companies (including us) simply won’t take the risk.

However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t mean you can’t take our vehicles on holiday – indeed, countless customers do every year! If you’re weighing up a trip this year, don’t hesitate to check out our blogs on suggestions on a couple of potential locations to visit, or scenic drives to take!

Or, if you’ve already got an idea of what kind of car you want to take for your trip, then you’re in exactly the right place. With more than 50 years of experience to our name, we offer a wide range of cars, vans or minibuses available to rent for daily hire or flexi-hire. No matter what kind of road trip you have in mind, whether it's just you or a large group of friends or family, we've got the ideal vehicle for you. And if you're not sure what you need, no problem - we're always here to help! You can browse the best hire deals right here on our site or give our friendly team a call at 0125457811 and we’ll help set you up with the perfect four-wheel match for your trip!